Last day in NZ

Day 7 (01/07/11)
Okay, I understand that I would say that I would write more...and here I am just finishing up my NZ trip.  I'm sorry.  Not that life is an excuse, but the last two weeks I have been moving and becoming in control of my life.  So now - here is the last day of NZ.  I must say that it was not what I expected and if I say (or type) things that are inappropriate to you (or someone you know) I am to blame.  Here it goes.

Holy crap, it has been a long day.  I made a not so good decision this morning when I didn't stop for petrol (gas for your Americans) when I knew I should have, but I just thought I'd wait another half hour...until the things opened up.  Then I realised that the next town with petrol was 121kms away.  So I prayed.

I really should have known that I would make it - but I got scared.  And then I didn't want to stop.  Which sucked because I never actually got any sheep pictures (unbelievable for someone who has just drove around the south island), and I didn't get any pictures of the honey bees - which I thought were awesome so I tried to find some other persons pictures for you, but not even Dave Megorden, my photography friend could even get one - so I don't feel so bad. These honey boxes were randomly place on the side of the highway, so unless you knew they were coming you had to see them in a blink of the eye.  I did manage to pull over at a look out point and it made me think of a driving to Melbourne on the Great Ocean Road.






Drove a bit more and hit Fox Glacier, finally some petrol - and my breathing is back to normal.  The actual glacier was a bit out of the way (4 kms on an empty tank) - and lets face it - if you've see one you've seen them all.  Growing up on St. Mary's Glacier in CO I can safety say that the idea of everlasting snow just doesn't entice me as it does some others.

The lower part of the drive reminded me of Costa Rica (shout out to Christa with her "beautiful eyes"), Melbourne (to Devin and Mark) and Pittsburgh (to Mandy, Rick and Katherine) all nicely rolled in a burrito (mainly because I'm from Colorado).  In other words, there were great waterfalls, amazing beaches and rocks and unforgettable bridges.  All of this, of course in my mind.

It was onward and upward to Aurthor's Pass.  A long grooling (is this a word), steep climb to the top.  Luckily the van did all the work and by the time I reached the top (around 11:45am) there as a scenic overlook, and I thought, "What a great place for lunch."  Little did I know...




He's cute, yeah?  Again...little did I know.

I opened the back and grabbed my remaining salad from the other day.  Then there was a click, click on top of the van...and another click, click.  Then some more click, click, click, click....

All of a sudden a parrot swooped his head around from the roof of my van to look at me.  I politely said, "Hello."  (as I do try and be a lady sometimes) and then he jumped down.  I ran to the front to save my salad and free my arms, but they had surrounded me.  There were four of them and they were heading for the back of my van.  Now I understand that I had been on the road for six days, had not done laundry and maybe had not been very keen about throwing my trash away...but seriously?  Couldn't you stay away from my van?


Nope not them, they guarded the back of my van like a British Guard.  Every time I got close one would run directly at me.  Needless to say, I was scared. 

Let me tell you.  The other tourists were LOVING this.  They thought it was the best thing ever..Getting really good close ups.  me?  Not so much.  Yes my van had a funk, but that is no way to treat a lady (if that is what some people refer to me as).  Then the one that kept running at me - jumped in the van!!!!  WTF (and I'm not big on acronyms).

One guy was like, "Ha ha ha, that bird is in your van."  I was like, "Ha ha ha F' you!"  Why aren't you helping me here?"




Now I'm over the pass - it looks a lot like  Colorado over here.  The tundra dessert with Mountains.  Not as exciting on this side...

I pass a ski resort - this is the third or fourth I've passed, but for the life of me I can't see ANY ski lifts.  So I wonder how they get up tot he mountain?  Do they hike?  Because I'm not a big fan of hiking (unless I have snowshoes, with an actual pack to hold the skis and then maybe I would enjoy it). 

Anyway, I'm back in CO land (and right now I know I shouldn't write this but I'm here to share) and I put on (die) PILOT - Mutiny.  Bad decision.  It makes me start thinking and when I start thinking its never good.  But this thought comes to me - Yes obviously about someone specific - and I wonder what is the purpose of knowing him.

Everyone I can think of who is or was in my life has or had a purpose - all but him?  Why is he there - should I even care?  Has he taught me anything?  Have I taught him anything?  Is he going to teach me something and if so, when is that supposed to happen?

