We landed in Picton and checked into our Hostel, which smelled unfortunately like Curry scented B.O. Things didn't get better from there...our group wandered off to find some food only to discover that nothing is open in Picton at 10pm...except for a sketchy Indian Restaurant that served even sketchier chicken nuggets. Then I spent a cold, cold night with no covers, not even a sheet, getting really great sleep.
The next morning dawned bright and sunny so we set off for Nelson...about a 2 hour trip. We took lots of pictures and passed through Havelock, "Mussel Capital of the World". Did not eat mussels.
We saw some tremendous landscape that in some ways reminded me of Montana with the rugged and barren hills, cows, and farmland. New Zealand doesn't have the same violent beauty as Montana though...it has lush and inviting forested mountains as well as amazing contrasts between water and mountains. Here's a youtube video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMfuUh-9k6c. We later stopped to frolic in a stream that reminded me again of being out West.
Upon arriving in Nelson and checking into a much nicer hostel, we headed off to a local beach to enjoy the fact of being on a beach in January. We found a flounder that had not followed the tide out to sea and the biologist within me was quite pleased. Steven then decided to swim out and climb a rock and we girls had to figure out a new way off the beach since our route there had been covered by the incoming tide. After that we went grocery shopping and whipped up a delicious pasta and meatsauce and sweet corn dinner. Yes, I cooked (though Steven was quite the help browning the beef).
Woke up the next morning and visited the infamous Nelson Market. It was much like an American market just with different gimmicks and a bit more cultural influence. I bought a bone carving necklace originally for someone else but then I decided that it would be quite appropriate for myself right now. The symbol is a spiral, or that of a fern frond opening and it represents bringing new life and purity to the world. It also represents peace, tranquility and spirituality along with a strong sense of regrowth or new beginnings. I've been wearing it almost nonstop the past two weeks.
From the market we drove to Abel Tasman National Park and went Sea Kayaking. We rowed our arms off to go see some furry seals which were just as cute as expected but did make some strange, non-cute noises.
While the seals were cute, my favorite part of the trip was coming upon a stream and deciding to traverse up the streambed. The streambed was full of boulders and I quickly discovered that green moss was a good soothing foothold (bare feet) and that red algae was dangerously slippery. I traveled up the streambed with 3 other guys on the trip, who all brought their wine bottles with them, for 20 or 30 minutes. The stream was completely devoid of animal life, both visually and audibly, which was rather disconcerting but I was glad New Zealand doesn't have any snakes to speak of. I can't do the stream justice in pictures or words or explain how profoundly I connected to it, just that I have to return to it sometime and somehow. Allison and I split up for the row back to shore and let the boys do the work...our arms were shot.Driving back to Nelson, we were struck by the fancy to visit Rabbit Beach. I was against this as I only wanted to get back to the Hostel, eat, and sleep but I'm glad we stopped. The sand was very nice and warm so I mostly sat around in the warm warm sand while Allison galloped around and Steven took loads of photos.
Sunday we drove back to Picton, bought some souvenirs, and caught the Ferry back to Wellington. The crossing was very choppy and there was a wave that washed against our window...on the 7th floor of the ferry! Weekend completed upon arriving in Wellington to the usual mist and gloom of Sundays.
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