A combined ferry from Wellington and a restday in Picton. The 3hr crossing was smooth, despite the wind, and noisy. The noise was parties of school kids exercising their lungs and jostling hormones. Made me think corporal punishment wasn’t such a bad thing. Actually they were all ok!
The person opposite me was reading “Normal People” which I thoroughly enjoyed as a TV programme and wondered if the book was as good. She’s doing it the other way around. And on her way back home to Quebec as a lawyer doing an internship.
An interesting contrast opened up – as a young person she is in favour of Quebec independence from Canada. Two “older’ Quebecans (???) have joined the trip and don’t see the need/purpose. Sharing my thoughts about Scotland and UK. We’re better off together. I’d also better get onto another subject, else Brexit will surface. Oh, it has!
A sunny and toasty 29C as we navigate through the fjords approaching Picton. Which is a delightful wee passing through place, in the Malborough region – as in wine not cigarettes.
Our geologist ex-rider informs us, the Wairua Fault, on of the world’s big strike-slip (aka horizontal offset, but you knew that, goes down a valley 10 miles south of here. I hope they’ve followed the good earthquake construction guidance – first question to ask when you get in.
There’s a military theme – today in Picton named after Sir Thomas Picton who has a bit of a reputation (Tyrant of Trinidad/Blood Stained Governor) and [by conrast} a brave soldier, the highest ranking to be killed at Waterloo. I like his statue (controversial it appears) in Carmarthen. Tomorrow we cycle to Nelson. I wonder who that was named after?
And it promises to be hot with a good headwind. Toasty….
Travelling reflections 