Day 17: Back in Auckland

Today we are back in Auckland. Chris has gone off to help his dad and I am hanging out and doing laundry. I would like and try and get pictures up on all these posts when Chris gets back.
Some funny things I need to share.
1. Sheep. They are everywhere. Not kidding. Millions. But none to pat. Every time we drive by some I picked out the cutest one that I would like to pet and feed a banana to. Chris has realized that he could have saved a lot of money by just taking me to the petting zoo.
2. Street Signs. They are so pleasant. Instead of "flagman ahead" it says "please stop if requested" instead of "yield" it is "give way". There are also signs with exclamations points and the falling rock signs are pictures of rocks.
3. One lane bridges are everywhere. There is sign showing which side has to yield. I am going to write a letter to the Prime Minister. You would think New Zealand could afford two lane bridges.

Day 16: Rain, Rain Go Away

The rain caught up to us in Christchurch.
We had to stick to indoor activities. We went to the Art Centre and the Museum. Both were free and wonderful.
Then we headed out to the airport where there is a new Antarctic Exhibit at the Antarctic Center. All flights to Antarctica's Scott Base leave out of Christchurch. All the US, NZ and English teams have there main research stuff in Christchurch as well.
We went in a snow storm simulator that blew winds at -17 F. We were given boots and coats but Chris and I both had shorts on. There was one crazy guy in there with his shirt off. I climbed in the igloo to hide until it was over. We saw replicas of the equipment they use and learned about the conditions there. They also have a great penguin area.
They have actual blue penguins which are the small ones we saw in Akaroa and live in NZ.
I fell very educated in the ways of Antarctica.

Day 15: Like Being on a movie set

It was still raining when we woke up in Franz Josef. We started off down the road to the glacier but the road is dirt, winding, and had a ranging river on one side and since we could only see about 10 feet in front of us we turned back.
Again we drove through rain forest and then over rocky mountains and then through tussock (looks like dead monkey grass) fields and green mountains. Then we were in Christchurch. I can see why so many movies and shows film here. You can reach almost any kind of landscape you desire within an hour of a city. It is almost incredible to watch the landscape change.
Once we got into Christchurch, we picked up Anna's key and drove out to Sumner to the beach. It was so beautiful. Then we road up the Christchurch Gondola to check out the view.
It was great.
We ordered Hell's pizza with Anna and Oscar who is her Siamese. Chris is the cat whisperer, no doubt. Although his hands look like he got into a bar fight because Oscar is too fast for Chris. It is skinny like Chris who is too accustomed to playing with Snoopy who won't always play if you are out of her reach when she is lying down.

Update on our progress

I am looking back on my list of links and seeing what we have and have not done.
We through in the Akaroa Dolphins on day 1. Weather prevented us from seeing Mount Cook but we went by. We didn't go to the Haka on the top of the Gondola because there was a free one at the Kiwi Bird Park. We didn't do the Central Otago Wine Experience, instead we ate too much and went shopping.
It was too early for a pint when we were in Arrowtown but we did pan for gold. Also, Chris took a Bungy jump on that day. And alas, the bra fence has been removed. According to lonely planet the town had asked the farmer to take it down in 2006 but he had refused. I guess they won.
Also instead of staying the hotel tomorrow we are staying with Anna (see the only photo I got to load back on our arrival day). Chris is going to call her in a few minutes and take her up on her offer. That will save us enough money to go out to a nice dinner and take her with us!

I think I have proved my own worth as a travel agent and that if you spend over a month preparing for a trip it just may be worth it.

Day 14: This is the reason no one lives here

Rain! Rain! Rain!
Our next big driving day started out nice. We had an awesome breakfast in Queenstown and then headed north. We stopped at Puzzling World for some fun and games. Then as we moved up through the rain forest and Haast Pass - Rain! We actually ate our picnic lunch in the car pulled over on the side of the road. It rained in the mountains and rained on the coast. We saw the most amazing waterfalls but couldn't take pictures through the wet car windows and didn't want to get Richard's camera out in the rain.
We stopped at Fox Glacier despite the rain and took a few quick shots. We then hauled it on over to Franz Josef Glacier to check in to the Glow Worm Cottage. It is another shared toilet (Kiwi for the entire bathroom) backpackers hostel but is very clean. There is a great kitchen and lounge where I am blogging from and a hot tub, although I think no amount of convincing will get Chris into the hot tub.
We are both cold and wet and the continued rain prevents us from getting our luggage out of the car. Chris is grabbing a power nap and I am in here blogging. In 30 minutes the kitchen serves free vegetable soup.

Day 13: Milford Sound

This post will have to be pictures only. We saw mountains, pastures, Alpine rain forest, temperate rain forest, a fjord and the Tasman Sea.

Day 12: This is the place that invented thrills!

So we get up to go to Shotover Jets (see links in post: South Island Adventure), I had to convince myself that this would be a good idea. It is the only thrill in Queenstown that doesn't involve jumping from something.
So the first time that our boat came mere inches from the cliff face, I decided I was probably going to close my eyes and cry through the whole trip but I didn't at all. It was so much fun! I took some 15 second video clips on my camera and I will get those up so you can see how crazy it is for a boat to spin 360 degrees in one spot. Videos at the end of this post.
Chris and I then went to Arrowtown which is an old gold mining community. Chris panned for gold while I ate the best meat pie ever! If you ever visit Queenstown then you need to drive over to Arrowtown and go to the Postmaster's Deli for a Steak Pie!
As I said in the title of this post, thrills where invented in Queenstwon. The first shotover jets were made of wood, downhill skiing has been going on since the great depression and in 1987 the year of the market crash - AJ Hacket opened the first commercial bungee jump site. Well, with his impending 30th birthday Chris Vogel has added his name to the list of those who have jumped off the Kawarau Bridge.

That's Chris in the next picture!

If your fiance jumped off a bridge, would you do it too? I thought about it but we all know I just would have paid the money to stand up there and cry and run away.
We had a nice dinner after. The most popular pizza here is chicken, cranberry and brie. I had some and it is really good.