Picton, New Zealand - 17 January - Thursday - 8:00am to 4:00pm

Pat, wearing corsage, at Picton Harbor

 

Phil and I are off the ship walking to town by 9:30 am -- Colette and Marc are on an excursion.  As we leave the gangway of the ship -- two local Picton women are giving all the ladies small corsages made from fresh flowers -- even pining them on us -- such a nice gesture. 

Picton is a seaside town close to the head of Queen Charlotte Sound on the South Island of New Zealand.   We come upon The Edwin Fox Maritime Museum -- it looks interesting so we go in.   We are told to watch the movie upstairs -- look at the artifacts and then go see the Edwin Fox -- a sailing ship built in 1853 in India for Great Britain -- the actual ship (or what's left of it) is outside the museum in dry dock.

Phil at the Helm of the Edwin Fox

The movie gives a history of the Edwin Fox from 1853 through its varied life as a supply ship -- an immigrant and convict transport ship -- a refrigeration ship and a coal ship.    The Edwin Fox sat in Shakespeare Bay NZ for twenty years before being towed to Picton and by 1999 this vessel was dry docked and preserved.   Purchased for a shilling in 2015, the Edwin Fox is now owed by the Marlborough Heritage Trust. 

Pat in the Hold of the Edwin Fox

I am excited because The Edwin Fox is about the same size and same vintage as the sailing ship, Trimountain, which transported my Fitzpatrick ancestors (parents and five children) from Queenstown, Ireland to Boston, MA in 1851.  

The ship has been fitted-out to look like it would have when immigrants were passengers  -- from the bunks to the tables and the cooking facilities.  As Phil and I wander around this ship --- it seems so massive but probably did not to the 400 passengers as they crossed the high seas over 150 years ago.  This museum was an unexpected find  and I hate to leave it, but it's time to move on.

It is a tricky walk into town but we are told to follow the blue line painted on the sidewalk and we'll be fine.   The blue line takes us through Picton Foreshore Reserve along the waterfront -- this has been dedicated to public use since 1918.  Today a number of families are here enjoying this beautiful day.    

Picton Foreshore Reserve

We continue to the Marina and climb the Coathanger Bridge -- named because of its shape.    We note the residences high on the hill with spectacular views over the waterfront. Once downtown we stop into the library and I drop Phil at Picton's Daycare for husbands while I shop.   I purchase a pair of hand-knit fingerless gloves at a shop selling items made by local artists.

Phil at the top of the Coathanger Bridge

Then Phil stops at the local Irish Bar and I head back to the ship to write up the information on the Edwin Fox for my genealogy files and spend the rest of the afternoon organizing and labeling photos ---- we take too many.

Phil at Picton's Husband Day Care

It is on my way back to the ship that I think about how happy all these people are in Picton.   Every single person we have encountered is genuinely happy.  I mention this to one of the workers in the dock area as I thank her for the blue line since it made it so easy to get to town.  She told me she was from the Czech Republic --- has been here for twenty years and wouldn't think of going back.  She thought for a moment and said, "There is really no reason not to be happy."   She has a good point.

Pat at the Picton Library

We have drinks with Colette and Marc in the Living Room as the Quest leaves Picton Harbor.   The entertainment this evening is a guitarist from Melbourne -- I was leery but he is excellent and puts on a very good show.

Thanks for Reading.

Pat