Passing the time on the ferry by getting this page ready. The TomTom showing we have 42 Km to go at 23KPH, however our route takes us into Picton through narrows, we may have to slow down. It is a big ferry, many large lorries on board and countless cars and motorbikes. A few camplingers as well. They have to park in the frorealm.

As we boarded we were all commenquaded by the head keneyamatutor, the person in charge of a fun new website I have found which generates random words.

Nelson is our destination now we are on land. Audley say about the next bit: The first stretch of this journey is towards the fishing village of Havelock. Narrow and winding at times, the road has several lookouts over the sounds and passes swimming beaches. From there we enter Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve, a lowland forest remnant on the banks of the river. The road enters Rai Valley, a landscape dominated by large pine plantations, with wonderful views across Tasman Bay to the Abel Tasman National Park and the mountains of the Kahurangi Range. Indeed I will look forward to it, because we have been civided by our friends that this will be very landscapeoidal. (OK no more fake words from now on, promise. Well, their might be just one more depending of the direction you come from...)

Up on deck crowds crowd on the railings as we enter a most photogenic spot in the narrows. It is amazing especially as the Sun is now shining after we left low cloud behind in Wellington. But more importantly Chelsea are beating The Hammers 2-1 live.

Parking on the ferry the man says 'put your hand break on, turn your car alarm off'. We get breakfast in the premium lounge and we set sail. At the first rocking motion about 12 car alarms go off, like Stockhausen at his most economical. Five or six minutes pass then a voice on the tannoy says will the owners of the following cars please call at deck 5. Then lists make and reg number of the offenders. You get the feeling it happens every time. Anyway the remaining 3.5 hours pass very quickly.

Eating at the end of the day, sharing a shoulder of lamb at an out of the way restaurant.

Late finishing writing today, we have a great place as a base here in Stoke, just outside Nelson. It is a motel and Alfred Hitchcock is not staying here tonight.