We really are making a habit of very early mornings, but it
meant we were first in the shower. Back to Picton again, this time to go on a
floatplane, one of the small planes that looks like it ski’s on the water to
take off and land. We arrived early, and the smile was fixed on my face from
the moment we took off, for hours and hour after we landed. The trip started
with us getting out to the runway area, it’s like we were a boat, we paddled
out from the marina and then we were off.
We only had a few bumpy bits on the plane, the windswept
trees lying horizontally was testament to how windy it can be. The view from
the seaplane was absolutely amazing, especially after doing Pelorus sound by
boat yesterday. This time we followed the sound by plane and everything was put
into perspective. However, you don’t see the shear scale of the sound by sea.
High in the sky, we could see the volcanoes of North Island, D’urville island,
the gorgeous deep blue sea of the harbour and the turquoise waters off the
bays. We saw jellyfish illuminated in the water. It was a magical trip, I had
an adrenaline rush for the whole 40 minutes flying. Loved, loved, loved, loved
it as I was in the front with the pilot while Ali was in the back, clinging on
for dear life over the bumpy bits.
Our next stop was around the living museum on the Edwin Fox
ship, which aims for preservation, not restoration. People in period dress, and
acting the part, giving us scones in first class and then biscuits in working
class was lovely. One boy was being sick into a bucket in the working class
bunks. It was fantastic, and all we paid was a shilling (1 dollar), the price
that was paid for the original ship!
We then boarded a steamship, we waited as the coal fire got
up to temperature, then we were off around the harbour, with another person
from the marina who hadn’t been on the steamship before so hopped on. He spoke
about us travelling around new Zealand, breaking a few hearts, and how we
should go to the PIcton marine festival as we might find some lovely gentlemen
there. It was great fun and the smell of the steamship is addictive. A lovely
trip, thanks to Rae, Jue and Archie for the ticket.
We had a quick wander around the Picton Marine Festival,
then hit the road back to Blenheim, stopping at a chocolate boutique on the
way.
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