Frick life is a puzzle.  I had a day dream (which I do often day dream) that he wrote a sad, delightful overwhelming song about me and played it at he Blue Bird (in CO) when I move back to Denver...like I said, I shouldn't thin too much.  But then again - if I can't make myself feel crazy crazy - who will ever be able to...

Okay, back to "reality."  But as noted in Rocky Horror Picture Show, "There are those that say life is an illusion, and that reality is but a figment of the imagination."  I don't know which one I would like to be in...

Well I made it to Christchurch.  Found and information centre - who called the hostel I thought I was staying at, for me to find out hat I didn't have a booking.  Fortunately the lady was nice enough to find me a be at the YMCA.  So I paid up and headed there - unpacked the car and returned it.  Got all showered up and headed out...oh no.  

(Sorry there aren't that many pictures).

Christchurch is in shambles.  It is quite sad really - after the earth quake pretty much everything is closed until is is inspected and considered safer to open. There are so many places that are close still and scaffolding around the town.  I wonder what it was like for my brother when he was here - Probably very different...but of course I don't hear too many stories.  So I wonder what him and Jethro were up to..







I, being the person I am, tried to not see the destruction - so no terrible photographs.  Well, now I'm at Mac's Brewbar.  I'm not sure how long I'll last tonight (I'll later regret writing this).  but I've had two "hoppy" beers and a half bowl of chips.  Maybe I'll walk by the Mexican place for a margarita...I should still find some dinner..

Part II (dose)

Tomorrow I go home - Frick!!!!!  I don't want to turn on my mobile - or open my computer.  Obviously the world is still turning even without me at my desk...I guess that proves that I'm not saving lives, but some how we have created a need for ourselves...a hole different story.


And there there was Richard.  He must be 34 now, and works at a book shop (that I stopped in).  I went to look for some good NZ books and he showed me some youtube clips and then recommended some books (of which I bought) not b/c I felt I had to - but because they were actual kiwi writers that I wanted to support.  Plus I got a great deal - 3 for $15.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U

If link doesn't work go to you tube and search Dove Evolution.

Then we talked - you know the nice kind and he asked me what I was u to tonight.  I asked for suggestions and he said I couldn't just go home and read (not that I would anyway).  So I joined him at Vespa where he bought me a beer.  We talked and he ran his mouth determined to prove to me that a high school drop out from Ireland was not stupid - and he wasn't.  It was probably the most interesting conversazione that I have had on the trip.  Economics, differences in society - how Christchurch finally got a Wendy's (think Dave Thomas Wendy's) before Australia.

He asked if I wanted to have a few MORe drinks and I mentioned that I needed some food.  So he recommended an Indian restaurant - but wanted to "double check" the menu back at the store.  We strolled on back and looked but it was okay for vegetarians...BUT then he SAID, "I'd join you if you weren't in a hurry..."

"Yeah, I better go.  My flight is at 7:00am." 

An then I left, thanking him for the beer and letting him know what a pleasure it was to meet him.  "Facebook the store." was the last thing I heard...what has this world come to?


So now on a mission to find food.  But I stopped at an arcade where a girl was ripping up the dance game...and then I realised I was in an arcade - FRICK.  Well, I walk back the way I came and into a Thia restaurant where I order and pull out this "journal."

Part III
I'm writing and a guy asked me if I'm writing a book - Funny - I did think about writing a book on day 2...but FRICK - where do these people come from (not that I'm going to ask them to go back to wherever they came from - I'd just like to know where it is).  Yes I like being hit on, especially being single but its like I have a sing on my back that says "Hit on Me!"  Well we will see what happens...

Part IV
Yes we did see what happened (I'm going to give you the abridged version).  I finished my meal - which wasn't very good - b=and headed to meat this guy (his name Ross from the UK and friends Chris (Kiwi) and Campbell (Aussie).  They were nice enough.  Chris bought me my first drink and I wondered if he used to be a camper (he had the socks and thongs thing going).  Then we danced to Irish music.  Considering we were at an Irish Pub it made sense.  I don't know what happens to me when I hear great/fun dancing music - but I love it and had such a great time.

