New Zealand, 2008 — Part 2
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Nelson to Havelock In the afternoon of Monday, March 17, we arrived in Nelson after buying a used camera from a pawnshop in Richmond. We had traveled little more than 15 kilometres, first on a paved, waterfront cycle path, then on a rail trail, and finally on busy city streets. On the way, a chain-guide broke on Wally's bike, so a new bolt was needed. By the time we found a suitable bolt, it was early afternoon — too late for the ride to Havelock. We tented at a nice backpackers in the heart of town, just across the street from the cathedral park. Nelson is an attractive town, understandably popular with tourists. There are many shops and sidewalk cafes. Still, we were glad to be on our way on Tuesday for Havelock and the Marlborough Sounds. |
 Nice backpackers on the park was full, but we tented in the backyard. |
 Sidewalk cafes and shops near park |
 One of many attractive ways to create speed bumps in Nelson |
The 80-kilometre ride to Havelock was scenic and enjoyable, if not spectacular (though we're getting too spoiled to be good judges of this sort of thing!) A good, paved cycle path paralleled the busies part of Route 1 on the way out of town. There were a couple of difficult hills before the road descended into the Rai Valley.
 On the bike path leaving Nelson in the morning |
 Hills between Nelson and the Rai Valley |
 Rai Valley |
 Something we've never seen before |
| Several people had told us about Pelorus Bridge, and there was a pretty park there, with swimming in the river; we might have stayed in the campground there if only we had brought enough food. (The only cafe in the park closed early.) We pushed on to Havelock, following the course of the Pelorus River and arriving in late afternoon at a motor park close by the marina. |
 Pelorus River, a few kilometres below the bridge |
We were impressed by the huge number of boats in the big Havelock Marina. The area is popular with "yachties" (a Kiwi term) who sail in the Marlborough Sounds. There are actually three sounds, collectively called the Marlborough Sounds: Pelorus Sound, Kenepuru Sound, and Queen Charlotte Sound. They are separated by peninsulas and dotted with islands. For sailors, it looks like one of the most beautiful cruising areas in the world, though Roger told us that the weather is fickle and the wind sometimes fierce, so it makes for challenging sailing.
 Our campsite was just to the left of the marina |
 Only a small corner of the marina; it was huge! |
| We decided to lay over for a day so that we could ride the Pelorus Mailboat and see something of the sound. The Pelorus Mailboat delivers mail and passengers to remote, outlying farms and resorts on the peninsulas and islands, and passengers can spend a day on board (for a hefty fee, of course.) It was a beautiful day on the water, and we enjoyed it thoroughly. |
 The mailboat |
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Left: Wally on the mailboat
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 Scenic passage |
 Boat working the mussel farms, where those green mussels come from! |
 Resident and his pet pig greet the mail boat. |
 Yacht of an American who is sailing around the world |
Change in the weather, farther out in the sound
Thursday, March 20, we left Havelock
and rode to Picton, the biggest town on the Marlborough Sounds.