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Published: February 5th 2009
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Our TV
Lake Gunn February 2nd 2009
We awoke to the delightful sound of the children fighting over the kitten. Fists full of pamphlets for recommendations to campers down the road, and squeaky clean (what a joy) we set off for another long day in Mission Control. There was a long stop in Invercargill to stock up on supplies, because strangely they can’t sell wine in supermarkets (I bet whatever politician passed that law in this tiny, isolated town isn’t much liked).
Today the direction was towards Milford Sound, in the Fiordlands. We also took the scenic route for completion, and followed the island west and north. As we ventured north, the landscape turned from St. Andrews to Lord of the Rings. Dramatic valleys, snow-capped mountains and wild coniferous forests barely parted to let us pass. We stopped briefly in Te Anau to gather more pamphlets and headed up the adventure-laden and terribly beautiful highway to Milford Sound. We camped around Lake Gunn - check out the photo that says ‘our TV’ because I can’t explain it. Before bed, we went on a massive sand fly killing spree, and wrapped up tight but not tightly enough. After weeks in the tropics,
even hardened Canadians get chicken about the cold.
February 3rd 2009
We trotted on towards Milford Sound taking many excellent detours along the way. First stop was the Divide, the point where the vegetation changes according to altitude, and the entrance to the Routeburn Track. Interestingly, (for me) I have already been there, albeit in my darling mother’s stomach. I can’t believe she hiked this beast, with all its avalanche warnings and huts days apart, let alone carried me all that way. Mom, you are more adventurous than we, but then again we have the blog to worry about…
A more realistic adventure was into “The Chasm” which was… a big chasm. The rocks had been smoothed away to bizarre shapes after centuries of the blue water pounding against them. George wondered how anyone found their way here to lay the path to begin with, and got back to tell the tale.
Until recently, the postman had to ride over the mountain to deliver mail to Milford Sound, but luckily for us they’ve blasted a leaky, dark, rugged and rough tunnel through three kilometres of protected mountain. The tunnel spat
us out at the Homer Wildlife Walk, where we initially saw no wildlife but many more rocks. It was only once we were back in Edna doing Security Checks, that George spotted the world’s only alpine parrot, the famous Kea. Not from a distance, or anything: the beast was literally at our doorstep asking for snacks. When we declined and moved to shut the door after taking our fill of photos, he flew onto the roof and started eating the rubber sealing on the door, spitting it down at us and banging loudly (on purpose). This bird had some serious attitude! George got down onto its eye level, before deciding it might beat him up. He signalled his partner and the two flew onto the hood of a car that had begun to queue for the tunnel. They then elaborately displayed their beautiful red and green plumage. When those people closed their windows, they hopped to the car behind! It reminded me of something… oh yeah, the buskers. We were all buskered-out, so made a straight shot for Queenstown.
The award for the dirtiest van in the whole campsite in Queenstown, of about 50 vans, goes to us.
Eglington Valley
i'm running into shot but was too late It is an achievement, and we’re proud of it.
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