On to Picton for ferry ride to Wellington

Sun - March 18

5hr Coastal Pacific train ride up the east coast to Picton at top of the island. Rain that began last night continued through this day so we were delighted someone else was driving us through it. Not much to see in the wee hours of mourn except our reflections.

Picton is a lovely small town on the edge of picturesque Marlborough Sounds.

Overnight at historic Gables B&B, in heart of Picton. Our hopes to hike around the islands were dampened by non-stop rain -- a blessing for the entire country which has been in 5-wk drought. We'd had visions in our heads of a green New Zealand but it's all brown and dusty dry. Fire hazard warning boards are pegged in the Extreme zone everywhere we've been.

Mon - March 19 - Still raining.

Boarded Interislander ferry from Picton through Queen Charlotte Sound, into Cook Straits and on to Wellington.

As soon as we entered Cook Straits the sea and our stomachs started to rock and roll. James said he'd not been that seasick since being a Naval Officer in 1974.