Then it was talking with Ross and Campbell...and blah blah blah (I thought Ross was the front man) but ended up talking with Campbell the entire night.  He found out that I was from Columbine and from that point on it went down hill - the feeling sorry for me, wanting to be a hero, why couldn't be there...blah blah blah.  Its amazing how much you grow in 10 years.  Yep my 10 year high school reunion is this year.  FRICK.

Well, at the airport now.  Its amazing what you learn growing up.  Nelly Fertada - Campbell told me I look like her - that is one I've never heard before...

Day 6 (only one to go)

Day Six (6 Jan 2011)
Last night in the van was the battle of hf.style vs the blood sucking insects...As I was quietly reading before going to bed, I hear a buzzing noise in the van (I've come to learn that not many insects make buzzing noises in NZ except for the mosquito).  The first one was a simpleton - I was able to smash him mid flight with a clasp of the hands.  I thought it might be over, but then that buzzing sound returned so I turned on the inside dome light (as my headlamp was the only other one on and I didn't want him flying straight at my face).  This one must have been related to the first, because he came crashing down mid flight and I again had him killed in the palm of my hands.  Finally some peace, back to reading...but there it is again (its like they are multiplying).  This one was a bit trickier.  At first I kept trying to slap it with a book against the window but he was too fast.  Then I went to for the magazine slap (since its bigger) but again no avail. 

So I waited..gave him five minutes fore each of us to regroup (or to trick him into believing he had one and would get the feast of a life time that night).  Then I spotted him sitting on the front seat curtain and I swooped in with a quick standing hand slap...he sure didn't see that one coming and I was victorious.  Cautiously I sat there listening, looking for a sign that the battle wasn't over.  Then there he was sitting on the ceiling.  i couldn't do any hand clamps on this one - so I had to use the book.  SMASH, but I thought he got away; he wasn't on the ceiling and he wasn't on the book..so again I start to search the van...low and behold I had hit him (not exactly a kill strike, but a valiant maiming) and there he was lying on my bed spread.  I flicked him to the floor and finished the job. 

Final score:                hf.style - 4                                      blood sucking insects - nil

Luckily because of my mad insect killing skills I was able to sleep in peace (plus it rained all night so that was a plus).  I woke up, feeling good - cooked some brekky and headed out.  I was contemplating hiking (they refer to it as tramping) some more of the Kelper track, but by the time I got there it was raining quite hard so I pushed on to Queenstown.  I knew there was a hike there which looked pretty good.

Along the way I stopped in Kingston for a coffee and figured I should start planning my drive back to Christchurch.  The scenic route looked awesome - but it was over 10 hours drive, which is a lot in one day for a girl 6 days in on holiday. 

I made it to Queenstown and to the Queenstown Hill / Te Papunui Time Walk (3 hour return).  As the guide describes it,

This scenic walk climbs over 500m to the summit of Te Tapunui - mountain of intense sacredness.  At the summit, rock tors provide grandstand seating to take in the 360 degree panoramic view that includes the Remarkables, Cecil Peak, The Frankton and South Arms and Queenstown Bay.  

It was a hike that is for sure, but had some of the best views of Queenstown and surrounding mountains.  By the time I reached the top I was hiking in the clouds (which is pretty surreal), but still got some good pics.





After the hike I headed to the Caravan park (again not much camping in Queenstown) checked in, and decided to see what campsites might exist along the scenic route to Christchuch.  I headed to the department of conservation and got a booklet with all the campsites in the south island.  There were at least three in the general direction that I was heading and the perfect distance (i.e. if I start driving now I can get there in time to make dinner and cut my 10 hour drive down to about 6).

Well after finding that out, I figured I should just start driving tonight (plus I've stayed in Queenstown for two nights already it was time to move on).  I made a quick dash for the caravan park, took a shower, ate a snack (salad in fact and it was a treat!), used the internet and was telling them I was out of there.  And wouldn't you know it - they were nice enough to give me a refund (those Kiwis sure are nice).

Now I'm driving, heading to Christchurch on Hwy 6, through Mount Aspiring national park, up the west coast and over Arthur's Pass.  First stop was the campsites at Mount Aspiring.  The first one I stopped at wasn't so pleasant - just a large field for you to park in.  After camping at Henry's creek I really wanted a bit more.  So I drove on - got to the last campsite (which would have to do b/c it was the last) and it was adequite.



