A wet, gray journey to the South Island!

The ferry journey across the Cook Strait is supposed to be a beautiful trip.  It’s about a 3 to 3 1/2 hour journey.  However, it was raining and very overcast when we boarded the ferry in Wellington yesterday morning and it continued to rain throughout the trip. The seas were not that big so the sailing was fine.  There just wasn’t much to see.  No photos!

After picking up my new rental car at the terminal, I got soaked during the loading of my bike box and gear bags – no covered parking here!  I then, with the help of Google Maps, began my drive to Nelson, about 50 or 60 miles away!  I was wondering why Google Maps was saying it was going to take almost two hours.  I soon found out!

Except for the first 16 miles or so, I was on a State Highway but it seemed more like Mr. Toads Wild Ride – on the wrong side!  It was a windy mountain and coastal highway almost all the way to Nelson – in the rain.  And most of the highways here are two lane affairs so if you get behind a truck, pack some patience until you get to a passing lane!  In any case, I made it to Nelson and my hotel. Again, no pictures!

It continued to rain this morning so it seemed like a good “ indoor activity” day so I went to the Museum of Wearable Art, which also has a classic car collection ( weird but true!)  The wearable art museum was partially closed so I wandered through the classic car collection, which had a few of the wearable art pieces scattered around.

It was a bit quirky but fun.  Most of the cars had the steering wheel on the right side, of course, but they had some really nice cars – even old Fords and Chevies with the steering wheel on the right!  It would be great fun to have one of these back in the States!

Tomorrow I have a 5 hour drive through the mountains to Christchurch which should be interesting.   I think I’m probably not done with Mr. Toads Wild Ride!  Hopefully there won’t be too much rain.  And better driving than being on a bicycle in these conditions.