Then on Tuesday it was off down to Fiordland to do the Kepler Track After finding a backpackers (lakefront BBH) we started off on our 2 day 75km hike. It was perhaps not the smartest plan to try to break in new boots.. but still.

We started at about 2pm on the Tuesday, and got to the first hut (luxmoore) at about 6pm. The track has a really steep section to get up there. You climb about 1000m to get up onto the ridge. I must admit – I felt slightly out of shape – about 5 months ago I’d have felt a lot better after doing the hike. But I’m putting it down to the shoes for now!

Heh… it was sooo satisfactory! I carried a nice bottle of Merlot up with me. There were about 40 ppl staying in the hut – and all cooking in the communal kitchen. The pop of the cork fell into a lull in conversation. Most of the comments we got were positive (mostly about how crazy/impressive it was to carry a bottle up). But there was definitely some naked jealousy too. Excellent. Really makes it worthwhile ;)

Ehem. Anyway – onto the next morning. Which was a beautiful dawn.

This whole day we had sort of sunshine and were above the clouds for most of it. Which was actually super lucky – as the day before and most of the later days – the weather was particularly inclement.

Not too long a day this one – it would have been possible to combine the previous day and this one – into one long day – but I’m glad we didn’t – I’d have been 3/4 dead! Here’s a pic of Mick heading down the track overlooking the South Fiord of Te Anau.

We were the first to make it to the Iris Burn hut that day – so managed to find a nice quiet bunk for the night (the previous nights sleep had been just terrible – the worst snoring I’ve ever heard). Our warden that night was quite eccentric – but besides telling us about the glow worm caves nearby – and offering to play Cd’s of Kiwi calls – told us that the fastest time to run the track is 4:41:32. Course it’d be much easier if you didn’t have to carry a pack ;)

The 40km walk out the next day was pretty gruelling, and we were all happy to get back to a few cold beers in Te Anau. I was glad anyway, I’m pretty sure 1/2 way through the walk out that Glynn and Mick wanted to murder me for suggesting the walk in the first place :)

So Mick (McKenny) arrived on Monday night (I was out at salsa so didn’t catch up until Tuesday). So Glynn

(picture by Mick)

and Mick

(picture by Glynn)

and I – who all met through the Trinity Climbing Club headed off on another adventure.

And it was definitely one of my favourite weeks in NZ to date. I guess Glynn and I have been busy with different things at the weekends – so it was great to hang out for a week (even if he is a big quitter-splitter type for leaving 39 Fendalton!)

So we drove down via Mt. Cook. We took Seamus along for the ride.

And headed (after a couple of ice-cream and separate pie stops) to Queenstown. That was a funny night – we had an excellent dinner in The Cow restaurant. I would recommend it to anyone. Incredible garlic bread – and in Micks words ‘The best pizza I’ve had – outside of Italy’. And I’d tend to agree.

I then went to ‘Pog Ma Thoins’ (the Irish pub – translation – kiss my arse).. to meet up with my friend Aoife who’s been working in Queenstown for the last 10 months or so. She was a little late to the pub – and I got chatting to a couple of other Irish ppl. Now here’s random for you – the guy – Andrew – turns out to be the brother of a good friend from college – Richard Doyle Tiny tiny world.

Back to the West Coast again this weekend, plus my first long drive in my little car in a very long while. Wasn’t really sure how it was going to hold up – but it did well! Has to get it’s WOF (warrant of fitness) in a couple of weeks, have to fix the windscreen (kinda cracked it with a kayak…) ehem, but other than that hopefully it’ll pass easily. Except that it always konks out when the revs get low. But besides that… :)

Anyway, picked up Kirsty & Andy’s friend (another Andy) and headed through Arthurs Pass – stopping off for the mandatory ice-cream in Springfield.. Twas a lovely evening though.

Took a while getting to Punakiki, but we were there by 10, and asleep not too long after (after a couple of jugs of course ;)

Next morning we hiked in to an incredible spot – it was 3 hours of following markers through the bush. No real trails so to speak of.. Had fantails following us most of the way..

That afternoon we went through the cave Armageddon. It was super – huge cave with gazillions of glowworms (hopefully pic coming later). One pitch of SRT but generally it was quite cruisey. Mind you, took me a little while to get back into it – first caving I’ve done in almost a year really.

Dinner never tasted so good! And our shelter for the evening was a huge overhanging rock – with the river down below – and glowworms above. Not too bad!

Sunday – up early and we went into two caves that have just been discovered (doesn’t happen too often) – about 10 other ppl have been through these caves – ever. In one there’s a skeleton of an Upland Moa – one of the smallest (if not the?!) of the Moa Species (a flightless bird hunted to extinction by the Maori)

This skeleton dates back to roughly 12,000 years old (pics were sent to the resident expert! – apparently after the last ice-age the species became a lot smaller..) Still, it was fun being in new caves (though they were incredibly muddy). You feel kinda bad going through new caves though – as *anything* you touch gets mud on it – and it *never* comes off again.. (there’s no water in some of these caves to wash it free).. it’s also quite difficult not to break some stalactites when you move around… but then if no one goes in then no one sees it anyway.. catch 22.

Then a quick walk out – wanted to get to see Billy Connolly on TV1.. drove most of the way back before it became apparent we’d never make it back in time. But then Kirsty remembered that the clocks went back (for us)… so had an extra hour.

So drove to work (I have no tv) and settled down to watch it. Only to find the rugby sevens (whatever they are! :P) have taken precedence and Billy wasn’t on.

St. Me day at last! Had a couple of pints of Guinness with Glynn and Seamus at The Bog for lunch. (apparently it sells the most Guinness in New Zealand.. – and has the biggest 100 pint club too)

Then a slightly more relaxed day in work.. before heading to the pub at 5, and not really being too far from a pint until 1… (yes, I’m not really a hardcore drinker) Still, an excellent evening.. Definitely fun wearing my t-shirt out, does get good reactions.

Oh, and my far too kind (or crazy! – or both!) manager Andrew is lending me his BMW for next weeks road trip. hehehehe, crazy kiwis.

So today Glynn gave me his months notice :) Quite expected (it is cold).. so it’s new flatmate time again. Has been really great living with him for the last 6 months.. It’s been really great having a good friend from home to live with – makes a huge difference sometimes… But I know this place does get quite cold so I can see why he’s off! Still, guess it’ll just mean more pool & pints evenings.. so it’s all good.

I don’t think it’s going to be super hard to find someone else to move in, but if it is then I can always just move out myself too.. though that would be a shame, I do love the place.

Anyway, thanks for the last 6 months Glynn – to anyone out there who might have the opportunity to flat with him, I’d definitely recommend it.. superb chef, comes with a smoothie maker (will have to get one now), and clean too :)