$$$^^^ZZZ
South Island
July 7, 2006
We arrived at the ferry at 4:50, twenty-five minutes before the last time to check in, and an hour and twenty five minutes before the ferry was supposed to leave. We found out, as we checked in, that the ferry would be an hour late. Arghhh…a two hour and twenty five minute wait until the ferry was to leave. Luckily we had the laptop available and spent most of the time watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer “Once More With Feeling” aka Buffy the Musical. While waiting we met an American who had been living in Christchurch for the past twenty years. When I told him what I did, he responded with a “harrumph”….indicating to me that he didn’t like my employer. I found out later that he worked in specialty plastics and “doesn’t care for the environment”. I guess he figures MAF are a bunch of tree huggers. He was driving his new black leather interior, black exterior Porsche Boxter home from Wellington….perhaps being an enemy of the environment has its perks.
At 6:45 we drove onto the ferry. After parking down below, we climbed the stairs to the main deck. The kids took no time finding the play ground and making a few friends. With all the excitement sleep was just not happening. It was a nice smooth ferry over. Though I figured that since we were going to the South Island that we would be going south...we were actually going west because Picton is more north than Wellington.
It was really cool going out on deck, watching the wake this huge ship made through the water. Ethan and his new best mate, Haydon, ran around out there for a while and burnt off some energy…amazingly though he still had plenty left. We arrived in Picton at about 10:30pm and went off to find our first accommodation. We had decided not to book any hotels in advance so we’d have lots freedom. We found a nice little motel called the Marlin Motel. Noah fell asleep on the drive over. Julia and Ethan got their own room and stayed up talking for a bit. Noah, Nat and I shared the lounge.
*As I’m writing this, I spot a silverfish running across the bottom of the steel sink. Yuck! I am less impressed with our accommodations*
July 8, 2006
Noah woke up first at quarter past seven…not so bad. The bed was really soft so I kept rolling to the middle. Not the best sleep ever but I’m excited by the adventure that awaits us. The plan is to leave Picton until last and immediately drive towards Kaikoura. Actually not immediately…we are going to get breakie first.
We had breakfast at the Seabreeze Café. Though the food wasn’t bad, I certainly wouldn’t recommend it. The server was a grump. Noah was being a bit bratty and noisy…but the servers reaction was out of proportion…as Noah broke into his second verse of Happy Birthday to you…Nat heard the server mutter “Shut up” under his breath, though still loud enough for us to hear.
We visited the beautiful harbour, with its palm trees and bright blue water, before heading on our way to Kaikoura.
The lunch stop was awesome. We ate at The Shoppe in Kekerengu, an amazing seaside café. The scenery with the ocean waves and huge snow capped mountains was excellent. Words don’t do it justice…I hope the pictures do better.
We arrived in Kaikoura just before 2pm and after a bit of searching decided to stay at the Sierra Beachfront Motel. Unfortunately, we missed the last whale watch sailing for the day. Hopefully the weather is as amazing tomorrow as it has been today.
July 7, 2006
We arrived at the ferry at 4:50, twenty-five minutes before the last time to check in, and an hour and twenty five minutes before the ferry was supposed to leave. We found out, as we checked in, that the ferry would be an hour late. Arghhh…a two hour and twenty five minute wait until the ferry was to leave. Luckily we had the laptop available and spent most of the time watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer “Once More With Feeling” aka Buffy the Musical. While waiting we met an American who had been living in Christchurch for the past twenty years. When I told him what I did, he responded with a “harrumph”….indicating to me that he didn’t like my employer. I found out later that he worked in specialty plastics and “doesn’t care for the environment”. I guess he figures MAF are a bunch of tree huggers. He was driving his new black leather interior, black exterior Porsche Boxter home from Wellington….perhaps being an enemy of the environment has its perks.
At 6:45 we drove onto the ferry. After parking down below, we climbed the stairs to the main deck. The kids took no time finding the play ground and making a few friends. With all the excitement sleep was just not happening. It was a nice smooth ferry over. Though I figured that since we were going to the South Island that we would be going south...we were actually going west because Picton is more north than Wellington.
It was really cool going out on deck, watching the wake this huge ship made through the water. Ethan and his new best mate, Haydon, ran around out there for a while and burnt off some energy…amazingly though he still had plenty left. We arrived in Picton at about 10:30pm and went off to find our first accommodation. We had decided not to book any hotels in advance so we’d have lots freedom. We found a nice little motel called the Marlin Motel. Noah fell asleep on the drive over. Julia and Ethan got their own room and stayed up talking for a bit. Noah, Nat and I shared the lounge.
*As I’m writing this, I spot a silverfish running across the bottom of the steel sink. Yuck! I am less impressed with our accommodations*
July 8, 2006
Noah woke up first at quarter past seven…not so bad. The bed was really soft so I kept rolling to the middle. Not the best sleep ever but I’m excited by the adventure that awaits us. The plan is to leave Picton until last and immediately drive towards Kaikoura. Actually not immediately…we are going to get breakie first.
We had breakfast at the Seabreeze Café. Though the food wasn’t bad, I certainly wouldn’t recommend it. The server was a grump. Noah was being a bit bratty and noisy…but the servers reaction was out of proportion…as Noah broke into his second verse of Happy Birthday to you…Nat heard the server mutter “Shut up” under his breath, though still loud enough for us to hear.
We visited the beautiful harbour, with its palm trees and bright blue water, before heading on our way to Kaikoura.
The lunch stop was awesome. We ate at The Shoppe in Kekerengu, an amazing seaside café. The scenery with the ocean waves and huge snow capped mountains was excellent. Words don’t do it justice…I hope the pictures do better.
We arrived in Kaikoura just before 2pm and after a bit of searching decided to stay at the Sierra Beachfront Motel. Unfortunately, we missed the last whale watch sailing for the day. Hopefully the weather is as amazing tomorrow as it has been today.
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Love,
Mom