Nov09 Picton to Wanganui

Awoke in plenty of time to check out the ferry schedule, tried to book online but wouldn’t accept our discount coupons. Three sailings today, they recommended bookings but we chanced it and drove right on. We’d wanted to cross in the daylight to see the surrounding topography as the boat wound it’s way between the islands. Pretty…




Entering Cook Strait… leaving the South…

Coming into Wellington on the North Island…


Unfortunately the ferry was late, we didn’t arrive on the north island over an hour later than we thought. This meant we weren’t going to get far before dark and we’d settle in again. We have only 1 week left with the van and still have a few things to do.
Stopped at a pretty overlook outside the city…


Got chatting with a Triumph Bonneville biker. Friendly guy, he even offered to take Denise for a ride.

Left the turnoff, accelerated onto the highway, still looking at the rocky cove. Looked in the rearview, and…. “Damn.”

Police car with flashing lights approaching fast. Speedo says 100, Limit there was 80. Crap.

I put on my blinker, acknowledging his presence, but there was nowhere to pull over. Finally I found enough room to pull onto the elevated shoulder/sidewalk. The cop blew past, continuing on with his roof lights strobing. Whew.

Stopped in a “Top ten” campsite (these have better amenities for slightly more cash), but I wanted the wireless connection. Got settled, ate, plugged in, got online, and then… nothing. Wouldn’t even find a network. Seems they shut down their computer/router after hours, so even though you’ve paid for the ‘net time, you can’t get on. Nice.

Was a late night anyway, reading and editing pictures. Lights out around midnight (Yeah, I know. Us. On a day schedule. Well, we are on the other side of the world.)

Again, when the office opened at 0830, back online we were. Grrr. Posted a few updates for you. Thanks for the comments, too. Helps to hear voices from home. We miss you guys. Also checked my email, seems my video of the Shotover Jet to which I added “Chelsea Dagger” by The Fratellis got a “copyrighted material” notation from whoever represents their music. I know, I’m a bad boy. They’re “allowing” me to keep it on Youtube, but there’s a few conditions, they get stats and can put an ad on the page, apparently. Good to know your cd buying cash is so well utilized by the lawyers.