There was a 5 minute hike to the river and plenty of trees and scrubs around.  The drive has been well worth it, with all the rain in the past week the waterfalls are plentiful.  They literally come out of no where and it is an amazing site to see. 






Crazy that I only have one more day.  I have very much enjoyed this trip.  I didn't know if I could do it, or if I would enjoy my own company for a whole week - but it wasn't that bad.  What I'm not going to enjoy is turning my phone back on and entering the "real world" but I guess that is the price you have to pay to be able to have these adventures. 

Tomorrow shall be interesting - a quick 6 hour drive to Christchurch where I have no hostel booking.  The city had another earthquake on boxing day which was dead in the centre of the city so a lot of the hostels are still being inspected...I guess we'll see what happens.  Tonight I actually have to set an alarm (I want to make sure I get to Christchurch in time to walk around a bit). 

S.I. Day 5

Day Five (5 Jan 2011)
To answer your question - yes there was a guy in the dorm and he was a LOUD snorer.  I went to bed before him and got a good 2 hours of sleep before he woke me up, but once I was up there was no going back.  So I headed to the van for some sleep.  Guess that means I ultimately paid $30 for a good car park.

This morning I was up at 6:30 (which is probably earlier than I have see in many years), but it was for a good cause...to go kayaking!!  Met my tour guide and the group that would be along with me.  They gave us some thermals to put on, our spray skirt and jacket, and a life jacket.  A quick demonstration of how to paddle and the workings of the kayak (all in all about 20 minutes).  The singles all hooked up, as they were double kayaks, and we were out on the Fiord.

I was paired with a fiery red head, 22 year old, girl from Israel.  I'm pretty sure her name was Karen, but it also could have been Kate.  I thought this was a great paring as she was telling me how her and her dad just finished the Routeburn Track a few days ago (perfect she'll be athletic).  Then we go in our kayak and it seemed as though I was doing most of the paddling (which was confirmed as I sat in the back and watched her not paddle...a lot), but we never capsized so I guess I can't really complain.



The actual tour was quite long.  We first stopped just inside the Fiord, where our guide, Trish, told us how Milford Sound is incorrectly named.  It turns out that a sound is made when rivers cut through rocks and then fill the valley with the river water.  A fiord is created from glaciers cutting through the mountains and is then back filled by water from the ocean (or other large source).  I had no idea what either of them were five minutes ago, so I was pretty satisfied with the tour from that point on.

Next up with the waterfall - Lady Bowen


We stopped and took some pictures and then traveled into the "splash zone" but had to maneuver through some large rocks (good thing my partner wasn't paddling too much).  The Lady, supplies all the power to Milford Sound, so the natives tend to give it much respect (which it deserves).  Not sure if you can tell from the picture, but the waterfall is as tall as a 50 story building, indicating that the mountain it is coming from is ginormous.  We came out of the splash zone and our guide showed us this trick where she made us stare oat one point in the waterfall for about a minute.  Then as our eyes moved towards the trees and rocks they start to move and become distorted...a crazy thing the mind is (and how you can trick it).

We then moved on around the bend - and right when you get on the other side, not even 60 meters from the waterfall, the sound just disappears.  We kept to the outside and saw two gray seals.  Trish mentioned that Milford attracts young male seals who have recently been "kicked out" of their group.  The come to the fiord and hang out until they get big and strong and then return to the pack to fight all the males attempting to take control.  I think it is kind of like high school - people are ignored, grow up, get super rich and shove it in everyone's face at the next reunion.

I'm not going to lie, I was pretty tired at this point in the trip and we were probably at our furthest point from where we began.  Luckily, we paddled to the middle and sat in our make shift boat (when all the kayaks come together and hold onto each other).  We had a snack - mine again was peanut butter and honey tortilla, which I was despising at this point).  After our snack we had a long, long, long leisurely paddle back to home base.  Did I mention it was long - especially considering that my partner was not paddling...

We did make it back and after a quick change and goodbye to Karen/Kate, I was in the car driving.  About 10 minutes in I started to realise how tired I was and headed straight back to Henry's Creek.  I got a great spot, secluded from everyone else and slept.  I'm not sure how long I slept but I didn't get up until 6:00pm - so maybe 3 or 4 hours...like I said I was really tired (someone had to do all the paddling).

