Time for a little update. Franz Josef was a really quiet place, a small town based on tourism in Glacier country. So there wasn't an awful lot to do there apart from walk up to the base of the glacier and back again (unless you've got money to go on a guided tour). So we got the bus out of there, as hitchin wasn't really an option given the remoteness of the Westcoast. From Franz Josef, we stopped at a really remote village where the population is 2!! And tried a local treat of a possum pie....theres not much in life that gets better than eating vermin! So that made us feel a bit sick for a couple of hours but you've gotta try these things. The bus ride took us all the way to Greymouth at the which is Norwest, as they sayin these parts. A pretty grim old town with not much going for it. Its wet, windy and cold and theres nothing to do there. So one night there and it was time to move on, with yet another hitching expedition. So out we went, sign for Nelson in hand and stood in the stinkin rain waiting for a lift. Not too much time past before we were picked up by a speed demon who took us to a town, a bit closer to Nelson, but it was still a bit of a trek. Luckily enough a campervan containing a girl and a Ralph lookalike picked us up and took us miles and miles, it was anout a 2 hour trip, to the middle of nowhere.....again. But, the first car that came along picked us up and took us further. Another ride later and we were in Nelson....Just in time for tea. Nelsons a pretty nice place, and having bought a hand reel from The Warehouse, we set off on a fishing mission. Down by the Sea, which took about an hour to find, we set about fishing. Not having much luck, we obtained some help in constructing a five hook line from some friendly Asian fisherman who had a sack full of fish. They were very friendly and accommodating characters and enjoyed ex plaining how to strike when 'fishy fishy, eaty eaty'. A successful single catch and there was a mouthful of fish on the menu!!!! We spent two nights in Nelson, the second of which providing some entertainment. We were just quietly engrossed in a game of connect four when a couple of Norwegian-Americans offered up a Jamesons. We greatfully accepted and later decided to go out with them, but not before Bobs Connect four ego was damaged by losing to Jose, ha ha. We headed out to a rock bar, which as it happens doesn't play any rock music, but is home to about 100 old people getting their groove on!! You just don't expect to see 60 year olds out til2 in the morning, drinking and grooving, but this is where it happens!! It was also full of MILF...well, a bit of MILF, Bob got accosted by a couple of middle agers on his way to the toilet, but he loves it!!!! WE got back to the hostel at about 3.30 and it turned out to be a successful night because the Americans we were with were driving to Picton the following morning which was exactly where we needed to go to get the ferry across to the North Island. They offered us a lift and all was sweet. The next morning, feeling a bit worse for wear we got going for Picton....but the success of the previous night doesn't end quite yet. We also met a guy called Shane, who happened to be the manager of a harbouside restaurant. In his pissed up state the night before he offered to shout breakfast the following morning. I don't know if he could fully remember it but nevertheless we pulled up to his apartment and woke him up. He took us across to his restaurant, which was a really nice place, in a really cool setting right on the waterfront. We ordered breakfast, not just any breakfast but the works. Eggs benedict, crispy bacon,black pudding, toast, hash browns... the lot!!!! You cant ask for anything more!!!what a friendly country.. Anyway, after filling our boots we went on the drive to Picton. Unfortunately we missed the afternoon ferry and had to hang around for four hours in Picton, which wasn't so bad because we got some more fishing in, this time wholly successful!!! In Wellington now havin watched England win at 1 in the morning...sweet..