We woke to blue skies, so it was breakfast outside as usual. Our cycle ride this morning started at the airport where the bike hire shop was based and it is on a newly formed trail which goes along the coast. Cycling in NZ doesn't seem quite as popular as UK although you find a few long distance cyclists on the road with all their kit and there are a few mountain bike tracks but this purpose built cycle way round the coast seemed ideal as it was flat. It went to a place called Rabbit Island which was a very nice and had a lovely beach but after spending two weeks seeing beautiful scenery we found the first few miles a bit disappointing and noisy as the track went passed industrial sites and adjacent to a main road the tide was also out which meant there was mud flats to look at instead of blue water. The path although well done with boardwalks and a variety of surfaces was not well marked and the map provided was pretty useless. It took a lot longer than we expected and of course we missed a vital turning and ended up going along a ridiculously stoney track until we realised we must have gone wrong and then had to go back again along the stoney track. So it wasn't our best outing in NZ but an experience.
We were glad to leave busy Nelson and get back on the usual car free roads and once out of Nelson the scenery of green hills and river valleys made up for the industrial sites of Nelson.
A stop at Pelourus Bridge is scenic spot with a suspension bridge popular for swimming . Graham was brave enough to go for a refreshing swim, but my body is still expecting Queensland water temperatures so cannot cope yet.
Some youth were jumping off the bridge and the next thing we know a paramedic had arrived. The boys had ignored the sign saying "don't jump off the bridge " and one of them was injured I don't think it was that serious but he was being stretchered away. Having seen an overturned car whilst on our cycle trip it was all happening today.
A road called Queen Charlotte Drive is another of those scenic drives that winds up and down. It has amazing views of the Marlborough Sounds this area looks like a yachting paradise with lots of bays and inlets it really was beautiful. So another contender for where we would like to retire to.
We debated whether to stop on route overnight but ended up in a campsite just outside Picton at Waikawa Bay which is very near to Picton ferry terminal from where we will leave South Island on Monday morning. So we have a leisurely day tomorrow to explore the lovely walks and little port of Picton. We wondered down to the harbour and bay and Graham studied the yacht brokerage to choose a yacht and there is a really nice house overlooking the bay up for sale, so that's sorted. It's a shame the NZ government won't let us in!
The campsite is very quiet even though it is a weekend. It is quite popular with fishing people who bring their boats away for a weekends fishing. We have a perfect spot up high so we can see the mountains and just about see the water.
The ferry from South to North Island should be very scenic, it also has wifi! So it is possible that we will be on Skype/FaceTime for some on the journey from about 7pm Sunday evening UK time (0800 Monday NZ time).