Heading over to South Island

Thursday 23^rd January

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. We woke up to blue skies and the winds have dropped a little. I was really worried about the ferry trip as I had be told it was a rock and roller if the weather was rough. Well we were up and down at the ferry terminal at 7am. The sun was shining and the sky was clear.

 

                                                       Exciting - Getting on board

I had also been told, that if clear, it is one of the most stunning ferry rides ever, and I have to say they were right, it was glorious from start to finish.

                                                  Sailing through the Marlborough Sound

                                                                         South Island

                                                         The Inlet into South Island

We stay on desk the whole time and the scenery was stunning. And in 3 hours we were off and parked in Picton for a coffee and deciding what we were going to next. We've decided that we may stay over in Picton for an afternoon and night on our way back to catch the ferry back to North island. It looks a pretty place.

Any way we decided to head a little way out of town to visit Omaka, an aircraft museum dedicated to 1^st world war planes from all over. The difference is that the museum and many of the aircraft are owned by Peter Jackson, the film producer (Lord of the Rings), and some of them are still flyable.

Thanks Trish/Roger for the heads up, it was a great place and we are probably making you jealous. The exhibition is called Knights of the Sky. All the sets at the museum were created by Peter Jackson with the help of the Weta Workshop, and many others. Brilliants.

Next Door was the Omaka Classic Cars, a car collection owned a local wine producer (obviously made good), and they all belong to him. Again just brillliant, and for you Terry and Michael, he had a particular interest in old Jags, and I've taken just a few photos for you.  Here's just a few of them

 

So after spending all afternoon at these two places, we decided to stay around the area, and we found a small camp at Spring Creek near Blenheim.  Our van was parked by a small river and we were surrounded by death defying ducks, and chicks. The river had the most enough eels I've ever seen. We were told we could swim in the river, but we both decided to miss out of the human eating eels.

                                                            I had a glass too, of course!

Made pasta bake for dinner, very nice.... I'm getting good at this one pot gourmet, although might run out of recipes soon. But the trusted internet should be able to help.