The day was supposed to be, a quick 3 hours at work, morning tea, leave bang on 11am, cycle to the boat and then ADVENTURE TIME!

Well, with the battery in the clock in the living room dying, and me not realising that it hadn’t been 0725 for an hour, I didn’t quite make it in to work on time.

Morning tea was still consumed, with ‘award winning’ Nada Bakery hot cross buns, and a platter of fruit, it would be a great start to the day. Until the ferry company text to say our boat had been delayed by an hour.

Then by another hour.

Then pushed out to a 1530 departure. That would mean we wouldn’t reach the South Island until 1930, by which time the 24km we were to bike today would have to be completed in the dark. Not ideal on a State Highway with no street lighting and lots of artic lorries passing.

Trying to channel my inner positive penny, the delay meant we were able to have lunch with friends over from Switzerland, which was a lovely treat.

We made it to the boat to check in with plenty time to spare. Eventually a man in high vis shouted “OI” in our general direction which was our call to walk our bikes onto the boat.

After removing bags, and locking up the bikes we were lead off through a secret staircase and told ‘you see those yellow stairs, you’ll need to come back down those when you get to Picton’. Bro, you’ve just taken us through Narnia, how on earth am I supposed to remember how to get here.

We set up camp in the most comfy looking seats, tucked away in the corner ready for the crossing. A couple of cups of tea, and cookies later, we enter the Sounds and head closer to land.

Then, it was time to find the yellow stairs, which happened to be behind a fenced off gate. Do we go, do we not. Who knows. Where was our high-vis hero ‘Oi’ to guide us back!

Finally a family brazenly go through the gate, so we follow. Then comes the task of finding the Narnia door again, James opens a couple of doors that are to the inner workings of the ship, but eventually we find Narnia and our bikes again.

We set off from the port, with daylight fading fast.

Climbing out of Picton, we have only one teeny hill of 160m climbing which is over in a flash. But with trucks passing us, the hard shoulder disappearing and daylight gone, we are greeted by some puddles on the road. With no way of safely scooting around them, you ride straight through, and the person behind braces for the face exfoliation that follows!

Soon enough, we make it to Spring Creek, and find our bed for the evening.

The sandwiches that were supposed to be for lunch, repurposed for dinner and a cup of tea later, it was time for bed.

Day 1, complete.

It’s good to be adventuring again!