Having put a few more hours back in the sleep tank we checked the forecast; with our ferry back to Wellington sailing at 2 pm, we made sure we knew where the SPF50 was..😎
…and breakfast on the balcony beckoned..
Our hosts kindly dropped us off at the ferry terminal at 10.15 am, so, luggage checked in, we had c.2.5 hours to see more of this gorgeous wee town – first stop, proper breakfast!
…then see what £700k or so actually gets you in a place like this😎😉
With the sun still beating down, we boarded the ferry for our 3.5 hr crossing, leaving at 2pm, and said farewell to Picton and South Island, aware that the wind had become noticeably stronger🤔..
As we left the protection of the series of islands, we could see the approach to the Cook Strait, renowned for it’s challenging conditions, was definitely looking “livelier”…
It wasn’t long before the Captain announced that the sea state had worsened, and would continue to do so, but, with typical Kiwi humour, comforted us by saying he would “try to avoid the major potholes”😉
I have never suffered from sea sickness, and this time was no different, so got some food and was preparing to sit it out when Julie’s pallor changed from chalk white to green, upon which she suddenly rose from our table, announcing: “I need some air – I’m going outside!”
These were the conditions that drew her there…
…so, dutiful husband mode invoked, I finally found her and saw what the appeal was…
Despite my best efforts, “the lady was not for turning” so, soaked in sea spray, I went back inside, whilst “the lady” declared she had no such intent and would stay outside for the remainder of the crossing until we reached Wellington Harbour…
Well, the best laid plans etc. soon applied when the Captain announced it was no longer safe for passengers to remain outside and ordered all of them back inside…
One particular lady was not best pleased to hear that and, despite her earnest appeal for an exception to be made, was eventually “persuaded” to return to the fold and was rewarded with an ice cube drink and a plentiful supply of sick bags…..
Meantime, after a wee snack, I nodded off in the TV lounge..😴
When I stirred from my slumber Julie was seated opposite me, no longer wondering why I had not responded to her text message…🤔
Her pallor having now returned to relief mode, we became aware that, as our ferry was berthing, there was a wee crowd gathering to watch proceedings at the bow end…. apparently, the conditions still necessitated a few wee nudges from a tugboat to get safely moored!
Back on terra firma a fellow Kiwi passenger, who had made that crossing many times, calmly announced that he’d never known a tugboat to be used like that…
Our dear Kiwi friend Fiona, from “The Whyte House” met us and warmly welcomed us back to their home whereupon all 4 of them went into “Full Roast Lamb Dinner” mode, which was hugely appreciated, even by Julie, who could now safely eat again…and drink😉🥂
After exchanging some stories of the last 4 weeks since we’d met, I checked my emails to confirm the time of the Northern Explorer train we were due to catch in 2 days time…
To our dismay a new email popped up from NZ Rail saying that, due to mechanical failure, that train would no longer be running, so we could either take the bus (6 hrs on the train) or have a full refund.
After quickly weighing up the options we chose the latter, having found a flight to Hamilton departing the next day at 4 pm.
Just needed to check it was ok to arrive at my cousin Gail’s home a day early – it was 😊 – and so ended what was supposed to be a pretty unremarkable day …hey ho..
BTDU 