What a first day! We woke at 5:45am to an email from our ferry that the sailing was delayed an hour. Cool, more time to get ready. We walk to the terminal and check in at 8:15am only to be told that we won't arrive into Picton until 1:30pm which means we miss our 1pm boat transfer to Ship Cove. What to do!? The lady at check in then says you might be able to make the Interisland ferry (their competitor) which leaves in 20mins but check-ins probably closed. She said she will get someone to race us there in their van. We take a gamble and do it, amazing race style. Run in to the check in, who despite it being sold out and check in closed - says they'll let us on! Phew. So we got on with a few minutes to spare.
Made it to Picton, had our last meal Toastie, then weighed ourselves at the chemist. The ladies working said we can use the scale but it's 4kg out. We laughed. I then hop on the scale and note that there is a 15kg weight range depending on whether I lean forward or lean back. Back it is! Not publicising that figure but if I don't lose minimum 5kgs on this hike I'll be fuming. I ain't doing it for nothing!
We jump on our E-Ko tour boat, which for $50 for TA hikers, was a 2 hour wildlife tour through the sounds on the way to dropping us off. It was beautiful. Saw so many different birds, some sunbathing seals and then 3 King shags which considering there is something like 800 left in the wild and is an endemic endangered species, it was a pretty rare siting.
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We dock at Ship Cove at about 4pm. Ship Cove was where Captain Cook landed and visited a few times way back in 1770. But there was that jetty I'd been so holding out for! I laughed. I laughed to myself a lot. I was finally here and now it's all over to me and my legs to get me out the other end of the South Island.
With only 6 km to hike this afternoon we took our time getting our packs all adjusted and sitting right then hit the uphill track to the top of the hills and then wandered with views of the deep blue sounds and a hundred shades of green forest. It was beautiful.
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I pitched my tent right above the water, so I'll go to sleep tonight with the peaceful sound of water lapping and the cheeky weka already trying to sneak our things. Can't quite believe we've started the TA yet but all I have to do from hereon is just walk.
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Ren x
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