Two’s Company Set To Sail but the Travel Tide Plays Havoc! Part 2.

Since we arrived, New Zealand has truly decided to give us the full weather catalogue this trip. As we leave Picton for the second time in 24 hours it gives Two’s Company time to reflect.

The Windy City Turned Force 10 Tuesday 21st!

Our next mission was to get to Picton for the Coastal Pacific train to Christchurch on Tuesday. Standing between us and the train? It felt like about a million miles of South Pacific and the infamous Cook Strait lay ahead.

We had booked the three-and-a-half-hour hop across the water on the Interislander ferry.

What have we learnt about Wellington? It’s windy. This morning it was officially gusting at Force TEN. A Force TEN, people! Battling to the station (Platform 10, fittingly), Helen was nearly knocked off her feet by a gust strong enough even to send a man tumbling. James was worried; Force Ten on his mind, but Helen, trooped on and just kept walking full steam ahead.

We should not have worried about the wind on land, though.

Once underway, as the swell grew, Helen’s head in Kindle, another chapter read as we rolled left-to-right and up-and-down like a helter-skelter!  

James outside before turbulent water

A touch chaotic, but we survived the Cook Strait's legendary cool water meets warm water turmoil, before we knew it, we had made it to dry land!

From South Pacific Ferry to Costal Pacific train.

All checked in, despite the heavy rain, the vibes were good, James even thinking about the chance of another cruise given Helen’s recently realised maritime efforts.

As we headed south out of the station it was not long before the scenery started to change: From the deep blue sea to the incredibly rich green hills. Lots of sheep and lambs, pine trees morphing into palm trees, as the wind picked up again, wind chasing water into spray across sea surface.

Blue skies appeared, fields melting downward to salt pools encased sea and then the commentary unhinged with the story of the Kekerengu UFO (a tale for another time!).

The train then stops. Not a gentle pause. A full-on drama an emergency stop…  ‘wildfires’ ahead.

Free tea and coffee were the order of the afternoon while the train manager and support crew assessed the very real danger.

Two’s Company had yet again found themselves in a serious "Stop, Start" situation. Then we shunted backwards for some time away from the danger ahead (no idea what would happen next, we were just slowly backtracking.)

A second chance to see scenery missed and then halted again. The wind was blowing strongly again as a single fire engine passed heading toward the fire dome some distance away now!

More smoke from the tree line behind, surely not? It began to feel extremely strange, like we were in a movie, cast in roles, for which we had not signed up to play the part! We sat motionless, waiting to hear what was next. Suddenly we stopped, looking back we could see plumes of smoke rising upward and drifting, surely not a second fire this time but behindus! Are we cut off the concern rushed through minds…?

Smoke from a second fire behind is seen in the distance.

The crew wander up and down, collecting rubbish, making decisions in the background, more free tea and coffee is a good shout from the KiwiRail company, seriously saving the day. However, one of Twos Company (guess who!) felt like something a little stronger was required.

No way forward, though behind was clear, there was only one decision to be made! A support vehicle was coming from Picton, a return to Blenheim required, 87km in reverse, Christchurch becoming more distant the longer our day’s journey continued.

We arrived at a motel in a place called Blenheim the booking made by Kiwi Rail, only some twenty minutes down the road from where we had been happy to leave the Interislander and the South Pacific behind some 9 hours previously.

On a more serious note, people were made to evacuate their homes to places of safety around the area of the wildfire. So, from the safety of our unexpected motel stopover we could only hope all will be well for the people affected!

(Continued)

Wednesday 22 October

Sadly we awoke to find that five homes had been destroyed by yesterday’s Wildfires.

https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/10/21/multiple-large-fires-in-kaikoura-schools-and-homes-evacuated/

https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/10/21/live-air-nz-pauses-wellington-flights-as-high-winds-batter-nz/

Onward to Christchurch

Returning to Picton was Groundhog Day, nevertheless we were off … Two’s company had heard about the deviation (links above) eventually our train slowed and we past an unforgettable site.

One of Five Properties Destroyed

Scorched Land adjacent to Railway Track

A landscape devastated by fire the night before it was truly terrible to witness something we shall never forget.

Fighting The Fire Continues

As we left the helicopters and firefighters behind, the Costal Pacific trundled along and the scenery became increasingly more spectacular. With seals to spot, although extremely difficult to get a picture as their bodies were camouflaged by the enormous rocky outcrops; it was almost like a child’s game of nature, who sees the seal first wins a NZ 💵 dollar!

How many seals can ‘you’ see?

However, the cormorants were easy to spot, flocking together, perched higher on towering bolders, with the Pacific Ocean crashing its waves far below.

We carry wonderful images from our extended journey to Christchurch (some are shown below.)

Yet also we share the sad memories of lives affected by fire. New Zealand people are extremely resilient. After all, living above tectonic plates must be like sleeping with deadly mischief.

Arriving in Christchurch we become aware of yet another storm and a weather warning for severe wind and rain tomorrow… Rail and buses already suspended. One thing is for sure, we will make the best of the day we have in Christchurch before continuing our journey on Friday.