On to Havelock - Night 84

I awoke refreshed and took a short morning jog around the Picton Harbor. Though only 6:30, the docks were busy as guide boats, diving rigs, and fishing trawlers prepared for the day. It has always seemed to me that people in the marine industry are early risers…perhaps I have a future in such work. I spent the remainder of the morning reading and relaxing in the hammock back at the hostel. At 11:30 I packed my bags and wandered down to the ferry terminal to catch my bus arriving at 12:15.

The Villa in Picton

The ride to Havelock was a short one, less than an hour. I was the only person stopping in the small town, the rest carried on to Nelson for the night. Havelock, the gateway to my Nydia Track hike, is located on one of the farthest south inlets of the Marlborough Sounds. A resorty place, it reminded me of Cecil, WI, but with towering mountains and a faint whiff of sea salt. The YHA where I was staying is an old school building that has been converted into a hostel. Family owned, it has a very calm feel to it, aided by the fact that there were probably only a dozen of us staying the night. I took a tour of town (20 min), stopped at a museum fundraising yard sale, and gathered some supplies and groceries for the hike. If you are looking for excitement and other people between 18 and 30, Havelock is not the place for you. It has the same sort of youth vacuum that is seen in so many small towns throughout the world.

What I Learned Today: Ferry terminals, airports, train stations all seem to radiate a certain sense of kinetic energy that never fails to bring a smile to my face.

written by

exumenius on January 2, 2008 from Havelock, New Zealand

from the travel blog: Kiwis and Kangaroos

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