Then it was cleaning time in the van - I can't believe how messy I let it get!  Took inventory of what cloths I had left, washed out a few things in the lake and ate dinner.  There is something weird hanging in the trees behind my van, so I don't want to think about it too much before going to bed (but I did get a picture of it the next morning - can you tell what it is?).



Now to figure out what to do tomorrow...

Day Four on the South Island

Day Four (4 Jan 2011)
Well today mother nature made all the decisions for me.  I woke up at what I thought was really late in the morning, only to find out that it was 8:00.  But I was up, so I made a big brekky (eggs, tomato, cheese and a croissant) got everything in order and decided that I was still a bit tired so I was going to take a nap.  Got back into bed and laid there for about 45 minutes only to be woken up by a buzzing mosquito...so time to get up.


I had decided to hike to Marian Lake and I took the leisurely drive down the highway, stopping at some of the lookout points along the way.  The picture below was take at Mirror Lakes - it was a pretty fitting name.

Pulled off the highway and drove about a kilometer to the trail head.  Since I didn't make lunch before hand and the hike to Marian Lake is 3 hours, I figured I should get something together.  Here I am running around the van, opening and closing every door (at least 3 times each) and I finally have by peanut butter and honey tortilla, an apple, water, and my hiking gear.  I turn around to head up the trail (as I'm parked directly beside it) only to read the sign that says Marian Lake trail CLOSED.  Seriously?  How did I not notice that sign the last 15 minutes I was getting ready?  Well, there was a little bit of the walk you could do, so I did and managed to cross the swinging bride to see the white water rushing down the valley, but that was all mother nature allowed.







Again I find myself in a quandary not knowing exactly what to do and turned to my trusty old track map.  I took a look at my options and realised that I had passed a walk up to the Key Summit about 10 kilometers back.  As the author of my trail guide has described it as the "must see" hike on the way to Milford Sound, I figured that is where I should go.


The hike is approximately the same time return as the Brod Bay hike yesterday (again I have no idea how long it actually is - and might be a different distance as this one went straight up the mountain and Brod Bay was pretty level; and I have to assume that the average person walks these two types of hikes at different paces...but who knows).  


Note:  After doing a bit of research all I could find is that the Routeburn Track (of which the Key Summit follows part of it) is a total of 32 kilometers or a 3 day hike.  If a person averages about 7 hours a day, that would mean that the Key Summit hike is about 5 kilometers (half the distance of Brod Bay).  Yeah, I have no idea how far it is...

Personally, I thought the hike was intense...kind of like Mount Lofty (for those of you who have climbed Mount Lofty), but much longer and on an incline the entire time.  But it was sure beautiful.  There were small waterfalls cascading down the mountain (which you had to try and jump over to not get wet) and it made you feel as though you were in a rain forest.  After awhile the climate changed and it was out of the forest and into the alpine (kind of similar to Colorado).  At the top there was a 20 minute alpine nature walk, which included a laminated fact sheet.  Ohhh information!!! I quickly grabbed one (as nature was calling me) and soon come to find out that there is a look out point to the none other than Marian Lake (YES!!!).  





I take the trip to see the lake (again, not really my decision - nature was trying to show off its stuff).  I trek all the way up (sign said 5 minutes return) just to see..........nothing.  Literally, I couldn't see a thing.  I even asked the nice ladies next to me if I was missing it, because that has happened before, but they confirmed what I had fist suspected.  Well, I was up at the very top of the mountain with 360 degree views of Humboldt and Darran Mountains so I stopped and ate that lunch I packed so long ago (but to be honest I was getting really sick of peanut butter and honey tortillas - it was all I was eating for lunch every day). 





Now back to finish the nature walk.  I stop on this wood walking think to try and take my picture and low and behold - there she is!!!  There is Lake Marian right over in the distance.  I was so happy (I mean it looks like every other lake in the mountains - but bright, bright blue) but I had finally seen her.  Somehow I didn't get a picture of it, so you'll just have to go there yourselves to see her.


Driving again - to a bed this time.  There is only one place you can stay in Milford Sound - the Milford Sound Lodge - and I booked my accommodation so late there were no more caravan sites and I had to have a bed in a mixed dorm (but I was kind of excited to have a proper bed).  I got to the lodge in the mid-afternoon and was excited to sit down, relax, shower (where I even shaved my legs just to feel that much better), and eat.  

