Sorry I have neglected you with internet updates. We have been fully engrossed in the Christchurch (Chch) way of work and life and are really enjoying what seems to be the start of Summer!
(i did hear you east coasters grumble at me just now, sorry for your loss of power during your recent snow storm.)
On October 24 we celebrated Labour Day with Australia and New Zealand. Forrest and I decided to trek 5 hours west to check out Westlands National Park, and more specifically the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers. **recently learned that glacier is more commonly pronounced "glass-e-air" actually had no clue what this person was talking about, "you want ... a glass ? i am going... where?"**
We arrived at Franz Josef around 5pm on Saturday, October 22. Along the way we stopped to gaze at the Tasman Sea in Hokitika. Forrest booked us a wonderful accommodation at The Rain Forest Retreat. We grabbed some dinner at a nearby restaurant. Burgers, complete with beet root, pineapple and something else strange I'm not remembering. Sunday October 23 we woke up early to catch a ride on the full day Franz Josef Glacier expedition.
The experience was great, but i was a but scared of falling down a crevasse, clearly i needn't be. i had on crampons! "what did she just say?" crampons are lovely little devices that, once affixed appropriately to your foot gear, give you spider-man like powers. Forrest even has his very own pair, and noted several times that he should have used them last winter in Boston.
Here are some of my favorite photos of the day. The photos are all from Forrest, because i was desperately clinging to the rope and wasn't into capturing more artistic shots, just not falling to my demise (which would have been completely impossible really, i think the guides get docked pay if they lose a guest). and Yes, Forrest was wearing shorts. Come to think of it, I've actually never seen him hike in pants.
The full view of the Franz Josef glacier is behind us in this photo.
I did not want to go through this ice tunnel, in fact, i was quite scared.
After the Glacier hike we had a lovely meal at Alice May Bar and Restaurant and relaxed in the Glacier Hot Pools (not geothermal). It was quite deserved.
This is the Fox Glacier, we just hiked to a view point to see it. This view is actually similar to the view of the entire Franz Josef glacier.
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