Today we got the 2pm Bluebridge Ferry over to Wellington, after having another morning in Picton exploring the limited but fun secondhand bookshops and eating pastries from Picton's dutch themed 'bakerij'. The bakery did a decent veggie pie - roast veg in a creamy sauce. After weeks of wandering into shops to see rows of meat only pies this is no small thing.I visited the Picton Museum during the morning - lots of pictures of old Picton, of ferries, of families. The exhibit that most caught my eye was a Dursley Pederson Cantilever Bicycle made by a dane in Britain and brought over to Picton by a town notable. Mr Pederson himself was shown riding the bike he designed, beard splayed out by the breeze. He finished his days back in Denmark, after living in the UK for a while. There are fans of the bike still - have a look at this dursley pederson website.The ferry crossing was lower key than our journey just before Christmas going the other way - this time there was no Pacific music group, But the weather was much better and the views of Queen Charlotte's Sound were excellent - including sailing past Snouts Point which we walked to yesterday. The picture is of another ferry, spotted just as we were nudging out into the Cook Straits from the very end of the Queen Charlotte Sounds.On landing in Wellington we pootled over to the Youth Hostel and settled in. We ate some pasta that has been carried a couple of hundred miles on the back of my bike.The Youth Hostel in Wellington is pretty good - lots of facilities and a pleasant place to stay. The bunks in our very cheap room were made of metal and creaked and rattled with every movement it wasn't a great night's sleep. Plus, being a place where international youth come to dance and drink the night away, there were a few middle of the night arrivals.We had been recommended Cooper's Extra Stout by Kevin in Picton and indeed in terms of taste per penny it is great - a decent stout for only $6 for a 75cl bottle. Better than Guinness for sure.
Today we got the 2pm Bluebridge Ferry over to Wellington, after having another morning in Picton exploring the limited but fun secondhand bookshops and eating pastries from Picton's dutch themed 'bakerij'. The bakery did a decent veggie pie - roast veg in a creamy sauce. After weeks of wandering into shops to see rows of meat only pies this is no small thing.I visited the Picton Museum during the morning - lots of pictures of old Picton, of ferries, of families. The exhibit that most caught my eye was a Dursley Pederson Cantilever Bicycle made by a dane in Britain and brought over to Picton by a town notable. Mr Pederson himself was shown riding the bike he designed, beard splayed out by the breeze. He finished his days back in Denmark, after living in the UK for a while. There are fans of the bike still - have a look at this