There was a shared kitchen at the lodge, which I used to cook my pasta (I think this is night 3 of eating pasta - which is quite alright by me), but I look around and almost everyone of us using the kitchen at that time is cooking pasta (we really should have discussed this before hand).  Luckily mine was done before everyone else, which is mainly due to the fact I was cooking for one while the others were cooking for 4 to 13 people.  Since I was out first, I thought I got a prime position on a picnic table outside.  Five minutes later I was swarmed by sand flies and had no protection on my skin (I mean common' I just showered).  So I ate as fast as I could and went to the van for some bug spray, but first a quick stop by my room.

Well, I probably shouldn't have stopped by my room.  Turns out there were ear plugs on my bed, and the bed next to me, and the ones on the other side of the room...oh no.  I mean it is very nice of them to be so kind and generous - but if you really want to be super kind here is my advice, "If you are a snorer, a known loud snorer, DON'T book a room in a shared dorm.  Its just the nice thing to do."


Now I'm outside and makes you think that it is 4 o'clock in the afternoon; really its 9:30 which still blows my mind.  I'm in a valley and there are four huge mountains around me.  





When I came to Milford Sound I knew it was remote - but heck!  There is literally a lodge a motel, one cafe and a bot transport centre.  I went into the "city" upon my arrive, and found one thing to do...a 20 minute nature walk (which really only took 10 minutes, including a few stops for pictures).  There were a lot of great views, but there is really NOTHING to do here unless you are on a boat (or for me tomorrow going on a kayaking trip).  

NZ Day Three

Day Three (3 Jan 2011)
Today was a big decision day.  The first of which cam the minute I woke up.  I decided that after it rained for the entire night that I should probably breakdown and buy some rain pants (I mean I've been camping in the rain for the past two years so now seemed like a good time).  So I did - it was a good decision.

Then I was off to hike the Remarkables.  There was a great sounding trail near the highway called Lower Wye Creek Track.  A 4 hour return trip up to the dam, through the beech forest and ending at the Lower Wye Creek basin.  Sounds nice huh?  Well the map told me that it is just a 20 minute drive from Queenstown, to park in the carpark by the Wye Creek Bridge and the trail head starts just on the other side of the road.  Simple enough.  But then I started driving, and looking, and driving, and looking, and driving, and looking...until I found myself in Kingston - which by review of my map was way too far.  So I turned around and drove back.  I finally found the Wye Creek Bridge and could see the trail on the side of the mountain, but for the life of me could find no such carpark.  I drove up and down a 1km portion of road about 6 times.  Then parked the car and walked up and down the road about 4 times.  Finally, I decided that the Lower Wye Creek Track wasn't worth it (plus from what I could tell there was no one else hiking) - another smart decision.


Note:  On day 6 when I was driving back to Queenstown I finally saw the sign for the trailhead about 50 meters from where I was actually looking - so the track does actually exist.
 
But now what was I supposed to do??  I had so much time on my hands...

Well, I decided the only thing to do was to keep driving, so I did all the way to Te Anau.  There was a hike near Te Anau, which I had planned to do on my way back through, but while I was there early decided to do the hike today.  It was a 3 hour return track to Brod Bay (part of the Kepler Track which is one of the "famous" 3 day tramping tracks).  On a side note, I find it odd that all my hiking maps measure the length of the hikes in hours.  There are no kilometers or miles listed for any of the hikes (I later find out that the Brod Bay hike is 11 kms return).



Anyway, onto Brod Beach.  I had no idea what to expect, but it turned out to be a little sandy beach.  It is only accessible by foot or by boat; needless to say there were quite a few boats around.  People were enjoying the water through all different activities - water skiing, tubing, knee boarding...me - I just slept in the sun. 



My feet were killing me, so I went to test the water.  Turns out it is colder than Adelaide - which is pretty fricken cold to begin with, but the sore feet welcomed it until they turned numb.  The walk back was nice (until the numbness started to wear off), but I made it - got a bit more food for the road, some petrol and headed for Knobbs Point to camp for the night.

Note:  This was a great decision to make on this particular day, because on my way back through it was raining (really hard) and there is no way that sitting in the rain on a beach would have been as enjoyable - so another great decision for the day (and I didn't even know it).

