Picton - Out of the Rains

You never know whats around the corner. That's one of the great gifts of travel.

Each time we've rounded the bend of this journey, there have been surprises and unexpected discoveries.  When you think you've seen it all, you're probably mistaken. This unassuming motel in a little stopover town called Picton proved no exception. 

Upon entering through lace laden sliding glass doors, we discover wine colored walls, vaulted ceilings...and...a SPIRAL STAIRCASE leading up to a LOFT containing two twin beds, a TV, & a view above rooftops looking towards the bay. 

What a dream for kids! They were absolutely elated :) 

Drizzle continued and we had no ambition to leave our dwelling.  We lounged and watched television.  I eventually pulled myself away from the endless stream of entertainment to get dinner supplies.  

We ate our second steak pie and veggies. And after some MAJOR coaxing (plus Teddy's help) we pulled the kids from our collective state of dormancy and out into this new town.  I was admittedly quite melancholy myself.  Nothing like cold rain to inspire one to get out into the world, huh?

 

We came upon a play area with a pirate ship and splash park. Nearby, there was an odd shallow pool with a "no swimming" sign and some tracks that encircled it. Upon further inspection, we saw a poster for a volunteer club model train and sailboat group! Thus the pond! Thus the tracks! Plus there was a phone # for Brian so we determined to make a call tomorrow and see what was happening.   

We carried on and checked out the docks and ferry landing. As we passed back through the center strip, we came upon a folk and blues duo about to start their set. 

Sitting outside the glass on the sidewalk we watched them play their set.  After a bit, Corey and kids headed home and I stayed on watching.

They were talented, dynamic, and had amazing chemistry together. I couldn't help but let my lingering melancholy overcome me. This time, there was no holding back the long time persistent ache in me for musical camaraderie. I enjoyed what they were doing in that cozy venue, but, alas there I sat. The glass wall a reminder that I yet remain an outsider to the experience of sharing music in the world with a band. 

I walked home in the rain on dark streets and gave into my tears. As I slid down the self pity slide, I let all the inner voices have their way with me. I arrived back at our place, slipped into the room and planned to continue my cry somewhere alone.  

However, as I came in, Melody greeted me immediately saying "Mommy I have a surprise for you!" 

As I took off my sopping wet jacket, she urged me not to peek... 

Then at her call, I turned around...to...I kid you not...

a towering bouquet of bright red flowers!  

Her smile and earnestness to love made the good tears flow.  

Here I was in a bath of self pity, and God spoke life into these dark sullen chambers of my heart in the form of a 5 year old's crazy random extravagant love.  

(Apparently she had insisted on stopping at the grocery store on their way home to get me flowers, unreal right?!)

I also noticed anew the picture on the wall; a couple sheltered under umbrella in rainy city streets, his arm around her.  I stood before it and studied it, knowing I'm the woman in this picture, and sheltering, comfort, and tender love is truly at hand, right here, right now.  I'm not alone. 

I picked out an array of movies from the front desk.  We made popcorn and cozied in to watch Free Willy. But the old pain of scratched DVDS shut that one down.  So we put on Oliver Twist instead.  

Well, we should have had more sense. 

Nothing quite like that movie to keep the aura of darkness and gloom persisting. We somehow endured the whole darn depressing film.  Naturally the kids were disturbed and not ready to sleep afterwards, so Corey swooped in with an over-the-top happiness story of fluff and color and all things well.  

Thank goodness there are ends to days and new beginnings in the morning. 

I woke before the sun and took my mug of tea and headed out for a hike up the Picton Harbor View Track up a jut of land to overlook bay.  Determined to get more sunshine in my eyes and heart, this was a new day.

The peace of the morning and setting my eyes on open space was renewing. 

After we checked out of the hotel, we headed up the road to a campground (this city's lodging was all packed due to the shortage of Ferries and a backup of ppl waiting to cross the Strait). On our way back into town I took my first turn at the wheel of the truck, and drove us successfully on the left side of the road!

Corey departed for a bike excursion & kids and I headed to the park.

Figured I might as well call this Brain on the poster to find out the happenings with the trains and sailboats.  Unexpectedly, he said he'd be over in 15 minutes to open the train house and show us around! 

He was a grandfatherly figure complete with stories and gifts, showed us the model trains (though couldn't run it without the whole team of volunteers) and let the kids sail the boats on the little pool.  We chatted on the bench and it was pleasant to make acquaintance with this former globe traveler/now writer and "goodwill ambassador" of Picton.  

