We tore ourselves away from Mel and Michelle's fabulous hospitality on Saturday. That night we stopped at Pelorus Bridge, an old favourite of Pip's. It is the site of a bridge across the Pelorus, historically a major obstacle on the road between Nelson and Picton. Now there is little there except a caf�, and extensive DOC camping availability, surrounded by walks of all grades into the bush.
Pelorus was the sailing vessel that explored these parts, and thus this useful pre-chronometer instrument is honoured. Funnily enough, in the Tasman the French ship Astrolabe lent her name to several geographical features. Rather prettier than calling the headland off which you've marked a waypoint GPS Cape.
On Saturday we did several of the shorter walks, which were great. We planned to do the longer walk (and remember the camera) on Sunday morning, but woke up to torrential rain. Standing-under-the-hosepipe rain, so we abandoned that plan.
Instead we drove on to Picton and met up with Milly, the other owner of the van. Her pals Helen and Mary kindly invited us to join their Sunday night BBQ, which was great fun.
The pic is the Queen Charlotte Sound as we steamed north. We consoled ourselves with the thought that we will be coming back in a few weeks, not least to return Puff to Milly.