Yay, we made it!

Our Ferry. Note the cars on the deck for perspective.

Entering the bowels of the ship...

Leaving the North Island behind...

The Ferry ride from north to south was about 4 hours.  Conditions were smooth and easy.  I bought Ann a deck of cards on the ship for Valentine’s day and let her win a game of “golf” on the trip over (OK, I also bought her a carved necklace in Picton where we are now).

We’re staying in another hostel.  This one is decidedly younger.  We’re easily the oldest folks here by about 30 years, but everyone’s really nice other than the fact that all the residents are the age of our children!

This life size chess set is right outside our room.

Last night we met up with Mark and Anne from Blue Rodeo who have been touring the South Island for the past month and are on their way back north.  We had a great time catching up over cocktails (they served us their new boat drink, the “Blue Rodeo”) and then dinner.

Today, we planned to do a quick “foot tour” of Picton and the go for a hike.  On our way to the trail head we stopped at a toilet and who should come out but…Mark and Anne!  They also planned a hike today, so we joined forces and had a delightful day hiking out to the “Snout”.  A long story about the name, but it’s thought to originate from a Mauri story about a worm….well, never mind, it’s hard to explain.  Anyway, we had a great five or so hour hike followed by ICE CREAM!  Thanks Mark and Anne for the great day-they are on the Ferry by now heading back up to the North Island.  So fun to continue to run into folks we met as far back as Mexico three years ago!

At the apex of the hike with Mark and Anne of Blue Rodeo

View from the "Snout" at the apex of a five hour hike.

Tomorrow we’ve moving southward to Anakiwa where Ann has planned some kayaking.