We arrived via ferry into Picton yesterday. Picton is the port village in the south island. We expected to either rent a car or take a bus into Christchurch, our next destination. Apparently the 1,600 other people on board the ferry had the same idea. We weren't able to secure a car rental and there was only one seat on the bus available, so we decided to hitchhike. A couple picked us up after about 45 minutes taking us into Blenheim, appropriately nicknamed "hitchhikers hell" here we waited for what seemed like forever, but was probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 1:45 minutes. We walked out of town and decided to stop in front of a campground saying that if we didn't get a ride by 5:00 p.m. we would camp here for the night. Someone came along about 5 minutes later, taking us into the next little town. He dropped us off at another campground and we had the same plan. WIthin 5 minutes again we scored a ride with a kiwi who was on holiday on a mountain bike trip up north. We arrived in Christchurh at about 7 p.m. and got accomodations at a really nice backpacker. We were nervous about getting a place to stay because all of the other ones that we called were full. We got the last room at this one!! I hope our luck continues. I'll put up a picture of it. Now we are off to rent a gargantuan 4 wheel drive vehicle (the only one left) and we are driving around the South Island. Next destination Queenstown where I plan to do some canyon swinging and "sledding" down a river. Manuel will watch from a safe distance. Until next time....