Four days on the South Island in New Zealand. Part one

This trip was, for the most part spontaneous. Initially, I planned to spend some days on cape Rein (cape Reinga) - the northernmost point of the North Island, the only location in New Zealand, where I had not yet reached during my stay in the country. Alas, the cyclone named after our captain Cook mixed all plans. Storm rains, winds of 140 km / h, flooded roads and landslides are not the most pleasant companions for a multi-day motor-drive. Knowing that the cyclone will affect, for the most part, our North Island, I bought tickets for the ferry to Picton at the last moment.

It happened so that the departure of the ferry coincided with the hours when the cyclone of Cook reached Wellington, and also with the 48th anniversary of the flooding of the ferry "Wahine", also making trips between the islands and the victim of the cyclone "Giselle", according to wind force similar to the "Cook".
In this regard, the ferry company "Bluebridge" decided to reinsure and canceled the ferry, which was sent 3 hours earlier than ours, and our trip was detained for 3.5 hours, until the wind subsided. All the passengers from the canceled ferry, as far as possible, were transferred to ours, so that the trip was crowded. At the same time, the check-in was carried out according to the schedule of both ferries, from 10 pm to 1:30 am, and until 5 am we wandered around the ferry in the dock in search of a patch of surface suitable for lying down and getting some sleep.
It is worth noting that we, motorcyclists, were still taken care of, and allowed after the registration to drive our vehicles into the port garage so that they are not blown by the wind. And when the wind died down, we were allowed to enter the hold first, minimizing the time spent on the street.

Owners of road motorcycles use screeds on both wheels, and endurists are limited to fixing the handlebar

At first I was glad that we would arrive in Picton before dark, and not at 6 am, as would be the case if the schedule was observed, but in the rain and fog you do not have a chance to take some photos of the fjords

Finally, the port of Picton is shown ahead

On the shore rain is being replaced by a rainbow all the time.

During the trip, I talked with other motorcyclists, and it turned out that some of them go to Nelson and are interested in not just driving, but shooting something on the road. Well, it's even more fun! From Picton to Havelock, we decide to go not along the main highway, but along Queensdrave, along the fjords. I really wanted to stop at each viewing platform!

The rainbow follows us all the way from Picton to Havelock. My random companions are already beginning to regret that they took me with them, since they did not have a similar photographic desire)

Fortunately, after a get-together at a cafe in Havelock, I and my new ferry friend part ways

My first destination is the French Pass, a strait with restless water

The first part of the road - a good asphalt, passing through pastoral landscapes with cows

Unlike Wellington, where all the time is the same time of year, the seasons on the Southern Island are quite clear. I never thought that you can miss the autumn!