16 Minutes to Auckland: FERRY TO NELSON/TASMAN BAY

We leave Wellington by Ferry on Monday morning. A 3 hour ferry ride which turns into a 4 hour ferry ride because of complications at the dock in Picton. The weather is phenomenal and we are all enjoying lots of sunshine. Pick up rental car at Picton terminal and then a long drive to Nelson, our destination for the next five days. Scenery - vineyards everywhere, and beautiful forests. We are all travel weary and ready for a rest when we arrive at Tasman Bay Backpackers. Really busy here - the place is FULL. We each have double rooms, nice and clean and comfortable. Although Wellington weather was great, Nelson weather is HOT. (complain complain....not)

Tuesday we explore Nelson - huge day - lots of sightseeing - the waterfront is calm and we walk along the beach. The sand here is white and the water is warm. Emily and Leon take a long walk early morning and get some fabulous pictures of early morning. (hopefully attached) The picture of Leon on the square is 'the center of New Zealand', so we are in the smack dab middle of the country here.

We head to the 'must see' McCashin's brewery (stoke beer) but we are too late for the tour and therefore forced to sit in the back beer garden and sample the beer! Very acceptable. All in 'a happy place' once again.
Oh, before the brewery, Brian wants to see the Classic Car Museum, called WOW because it includes the "World of Wearable Art" - amazing art clothing by designers in NZ and UK. He and Emily head in, Leon decides to go for a walk and I decide to check out the Mitre Ten Warehouse instead - kind of like a Home Depot only bigger and full of beautiful plants and flowers and everything imaginable for the home and garden, plus a great little restaurant. I don't need WOW, I need a kiwi green facecloth, because there are none at the *****star hostel. The prices here are much higher than the last time we visited. There is some kind of boom going on in this country. They are taking all our money constantly.(for e.g. $16.50 for a decent breakfast of bacon and eggs, but not including coffee which is about $4.50 but the best coffee anywhere. They only use espresso machines and they use them everywhere - it's just a kiwi thing, so you always get great coffee) I keep having to go to the Bank of Brian for more cash. So far the bank is friendly and generous. May that keep up!

Emily wants to see a glass blowing place, so we head out to Hogland Art Glass Centre and see some beautiful stuff. Nothing we can afford, but very educational. I'm sure these people have some of the nicest pieces anywhere in the world. The art of glass blowing is something that Emily has always been interested in. Hot work though!

Next we visit Seifreid winery (the oldest one in the Nelson area) and taste the offerings there and find something acceptable for our evening dinner. Then off we head to Countdown for some food and preparations for lunches for our day tomorrow. We plan to head to Tasman Bay National Park for Kayaking and hiking. I think I want to Kayak......but how will I row with a sore arm? A one-sided rower maybe? Plus the fact that I can't swim....all of these thoughts are going through my mind like little barbs, but I push them all away thinking that I will deal with it tomorrow.

We barbeque steaks at Backpackers as early as possible because the kitchen here becomes a ZOO with everyone trying to make dinner at once. (many national dishes being prepared and some of them include a lot of onion - phew) then enjoy another game of card monopoly, and head for bed. We have to wait until the 'girl who laughs and laughs' and drives you crazy before sleep comes. I don't know what is so funny, but I think she is a bit weird. Okay enough of all of this, let's get some decent pictures on this blog.