Nelson, the South Island

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Tuesday 22nd January
Not my best night's sleep ever, and think may have another eye infection - we'll see! Heading to the South Island today so had to get up 620am in order to get the 825 ferry (has a proper check-in process for luggage - didn't expect that!). Easy to clear out, shuttle bus pretty full but OK, and onto the ferry in plenty of time to find a good outside seat, although the forecast is rain sò whether that will be a good option remains to be seen! Now 920am and it's spitting (and I packed the raincoat, doh!) but still otherwise OK! Can see the landmass of the South Island ahead.

So, by 1025, the clouds are rolling in, the rain is falling, and I head inside. I'm chatting to a lady who's taking a car to her daughter in Christchurch and that passes the time nicely enough. As we're leaving the ship there's a sign for 'enjoy the best views in New Zealand'... That would be the bit we just came through and couldn't see for the rain! Shame. It's absolutely pouring with rain - maybe the tail end of a cyclone or some such. Magic Bus is supposed to drive off at 1230, but it's that now and it's not here yet - was an accident and it and 2 other buses are stuck in queues, so we're sat waiting, occasionally caught out by rain gusts. Always people to chat to though!

The bus turns up 1230, not late as far as we're concerned, but Scotty, the driver, later says that he was about an hour late in - he usually stops in Picton for 45 minutes, but no joy on that today! Who'd want to see it ayway - it's driving rain! We get back on the bus, and head off the road. Within about 20 minutes we've stopped for wine tasting. This is some beautiful boutique wines, and then some beautiful liqueurs - I fall for some butterscotch liqueur/cream - not sure when I'm going to have it, but it's only a small bottle. 30 minutes later we're back on the road, and then we stop at the 'scenic stop' - not much scenic going on today - all shrouded in rain, but decide to go for ice-cream - turns out to be the biggest ice-cream ever and the rain will not dull my enjoyment of it. Back on the bus for the last hour to Nelson - we have a quick bus tour, and stop to book our Abel Tasman tours (I'm going for Thursday to ensure that the weather has cleared), before being dropped at our hostels. I've gone for non-YHA for a change, and it seems pretty friendly: Tasman Bay Backpackers. Gives me some good advice on free walks, and tells me to be back at 8pm for free chocolate pudding/ice cream. Head into town for a brief look round - run into Tom - he & Woshil are still here - find a supermarket, buy enough food for the next couple of days, quick shower and time for chocolate pudding! Delicious! Chat to John for Utah for half-hour then head into town. I'm the last one to get a $12 for 4 drinks voucher - thankfully it includes wine as not in a beer mood tonight. Have a nice evening wit a few chats, then walk back with Tom, and now am on the internet before heading to sleeeeeeep!

Wednesday 23rd January
Not the earliest that I've ever got up, but had a great sleep! Decide to head up off the hill in search of 'the Centre of New Zealand' - someone has decided that this is the exact centre spot and placed a large spike on top of the hill in celebration! I took a while to get up there as I followed various diversions, e.g. to the Kauri tree. Once up there was some great views, and could pick out my backpackers. Was plenty of other people up there so I got someone to take my photo before I headed off for a walk. Didn't get very far. Found a tree which had been shaped into 3 seats, and sat on one of those for a couple of hours sorting out my finances, reading through the Magic handbook and generally alternating between relaxing and trying to do a bit of planning. I then started to walk the ridgeway, but couldn't quite work out when it would head back into Nelson, and had decided to do the long walk the next day in Abel Tasman, so headed down a path after about 40 minutes, then kept stopping to read the 'Psychologies' magazine I'd found in Auckland... so it was the Christmas edition, but hey ho, it's travelled right around the world! Am just enjoying being in Nelson, so sorted out the change to the longer walk for tomorrow, wandered round the town a bit, headed back and booked an extra night here, before finding dinner/chatting with someone/having more free chocolate pudding, and taclking my plans again - still not fixed, but each time get a better idea of what I want to do!

Thursday 24th January
See Tramping, tramping, still tramping...

Friday 25th January
Despite expectations that I would be dashing up the Centre of New Zealand again, I read a book until 2pm, had a leisurely shower, headed into town to replace my toiletries, fetch my dinner, and go onto the internet. Exciting, hey? Monteiths Brewery in Greymouth tomorrow night, and Franz Josef heli-hike on Monday probably! Sometimes you just have to have a day off from relentlessly enjoying yourself!

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