All of a sudden on the drive I turned into the first campsite I saw.  I'm not sure why, as I was pretty set to make it to Knobbs, but here I was at Henry's Creek.  I found a great spot towards the end of the road right by the lake.  Literally, if I was a baseball player I could have thrown a rock into the water (I came to find out later that it is the only campsite between Te Anau and Milford Sound that is by the water and being the Pisces that I am; I very much enjoyed being by the water - good decision). 

 



So now I've finished dinner (which consisted of a can of soup and a tortilla) and am sitting listening to the waves - all in all a great day for making decisions.  I'm pretty sure I'll be sleeping well again tonight.

Questions that came to me later in the night:
1.  Why is a bottle of beer 1.3 standard drinks in Australia?  Obviously they are serving one beer - why not just callit one drink? (I think its their ploy to make us all feel like we drink to much).
2.  Why don't more trees live close to lakes/oceans?  THere is quite a bit of water for them to dig their roots into - why not be closer to the source?

A statement that came to me later in the night:
1.  I think people wearing socks and sandals must have been a camper at some point - during the day its warm and you wear your sandals, but then it gets cold at night so you throw on some socks (but the sandals are so comfy still you want to continue to wear them as well)...

New Zealand Day 2

Day Two (2 Jan 2011)
Got up early today to confirm the afternoon canyoning trip.  Not much was happening in town, so I grabbed a coffee and came back to the van for some brekky.


Afterward I took a walk to the cemetery.  I don't know why I'm always drawn to cemeteries, but I love going and reading the headstones and thinking about what these people were like when they were alive.  Also, while I was there I came up with an idea to make a historical cemetery book (with lots of pictures).  It would allow me to travel around the world to all different types of cemeteries and gain some insight to the people who were there.  It would almost be like a history book (but much more interesting).



The people at this cemetery seemed to mainly be Irish.  The cemetery started in 1866 and is separated into specific religions; Presbyterian, Catholic, Anglican, Protestant, Jewish, Chinese unmarked graves and an Open Area.  You could tell where the separation lines were just by the different headstones.  The Presbyterians were big on a family burial.  They would have the large headstones with the extra room built in for all the other family members to be included when their time came.  I've never thought about it much, I just always figured that I would be cremated and that would be that - but lately I've been thinking that maybe I do want to be buried.  Only I don't want to be buried alone.  My family would have to agree to be buried beside me (because they've been with me from the beginning and I want them there in the end).

But enough of the morbid stuff - the cemetery was next to the Queenstown gondola.  Here you can pay $22 to ride up and down the gondola, or there is a little trail that you could hike up (take about a half an hour).  I didn't have the time to hike and I wasn't going to pay for the trip, but it made me start to think with all this beautiful landscape around me it would be a shame to not enjoy a hike or two on this trip.  So off to the Department of Conservation where I picked up two maps of the areas I would be in and around on the trip and started to read up on the hiking trails.    

Then it was back to the van for a quick power nap and change into my swim suite for the canyoning trip.  We met at the shop where they divided us into three groups.  There were about 9 of us in my group and we headed out in the van up to the canyon.  We got all geared up, which consisted of an old raggedy wetsuit, water boots, a harness (with a plastic bum seat for sliding), a life vest and helmet.  Each helmet had a predetermined name on it - I was called Homer the rest of the day.



The first section were four (maybe five) zip-lines going up the mountain.  These were pretty good (but if you have done them in Costa Rica I'm not sure anything else compares).  There was one that I quite enjoyed where you got to run off the cliff and sail through the air on the line just to reach the other side and have to run up the side of the cliff.  That one was pretty sweet.  Then it was a 25 meter rock repel down into the river.



We walked for a bit down the river to a slide.  It was one that they made you go down backwards, which in turn flipped you on your head.  It was more like a natural dunking machine to make sure everyone got nice and wet.  Then there were some small jumps in to the river (which I believe were just being used to get you comfortable with the canyon walls and the water).

Next up was a 7 meter waterfall slide - which was awesome.  You got up to the edge and one of the guides held onto your life jacket.  You kept creeping up and then BAM!, he just let you go and you were falling down the waterfall into a pool below.  Yeah it was awesome.

