Glaciers, Blisters and Lakes

First I would like to introduce you all to Tim. From the previous post I got an email from my mom saying "Who is this Tim? Are you sure it is safe to travel around with him for such a long period of time". I had a little chuckle at that. Tim has been a safe companion so far. Although I am starting to worry about my mental sanity. Naming inanimate objects and actually talking to them. But hey, Tim is the only thing that is with me day in and day out.




This is Arthur's Pass Nat'l Park where I did a few hikes.

Franz Josef Glacier

Attractive footwear to climb on Franz Josef

Crevasse

Ice Chunks from Fox Glacier

Blue Pools in Mt. Aspiring Nat'l Park and the last one is view from Mt. Iron of Lake Wanaka and Hawea

Recent Journeys

I headed south from Nelson and now I am making my way along the west coast tourist track. First stop was Murchison and the Buller Gorge. I went on a nice hike there to the sight of the 1960's earthquake. It just ravaged the mountains leaving huge boulders scattered through the valley and a big bare spot on the side of the mountain.

I spent my first night back in the hostels in Westport. Not much going on there, but it was great to meet new people. This isn't so bad as I thought it would be. The next morning I drove through Punakaiki which is famous for Pancake Rocks that immitate blowholes. Quite pretty and unique, although the weather here has been less than desirable. Lots of rain and clouds. I eventually made it to Arthur's Pass Nat'l Park which is in the Southern Alps. I did a few hikes around there, one through a gorge and another up to see a waterfall. Pretty magnificent around there. There is one thing I need to remember from Japan. The trails are marked well here, but in Japan they pave every trail so it is suitable for any obaasan (old lady) to walk through. Must remember to be more adventurous and go beyond the orange arrows, if it looks safe enough.

Today I am in Franz Josef, which is the little town right before Franz Josef Glacier. Tomorrow I will hike on the glacier. A little snow in the middle of summer.

So I have been lucky to get in a hike everyday recently. The only downside are the sandflies. Mosquitos have nothing on these little assholes. The itchiest bites come from the smallest little insects. Every morning I wake up with ichy ankles. ARRRRRRGGGGHHHHH

Beverages

I think it is quite possible that New Zealand has the best drinks in the world. This is coming from a person who really only drinks water, beer, wine and a little juice. The tap water is phenomenal. Tastes like it was dripping out of a mountain stream. This is consistant all over the south island. In cities and rurally it is delicious, and free!

Juice, with many organic varieties it is great. Today I had some apple and fegioa juice. Pretty good, man.

After being in Australia where I feel it is a huge disappointment in the beer departement, it is great to be here where there are tons of microbrews and locally brewed beer. Yum. Favorite so far is Macs, although I hear that Emerson from Dunedin is great.

Finally the wines. You know that you are having nice wine when you can drive up to one of the many wineries spread out through the country side and sample before you buy. The sav blanc from the Marlborough region is delicious.

Abel Tasman

So here we are in the Abel Tasman Nat'l Park where John has spent about 6 summers of his life. In the background is his boat which I think should be appropriately named "Back-breaker". The sea was rough and his boat doesn't seem to be made for such journeys, so every time the boat came crashing down my tail bone would smash against the seat and I would feel each vertebrate being jammed into the next one.

Other than that it was a pleasent journey. We stopped by a seal colony and had a swim with the seals. You couldn't pay for better entertainment than that. John would swim down with his flippers on and one curious seal would follow him around and play hide and seek. We were able to stay in on of the lodges that he worked at as well as get free meals. Talk about excellent treatment.

Another day we fed some tame eels. They are slippery and slimey and greedy little buggers.

Drive to Nelson

I am in Nelson now, spending a week or so with John and his folks. I had the greatest drive up with Tim. We stopped in Kaikoura and did a coastal hike and saw seals. I actually almost stepped on one while trying to take a picture of another. Then we drove through the Marlborough region which is famous for vineyards and stopped for a sampler at Forrest Winery. Perfect little pit stop. Now in Nelson where John is teaching me his fav hobbies, fishing, and tennis. Both I am rubbish at. But in exchange we have been on a nice hike and will go to the Abel Tasman Nat'l park.



Tasman Glacier (the other side)


Wine Tasting


Sleeping Seal


Clifftop Sheep


Whoa! Kite Surfing!!!

New Friend

I have a new friend. His name is Tim. He is 21 years old. Born in Japan and raised in Timaru, NZ. He is a little rough in appearence, but what he lacks on the outside he makes up for on the inside. He is a great runner, reliable and I think will make a great travel companion for the next few months. We are going to be spending a lot of loooooong lonely drives on the road together. But luckily we have the same music taste. The only downside is, is he doesn't like waking up with morning. I have to choke him every time. I don't have any photos of him yet, he isn't very photogenic but I will try to snap a shot when he's not looking.

New Zealand- Christchurch

Have arrived in NZ. It is gorgeous here and now I can understand why my friend Nicky loves it so much. Seems like an outdoor junky's playground. The scenery is nothing like Australia, which for some reason surprised me.

I am in Christchurch at the moment staying with Selene. My first full day here we did a loooong road trip (800km) to Mount Cook and back. It is the highest mountain in NZ. It was nice to just go for the ride and look out the window at the mountains and sheep.

One of the big things to figure out is how to get from place to place. There are many options, backpacker buses, inter city buses, renting cars, buying cars, hitching, etc. Well we put Selene's

parents to the test and I think her mom has found me a car for $500! That way I can sell it at the end and hopefully make some cash.

I am looking forward to getting on the road and doing some hikes and ocean sports. Maybe even crazy things like canyon jumping and sky diving.

Bye Melbourne

My time in Melbourne has ended. I will leave you with some more pics of my time there. On my last day in Oz, Ellen drove Ed and I down Great Ocean Rd. The weather was great so we got to swim a bit and get a little sun. Thanks Ellen for taking care of me while I was in Melbourne.


My photograph taking friends