This morning I’ve met Nadine at her hostel and we walked to the Ferry. Thanks to her I can get a ticket for $30 instead of $65. I have to book the bike as well for $15. In addition to this I will give back the carbon footprint of 17.36 CO2-e kg which is equivalent of NZ$28.75. So with XE currency converter, NZ$29 is equivalent to US$19.76 let’s say US$20 that I just donate to 1% for the planet.
This is the equivalent Ferry I’m on. 17Kg of CO2 for me for the Cook Straight crossing.
At 10:45am the bike is on boat in the train compartment and the ferry leave Picton. I am a bit more emotional than I expected. This amazing land is now for me like home after a year leaving here. One sure thing, I will come back as soon as possible because even with all my adventures, there is still so much places to explore.
My bike will travel by trains and nice roadsters!
We are navigating through the sounds and the views are, as all the rest of this island, beautiful. This time the wind is soft and we can enjoy staying outside.
Living in remote area, no roads to reach this house.
There is few islands here and there
As soon as we leave the sounds and the last bit of land of the south island, the sea became stronger. When I think that I started to plan to cross it by kayak as a last chance to not use any engine, I realise that it would have been impossible this day and that I would have need way more time to organise the crossing on quiet days. You have to know that the Cook straight is the most dangerous stretch of water in the world.
The gate to the Cook Straight
The more we are getting close to the North Island the more the waves are big and the wind strong. Even on a sailing boat it would have been a serious mission. We can hear the sound of the waves hurting the ferry’s hull and feel the ferry pitching on the water. There is not any sailing boat crossing there and it’s for the best as I would have been disappointed to sea one on the way.
Good bye south island!
Now the sea is getting serious!
Windy Welly welcomes us!
Rough see but could be worse
Finally arrived in Wellington I grab my bike say goodbye to Nadine and ride to Cuba street where I will meet my brother from another mother, Lewin who was there with his mate for the Homegrown music festival. They are drinking jugs of beer to kill the time until they can catch the shuttle to the airport and take their plane to go back to Auckland.
Good beer with brothers from another mothers
It was 4.30pm when they left and I decide to stay the night in Wellington as with 2 hours ride I would still be in the suburb of Wellington and would struggle to find a spot to pitch my tent. This was a good idea as I remember that Anthony, my French friend met in Airlie Beach in Australia is now living here.
After I booked my hostel, the cheapest of Wellington and maybe the creepiest as well, we join each other in Cuba Street, yes it’s a good spot in Wellington to hang out. We share a couple of jugs together joined by Rachel, a girl from Hawaï that we met just in front of the bar.
Around 10pm, I’m tired and it’s time go to sleep because tomorrow will be a long day of cycling. I’m planning to reach Levin, which is 92km away.
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