After we thanked him and say goodbye, I took the kids to buzz around the old school merry-go-ground, we grabbed lunch, and Corey joined back up with us.  

After a round of mini-golf, I took the bike for am 8.5 mile spin over to Waikawa and NZ's largest harbor. Despite a couple embarrassing crashes on hairpin gravel turns, it was a delight to be on wheels; taking in trees, clouds, and vast open vistas along the way. 

Later, we feasted heartily at Black Beards on the harbor.  Kids were in amazement at unexpected ice cream for desert and the Lamborghini parked in the lot made Mel collapse in the grass in amazement of seeing real one "in person."  We walked the docks until all that was left of their ice cream was their chocolate mustaches and headed back to the campground for our last night in the tent.  

That night, getting ready for bed in the dark and cold, in amenities that were pretty cruddy, I couldn't help but feel proud of the kids for their all around good-natured attitudes through each new experience.  And then, as usual, there was Corey, strolling around the campground in the dark, munching on an apple absolutely content and at ease. 

Danforth tucked in and wasn't acting himself, hiding under his covers, avoiding interaction, and soon was asleep.  My stomach aching from the feast, I wasn't too far behind as Corey lulled us to sleep with another fantastic story.  

Sometime in the night, Danforth woke with urgency "I think I'm gonna puke!"  He scrambled across the tent and standing on the top rungs of the ladder, heaved his guts out. 

Directly onto all of our shoes below.  

Poor guy. 

We rubbed his back from the tent, helpless. I took him (and our shoes) to the bathroom to clean up and sit with him, his body shaking from the adrenaline.  After stabilizing we readily crashed back in beds. Jolted awake twice by trains passing directly overhead.

Packing up camp (read: cramming things and shuffling through bags in the trunk) in the cold dampness of the new day did not make for the cheeriest morning.  But hot tea and Melody's flowers, now re-homed in a gatorade bottle, were soothing reminders that it really wasn't "that bad." 

Just before departing the campground, Danforth and I inspected a rough trail at the end of the park that had a "Glow worms" sign. Besides bush whacking and some rock scrambling, we didn't come upon anything obvious. 

Only notable thing about that path, was at the start of it was a permanent trailer that homed a red haired woman with a red-hot temper.  After several rounds of her opening and slamming her window just long enough for her to poke her head through the slit and yell at us about how campers had to be off premise at 10 am and how this wasn't a public parking spot and so forth....I was pushed to a point of exasperation with such a dysfunctional interaction, that I finally hollered back "You could try kindness!" 

Corey departed for one more short ride, and kids and I headed into town, shaking the dust off from this place. 

The sun was already bright and warm on this side of town, and the kids and I hiked the trail to the harbor overlook. We then circled back with Corey for lunch at the playground, and some time at the library. Facetiming with my mom brought some needed familiar comfort of home.

Our time in Picton was coming to a close, so we headed to the Edwin Fox museum and ship.  This ship is one of the oldest surviving merchant ships in the world with quite a history; from transporting convicts to Australia, war troop carrier, early refrigeration ship, to bringing immigrants to New Zealand.  It was once partially submerged, and underwent a massive volunteer effort to bring it to Picton where it was dry docked and now its history lives on.  

It was mammoth and epic.  We were surprised at how raw it was walking around inside the hull, compared to what one might get in the states where everything is roped off, covered in plexiglass, and ensured that no lawsuits are filed for tripping or ankle twisting.  It was awesome to experience this masterpiece firsthand. I immersed myself in the history and story and legacy of this ship and stood in awe of those who've endured some seriously tough traveling conditions!

Corey suddenly felt an urgency to check out the ferry status and ran to get our vehicle in line.  His hunch was right, though it seemed early, cars were already piling up.  We had heard of travelers being held up for weeks waiting to get a ferry crossing (since two ships are currently out of commission).  

We were uncertain of our ticket and entrance to the ferry actually working, after hearing non stop news about all the problems, but after quite a wait, the line actually started to move!!!

But wait...WHERE'S THE CAR KEY!!!???  

We retraced our steps in our minds since Corey parked the car - the playground, the walk downtown...beginning to picture the worst.  But after a frantic search it was soon found in the rubble of our seats and we were then finally moving. Sheesh! After weeks of anticipating this crossing, & our deadline to return the borrowed vehicle in just two days...to not be able to board this thing all for a lost key?!  That would have been a serious tragedy! 

At last, we were driving on to the ferry despite all the odds, and we were leaving the South Island! 

-M