Wouldn’t you know it, after weeks of beautiful weather our first bad day would be when we were preparing to cross the Cook Straight to the south island. We heard the trip could be quite bad if the weather wasn’t good, so waking up to gale force winds and a bit of rain was not a good sign.
Luckily, the boat we took over was large, more like a cruise ship than a ferry. We loaded on the van and said goodbye to the north island.
Sad (the saying good-bye) and full of anticipation both! So . . . the wind and rain didn’t wreak too much havoc after all? How long did it take? Did everyone just pile into one big room or were there compartments? Food available? You sleep at all or just take in the scenery? I imagine you could see land at all times? Wow, what did it feel like to step onto South Island soil for the first time ever? To put size into perspective, how tall would you be compared to the back fence of the ferry in your first photo? Gosh, what next?!?!?!
Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention: I’m taking on Dad’s style of asking lots of questions. Love hearing the answers! (Plus, I really wonder the questions. ) XOXOX
Nah, the trip was pretty calm. I’m not sure if it was because the wind was going in the right direction or because the boat was so big, or what. I barely felt the boat move. I spent time running around to various decks and checking out the view. It was really windy so that was kind of fun.
Yeah I could see the land at all times. I was actually pretty surprised when I could see both islands at the same time – they didn’t look far apart at all.
The back fence in the photo is hand rail height.
By the way, I’m not sure if I should be capitalizing north island and south island? Are they proper nouns? I see that you did, so I would think maybe I should as well. I have been wondering this for a while. I think I used to capitalize them, but now I haven’t been.
I will post more about the scenery and stepping on the south island in my next post. Right now we have to check out and get Sheryl to the airport.
I can just see you checking out the view from different decks. I suppose I don’t even need to ask if you went to the top deck. But . . . how abuot the crow’s-nest? Like when you took the ski lift in Colorado the absolute furthest it would go and then climbed up even higher where no one else had gone. Or like that time you were eating with Miriam at the top of the Seattle Space Needle and you snuck out of the restaurant and climbed the exterior ladder to the tip-top ball on the needle. What’s a mother to do?!?! I love it that you’re a risk-taker and that you always seem to come out fine and with great memories. Stay that way (safe)!!! Oh, about the capitalization of the islands. Well, I didn’t even remember that I’d been capitalizing them. And when you asked, I wasn’t really sure. I knew the rule, but I didn’t know how the islands fit the rule. Like . . . in the last sentence, obviously I wouldn’t capitalize. Or if I said south Michigan, I wouldn’t capitalize “south.” Or if I said south acres of Gunderland, I wouldn’t capitalize “south acres.” (OK, so not super representative examples.) In other words, I didn’t know if “south” and “north” were official names of the islands–proper nouns–or not. Well, I only checked as far as Google (not capitalized if I say I went “googling” ). All the listings had “South Island” and “North Island” capitalized, and I’m guessing they’re correct. (Just knew you’d want to also know that tidbit about Google/googling. Hehehe. And, no, “tidbit” is *not* hyphenated as I moments ago thought. And, yes, I do clearly use too many smiley faces and exclamation points! But, then, that fact was known long ago. You know what they say: Once you know the grammar rules, you can choose to break them.) OK, now there’s a case of way TMI (appropriately in caps!)!!! Just having a bit of fun. As long as you know the rules and use them when it counts, I don’t care how you write me. I just love it that you write!!! XOXO(ALLCAPS)XOXOXOX! Oh, one last thing: I didn’t realize Sheryl had to go so soon. So she won’t get to see virtually any of the South Island? Was she disappointed? Wow, just you and Beth for the first time since Julia arrived? OK, going now.
Great! I was waiting for ferry crossing pictures! Glad the trip was fun – and not just cold and wet and uncomfortable. I noticed Milford Sound on the map today, near Queenstown. So maybe you’ll go up there sometime.
No mom, I didn’t make it up to the crows nest . And I’m not sure what you are talking about with me climbing the space needle? I don’t remember that, haha. In fact, I didn’t know I had been to Seattle.
Thanks for the info on capitalizing. Now what about if I write “The South Island” – do I have to capitalize the word “the”?
No problem with getting extra chatty. I do that sometimes as well. You could break it up into paragraphs though . I would just do a double space, as indenting wont work.
Yeah Sheryl left yesterday. We had a good trip and she got to see a lot of stuff. She was here for almost three weeks and we covered a lot of ground. Like you said, just me and Beth now!
Dad,
We will definately try to get to Milford Sound. We came through Marlborough Sound on the way in on the ferry. I will put more info about that in my next post.
12 Comments »
Comment by josh — May 21, 2007 @ 8:58 am
Wouldn’t you know it, after weeks of beautiful weather our first bad day would be when we were preparing to cross the Cook Straight to the south island. We heard the trip could be quite bad if the weather wasn’t good, so waking up to gale force winds and a bit of rain was not a good sign.
Luckily, the boat we took over was large, more like a cruise ship than a ferry. We loaded on the van and said goodbye to the north island.
