Chapter 8: Into the Southern island

16/12/19

Happy Birthday smallest De Gieter. Today my brother turns 26. Hooray! The perfect moment for me to cross the Cook Strait and enjoy the Southern island. I say goodbye to this awesome hostel. Everyone looking for a place to stay in Wellington, the Dwellington is the place to be! After arranging new accommodation on the Southern Island, (because of the blocked road on the SH6 in between Jozef Glacier and Greymouth) I head out to the port. The Blueferry is waiting for me and the other passengers to jump aboard. First I have to wait one hour in line but that’s oké. Since I don’t have a lot of experience with ferryboats, this is an adventure on its own. Once in Canada when crossing the Saint Lawrence bay and once in Brazil, after returning from Ilha Grande. This time however, I am travelling with a car which is a new challenge. I am guided into the bellow of the ship and drive Sparky #4 onto a steep ramp towards the 3th floor. Every car is tightly packed one next to another, ensured that the handbrake is one and we are set to go! 3 hours and 30 min of crossing over The Cook Strait. Let's hope the weather is calm so I don't have to stay longer on the ship.

I get installed on deck and waive Wellington goodbye. Music of The National has the same kind of feeling (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfySK7CLEEg) when seeing the

ship leave port. It the exact same song when I crossed the North Sea with Daan 10 years ago to go England/Schotland for cycling. Soon the Northern Island is nothing but a tiny green dot and I am only surrounded by water. The smooth waives ensures a fast and save travel and soon the cliff of the Southern Island appear. Its magical. Here, everything is 5 times greener and 10 times bigger. I have heard a gazzilion stories about the beautifulness of the Southern island and its first impression is dazzeling. The cliffs are in great contrast with the blue surrounding water as we kindly stroll into the harbor. I successfully get off the Blueferry and make way on the East coast towards Kaikoura. This should only be a 2-hour drive but an earthquake in 2017 destroyed most of the village and its surrounding roads. This is still visible due to all the road works present. And all the tiny gravel stones. O dear, you can hear and feel the car being destroyed by all the gravel when driving. No traffic lights here, just dudes that tell you to stop and go. Nevertheless, the ride next to the coast is magnificent and the swelling of the waves take me to the Dolphin Lodge.

Kaikoura. The place to be if you want to encounter seals, swim with dolphins or watch some sperm whales. These are the bigger version of the humback whales from which I have a vivid memory of after watching them in Canada 5 years ago. The fertile water as well as the deep water surrounding Kaikoura establishes a perfect breeding ground for these magnificent

animals. The host of the hostel informs me that most likely the weather tomorrow will be too bad so I will not have the change of meeting them. That will leave my memory of Snowwhite the Humback whale, from Canada preserved. One day I will see another one.

In the Dolphin Lodge I meet Niels, a Dutch traveller and amateur photographer. His pictures are stunning and show the full beauty of New Zealand. Maybe one day I can be as good as him and you all can enjoy the truthful colors of my voyages. But for now, you will have to do with these amateur pictures!

Anyway, I have to go to bed listening to a drunk and snoring New Zealander. He is big so you can not tell him too stop. Well sometimes you can not choose your roommates.

Sleepwell,

First nighter on the Southern Island