We climbed back out of the canyon and I thought that the trip was over...Little did I realise that the fun was just beginning.  We got  back on the zip line where we sailed halfway out directly over the river.  From there we were responsible for unhooking our safety, releasing the belaying rope and lowering ourselves down.  From about a meter above the water you could just let go and slide the rest of the way into the water. Then there was a big jump (about 6 meters) which I opted out of (I have a think about jumping off cliffs for some reason).

Then there was some more "white water" walking until the final belay.  We were lowered down by one of the guides, which I would describe as a free fall repeling



Luckily, I wasn,t the only single on the trip.  There was a MBA student from LA, a preschool teacher from Denmark who was currently living in Christchurch, and a guy from Queensland (who couldn't go back home even if he wanted to b/c of all the flooding).  They were good people and made the trip that much better.

After changing and getting the pictures, I headed back "home."  It was raining which is a bummer, but I was able to put my awning up on the back of the van so I could cook in dryer weather.  It was a great day and I couldn't wait to see what was coming up next!

The Beginning of NZ

For the first week of the new year, I was lucky enough to have my first solo adventure through the south island of New Zealand. I kept a journal each day (which I typically do while traveling) so the rest are my thoughts, adventures and intakes of New Zealand.



Day One (1 Jan 2011)
Well it is 9:00 pm on a Saturday and the sun is still out. I had read that the sun stays out much later down here, but I really can't believe the effect. I've now been traveling for another 30 plus hours and drove from Chirstchurch to Queenstown (about a 6 hour drive), but somehow I don't feel as tired as I should.

I amazingly didn't have any flight problems during this entire trip. ON the way to Christchurch I was out like a light , which has probably saved me on the drive. All of my luggage safely arrived, there were no issues through customs and getting the shuttle into town was too easy. It seemed like the perfect beginning to a horror movie.

There was a white haired man, with glasses and a golfing cap who helped me with my van. (If you are heading to NZ and want a van I highly recommend them - http://www.rentalcarvillage.com/economy.html). They are a smaller company and take pride in what they deliver. The guy gave me the run down on the van, where the bed was, how the stove worked, how to plug in the electricity if at a caravan park, how to fold down the table and even how to put the car in Drive from Park. A very comprehensive induction to becoming a vanner.



Then I was off. Drove straight to Queenstown with only one stop for petrol and one for lunch. It was a very picturesque drive, full of many different scenery. There was your typical farmlands with lots of sheep (some cows and some deer) and then into the rolling hills. Next came the snow peaked mountains coming through against the bright blue lakes. Up some more hills and down the valleys until we hit a foresty Queenstown.



In Queenstown since there aren't many campsites and I wanted to make sure I had a place to stay, I had a booking at one of the local caravan parks. Me and my little van parked among the huge, gigantic family camper vans...needless to say I looked a bit out of place. Plus this meant that I got the pure enjoyment of being able to take a shower (which is huge after traveling for so long). After being refreshed I walked into town.

Its a pretty typical tourist town. Lots of pubs and restaurants, gift shops and tour/information shops. I picked up a flier for a horse trout to the place where a majority of Lord of the Rings was filmed. I don't like horses (I have an allergy thing against them) and I don't like Lord of the Rings (I think I've seen a part of the second one) - so I'm not particularly sure why I picked up the flier. But it would be another adventure, so I thought I would check it out in the morning.

Tomorrow is a canyoning trip. Should be fun. It will be interesting to see who will be joining me. Now that I've laid down I realise how tired I am...probably best to get some good sleep tonight.

2011 Here I Come

This year I didn't have a traditional new year. I was on a plane from the States back to Australia (well I did manage to stop in New Zealand for a week in between). The plane took off on 30 December 2010 and landed in Auckland on 1 January 2011. What a great way to spend the New Year (and yes I was sleeping for most of it).

I'm not sure why, but I really feel like this is going to be a big year for me. I have 9ish more months in Adelaide and then it is back to Denver. This means that I have to shove as much stuff in as I can before I head out...I can't wait to see what happens.

I'm not big on making resolutions, I figure if you want to change something in your life you just should (and not have to wait for a big day to do it). But while traveling in New Zealand I started to think about how much I enjoy writing. Looking back on the last year of blog posts, they have been pretty relaxed, so it is my "resolution" to get more in depth. Yeah, it might be a bit too personal on some levels, but I do like sharing my adventures, mishaps, ideas, and dreams - so keep an eye out.