With a heavy heart, and a hearty breakfast (of mushrooms in reduced balsamic vinegar sauce) we left the Abel Tasman area. We drove to Picton down a very very windy road which made us think that maybe that the big breakfast wasn't such a good idea...Picton wasn't much to see, but it is the gateway to the North Island. I can get sea sick even watching a boat bobbling up and down on a jetty. Needless to say I wasn't looking forward to a 3 hour journey on a huge vessel on apparently rough seas. But fully prepared with anti-sea sickness pills, we bravely loaded our car and climbed up to the passenger deck. During the first hour we were traveling relatively slowly through the beautiful Malborough Sounds area. I was bored and frustrated that we were going so slowly (and I didn't even have a map to read). Then we hit the open ocean and things started to get rough. The front of the ferry was being thrown around at quite impressive vertical inclines and then crashing into some spectacular waves. Crasshhhh! Then the middle of the boat would hit another wave and send some spray up against our side window. Whoooosh! Like being in a gigantic car wash. Splaasssh! After plenty of up and downs, with a couple of sideways rocking movements thrown in for good measure, we weren't the only ones a bit going a bit green. What a welcome to the North Island.
We did have some time (and energy) left to explore Wellington. A quick walk around gave us a quick impression that Wellington has an interesting combination of cultural events (some sort of theatre festival going on here, wish we'd known in advance and booked some tickets) and partying (happy St Patrick's Day to everyone).
Looking forward to seeing and hearing plenty of birds on our trip to Kapiti Island tomorrow.
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