My trip to the Antipodes

Hi Kids an All

Have just returned to Kinloch Lodge after four wonderful days in the mountains. Camping was good and probably preferred to the bunkhouses which would have been the alternative.

Carrying my world around on my back tok its toll on shoulders, hips and feet but it was most definitely worth it. The first two days going up the Routeburn valley in glorious full sun just kept bringing surprises at every turn of the track. Lots of great piccies to come sometime but not h...

Hi Folks!

My goodness what a day. Woke at 4am, in jet lag terms that suggests that I was having my aftyernoon nap. However the sky was full of stars. Street lights were off and the sky was full. Back to sleep and woke again at 6:30 to the sound of stair rods. Very heavy rain and I imagined a wet bungy later in the morning. By 8 o'clock the sun was out and we've had a fantastic sunny and hot day. I gather that it is expected to get hotter. Not particularly goods  news with 15 kilo...

After a very full Injun and a couple of jars last night sleep was difficult and tummy still churning away. However, 6:30 this morning woke to sun starting to touch the mountains across the lake and it has been good weather all day. Drove down from Hawea to Wanaka in plenty of time to join up with 2 other guys Frank and / (it'll come!) and our guide Annette for the canyonning trip. Drove up the valley to Niger canyon. walked up the hill for about 30-40 mins and then started in the canyon. Deep...

Hi All

It doesn't seem long since I left Carolyns but here"s my update.

I called in at Ashburton for gear, in particular a good waterproof jacket, which I was reasuringly told that it would not fail. Also bought stove and pots n pans. Mueslie, noodles of various flavours, more Our Mate (Overseas name for proper UK Marmite), to drive off the insects I'm led to believe. I am also well stocked with insect repellen as well!

It was a long and tiring journey and I was g...

Tuesday 27th January

Carolyn assures me that for the last few weeks the weather has been really hot, "in the 30s". She also tells me that the view from the farm to the maountains across the plain is fantastic and that on a really clear day you can see Mt  Cook, umpteen miles away.

I have needed to apply much imagination. Steady drizzly rain all day, what mountains? So after an early lunch, Peter takes us all off in the MPV the 40 kilometers to them. Via the Rakaia Gorge t...

Hi everyone! On Sunday went for a beach walk with Tim n Sylv around part of Cape Kidnappers peninsular. Glorious walk under cliffs of fascinating geology. Swam, walked in the surf and tried out my new walking shoes ready for my likely tramp across the estuaries of Able Tasman. They are not the right footwear. The sand caught up in the soft padding and acted like wet n dry emery cloth. Removed dead skin and live with equal effectiveness. Bloodied feet! Only superficail so should heal fairly qu...

Long day yesterday but managed to change motors at Auckland then drove down to National Park village. 11 hour trip checking in at 19:30. Checked out the first bar that I could find. Fine, refreshing pint, then retired early ready for today.

Breakfast at 07:30, bus left at 08:00. Checking around at the other 10/11 passengers I reckon that I gave the next oldest there at least 30 years! Good bunch and I would meet up with them on and off throughout the day.

Spectacular...