10/06/2018 - Back in Picton after 6 months

The first night in Picton was unusually mild. Wearing long clothes and the second blanket turned out to be a bit too much - how could we have known with the fluctuating temperatures depending on the region? ;)
We gave our car a break and left it at the campsite. The marina in Picton was within walking distance anyway. But compared to our first visit six months ago, the beautiful harbor area seemed rather sleepy. Barely a boat could be heard. We found a bit more action at the promenade. An improvised ice rink was set up to the delight of many children. To loud music, they pushed themselves back and forth on the small surface as best they could. After watching the wild hustle and bustle for a moment, we continued our way to the brand new library. Here we found very comfortable seating, a nice view, and perhaps the fastest Wi-Fi in all of New Zealand. After uploading a new blog and charging our electronics, we took the opportunity to focus on the crossing to the North Island. Depending on the day and time, the prices fluctuated greatly. In the end, we decided on June 14, 2018. So we set foot on the northern island exactly four months before our return flight to Germany.
After finishing the most important tasks at the library, we walked to the supermarket and bought food for the upcoming dinners.
In the evening, we reflected on our wonderful time on the South Island of New Zealand.

When we arrived in Picton on January 6, 2018, we swore that we wouldn't come back until we "leave"/return to the North Island. Well, here we are again. It almost feels as if we never left and yet one becomes aware of how much we actually experienced, saw, and learned in the past months.
We look forward to the ferry ride with mixed emotions. We are excited about the remaining time - and yet it feels strange and sad to say goodbye to the beautiful South Island soon; you have given us many adventures and unforgettable moments!

The next morning, we left the campsite around 10:00 am and went for a short hike. Within an hour, you can reach a viewpoint over the city via the "Tirohanga Track" near the city. The path to the lookout was not particularly exciting - the trail was well built and mostly uphill. However, once again, New Zealand's bird diversity excited us. But on this day, one bird stood out in particular. We watched a "Tui" for more than three minutes, which sang beautifully. The range of sounds it presented was amazing. Luckily, we didn't have to search for our camera for long and recorded the chirping for a while.
After a total of 40 minutes, we reached our destination - the viewpoint overlooking Picton. With beautiful weather, we had an overview of the entire city, the harbor area, and the waterway used by the large ferries during the crossing. In the distance, we could see green hills framing the sea arms in the north of the South Island - a truly beautiful sight.
After the morning exercise, we took it easy for the rest of the day and strolled through the city. In the early afternoon, we changed campsites. Not far from the city center, we parked near the highway - at a free parking lot. Twelve cars are allowed to park overnight here. This "campsite" does not have great facilities. Besides two toilets, there was a handwashing basin on an outside wall and trash cans.
Since we had already prepared our dinner the day before, we only toasted some bread on the camping stove and disappeared into the car along with the red cabbage salad.
How will the night be when there are no waves but loud trucks rumbling by?