#4   A Day of Driving, Panic, Hurry to Wellington and Wait, then Ahhhh, Cruising to Picton

Truly a day on contrasts in emotion.  We started off in plenty of time to drive from Napier to Wellington to catch our 5 pm ferry to Picton, South Island.  The trip started easy enough with kilometers upon kilometers of vineyards.  One could never do a decent wine tasting even in a week.   The road flat.  They have very, very few highways as we know them, like interstates or four or six lane highways; only around a few very large cities, like Aukland, Wellington, or Christchurch.  Almost all the major state highways and roads across the islands are two lanes, one in each direction.  From time to time there are pull offs or passing lanes to maneuver around slower traffic.  I think I'm beginning to drive like a Kiwi, heading around those slower tourists.  Also interesting are the one lane bridges, all along the highways, you look for the road sign that says if you have the right of way over the bridge or have to wait for on-coming traffic.

  Additionally, they have very few full stops at intersections, mostly “Give way” signs, or at intersections lots of roundabouts. All are very easy to understand.

As we traveled along, what was supposed to be a 4+ hour trip seemed to be stretching out longer.  As we stopped for lunch, there was still over 3 hours left.  As we traveled more, time seemed to race forward with no ensuing kilometers.  The GPS pointed us in one direction, but I had heard the State Highway 3 was still closed from quake damage from awhile ago.  So I went with my guts and the road signs showing a different highway to Wellington.  However, once down the road, the GPS showed another 2 ½ hours to go. GPS is to be trusted. We needed to check in the ferry by 4 pm, it was now 12:45.  Should make it by 3:15.  Just out of Masterson, the travel book says it’s a lovely climb up the Hutt Range, with vista overlooks.  Yes, they were there, however, there was work all along the climb, and in places down to one lane. Which meant waiting for traffic to clear.  This went one for about 5 km.  Ahead of us, large double bottom trailers that could barely make the twists and turns.  Great, another delay.  On the down hill, the two trucks pulled aside to allow a few cars by.  So bit by bit we inched by them on our way again.

We did make it by 3:15, whose to doubt GPS, right.
 
Now at the docks, we waited almost an hour to drive our car on board,

and then we settled in for what was to be a most relaxing and charming and scenic cruise.

Above and below are the last sightings of the North Island.

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 We never lost sight of land, and here's the first sighting of the South Island.

 After crossing the straits, we entered Marlborough Sounds; picking our way through the beauty

We are now settled in a cozy place in Picton, bed, ensuite, and breakfast for NZ 105, that’s about $75 US dollars.  The next day was to be driving into Nelson via the Queen Charlotte highway.  Then down the mountain down the west coast to Barrytown.  That's the next blog.  Take care.