Comment by josh — May 21, 2007 @ 8:59 am
Here is the Interislander ferry:
Comment by Peg Moore — May 21, 2007 @ 9:48 am
Sad (the saying good-bye) and full of anticipation both! So . . . the wind and rain didn’t wreak too much havoc after all? How long did it take? Did everyone just pile into one big room or were there compartments? Food available? You sleep at all or just take in the scenery? I imagine you could see land at all times? Wow, what did it feel like to step onto South Island soil for the first time ever? To put size into perspective, how tall would you be compared to the back fence of the ferry in your first photo? Gosh, what next?!?!?!
Comment by Peg Moore — May 21, 2007 @ 9:50 am
Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention: I’m taking on Dad’s style of asking lots of questions. Love hearing the answers! (Plus, I really wonder the questions.
) XOXOX
Comment by josh — May 21, 2007 @ 10:14 am
Nah, the trip was pretty calm. I’m not sure if it was because the wind was going in the right direction or because the boat was so big, or what. I barely felt the boat move. I spent time running around to various decks and checking out the view. It was really windy so that was kind of fun.
Yeah I could see the land at all times. I was actually pretty surprised when I could see both islands at the same time – they didn’t look far apart at all.
The back fence in the photo is hand rail height.
By the way, I’m not sure if I should be capitalizing north island and south island? Are they proper nouns? I see that you did, so I would think maybe I should as well. I have been wondering this for a while. I think I used to capitalize them, but now I haven’t been.
I will post more about the scenery and stepping on the south island in my next post. Right now we have to check out and get Sheryl to the airport.
Comment by Peg Moore — May 21, 2007 @ 11:29 am
I can just see you checking out the view from different decks. I suppose I don’t even need to ask if you went to the top deck. But . . . how abuot the crow’s-nest? Like when you took the ski lift in Colorado the absolute furthest it would go and then climbed up even higher where no one else had gone.
Or like that time you were eating with Miriam at the top of the Seattle Space Needle and you snuck out of the restaurant and climbed the exterior ladder to the tip-top ball on the needle. What’s a mother to do?!?! 
I love it that you’re a risk-taker and that you always seem to come out fine and with great memories. Stay that way (safe)!!! 
Oh, about the capitalization of the islands. Well, I didn’t even remember that I’d been capitalizing them. And when you asked, I wasn’t really sure. I knew the rule, but I didn’t know how the islands fit the rule. Like . . . in the last sentence, obviously I wouldn’t capitalize. Or if I said south Michigan, I wouldn’t capitalize “south.” Or if I said south acres of Gunderland, I wouldn’t capitalize “south acres.” (OK, so not super representative examples.) In other words, I didn’t know if “south” and “north” were official names of the islands–proper nouns–or not. Well, I only checked as far as Google (not capitalized if I say I went “googling” 
). All the listings had “South Island” and “North Island” capitalized, and I’m guessing they’re correct. (Just knew you’d want to also know that tidbit about Google/googling. Hehehe. 
And, no, “tidbit” is *not* hyphenated as I moments ago thought. 
And, yes, I do clearly use too many smiley faces and exclamation points! 
But, then, that fact was known long ago. 
You know what they say: Once you know the grammar rules, you can choose to break them.) OK, now there’s a case of way TMI (appropriately in caps!)!!! Just having a bit of fun. As long as you know the rules and use them when it counts, I don’t care how you write me. I just love it that you write!!! XOXO(ALLCAPS)XOXOXOX! Oh, one last thing: I didn’t realize Sheryl had to go so soon. So she won’t get to see virtually any of the South Island? Was she disappointed? Wow, just you and Beth for the first time since Julia arrived? OK, going now.
Comment by dad — May 21, 2007 @ 1:27 pm
Great! I was waiting for ferry crossing pictures! Glad the trip was fun – and not just cold and wet and uncomfortable. I noticed Milford Sound on the map today, near Queenstown. So maybe you’ll go up there sometime.
Comment by Peg Moore — May 22, 2007 @ 5:57 am
OK, it’s the next day and I’ve come to my senses. Sorry for that goofy, long comment yesterday!
XOXOX
Comment by Clara — May 22, 2007 @ 1:38 pm
I’ve been following all the way and am anxious to see photos and read your descriptions of the south island. Thanks for helping us all travel along.
Comment by josh — May 22, 2007 @ 6:25 pm
No mom, I didn’t make it up to the crows nest
. And I’m not sure what you are talking about with me climbing the space needle? I don’t remember that, haha. In fact, I didn’t know I had been to Seattle.
Thanks for the info on capitalizing. Now what about if I write “The South Island” – do I have to capitalize the word “the”?
No problem with getting extra chatty. I do that sometimes as well. You could break it up into paragraphs though
. I would just do a double space, as indenting wont work.
Yeah Sheryl left yesterday. We had a good trip and she got to see a lot of stuff. She was here for almost three weeks and we covered a lot of ground. Like you said, just me and Beth now!
Comment by josh — May 22, 2007 @ 6:26 pm
Dad,
We will definately try to get to Milford Sound. We came through Marlborough Sound on the way in on the ferry. I will put more info about that in my next post.
Comment by josh — May 22, 2007 @ 6:26 pm
No problem Clara. It is fun to think that about others interested in our adventures.
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