Top of the South Island

Just got up to Picton after 10 days or so on the road. I left good weather in Wanaka and hit up Mt. Cook where I camped in the most unimaginable storm of my life. Sustained winds at 90kph and rainfall over 60cm in a 24hr period. My tent finally leaked which I suppose shouldn't have been a surprise considering. After leaving that beautiful mountainous region that I couldn't see I made my way back over to Chch. where I spent a few days with some friends that I met the first go around over there. Headed up the coast and camped all along the way. Had fairly good weather all the way to where I am now. Tomorrow I head up into the Marlborough Sound, where a water taxi will drop my bike and I off for a 6 day journey back on single track. Hope the bike holds up....and if not and I end up having to push it uphill well, I'll just curse myself for thinking this was a good idea. Merry Christmas everyone. Cheers!! Pics: mural in Kaikura, top of Mt. Roy hike outside of Wanaka, one of 4 different painted bikes on the side of a second hand store Banks Peninsula, me thinking I can still climb underhangs, some beach camp spot 25km outside of Blenheim.