Glacier world

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Hi folks us again (you must be fed up of us by now),

Anyway since my very exciting time in Nelson we have moved on again. We left Nelson and headed for the west coast of NZ. This is a place where lets just say there is not much about other than the most amazing scenery you have ever seen. The west coast is very isolated and remote due the conditions it faces. The weather when we hit the coast was just unreal. You thought it rained in England well I have never seen rain like it!!!! Along the way we stopped off on the coast where we saw a seal colony and then a place they call pancake rocks and guess what they looked just like pancakes. Unfortunatley the rain was so bad we where soaked so did not stick around too long.

We then arrived in a town called Greymouth and went out to find the supermarket in the rain. We got lost, got wet and p***ed off! Needless to say we have no idea what Greymouth is like except for the inside of our hostel and the laundry room! The hostel though was called Noahs Arc and each room was named after an animal, so two by two we where lepoards for the night.....raorrghhhhhh!

Ok so the next day we where off again to a place the driver called "Franz, Franz Josef" (as he had a bad stutter, we tried not to laugh honest!). This was the a very small town with one street but set at the bottom of an ice glacier. At this point it was still raining and Bri and I had booked on to a Heli Hike which is a flight up onto the top of the glacier. As the weather so bad though we could not go up, boo hoo! We did get on the half day hike though we got there just in time. We where all kitted out in water proof trousers, jacket, boots, hats and spikes. We where taken by the coach where the hike began which was about a 3km walk to the bottom of the glacier. Once at the bottom of the glacier (an amazing site by the way) we attached our spikes and off we went. The guides have to carve the steps into the ice every day as it was really steep, we had ropes to hold sometimes but other times you where hoping the spikes would hold you on the ice! The views where spectacular, and just to be on a glacier was a unique experience to say the least. You will see from the photos what I mean.

So 4 hours later cold and wet (again!), we get back to the hostel for our free soup to warm us up. We where really knackered but Bri insisted we go the pub for a drink. I made him promise just for one and guess what he did, he had one and we came home. I am traning him well hey?

Anyway enough for now watch out for the next exciting installment this time in Queenstown, miss ya.

L and B xxxxx

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Photos

View of the bay
Just one of the most spectacular views on the west coast

The Lepoard Room
Our room in Greymouth..nice

Danger
This is the sign you see before you climb onto the Glacier it self...great!!

Comments

[Ange]

Brrrrrr!!
Way to cold for me - you are very brave, I would be sticking to the sunnyside only. Keep having fun.

[Windy]

Looks a bit like Manchester
Ahh all that rain, does it not remind you of home? Went camping at the weekend to the Lakes and took a few leafs out of your book and climbed a few hills and hired a motorboat. Ok it's not quite jumping out of a plane or walking up a big block of ice but you have inpsired us. Shame about all the rain but the glacier looks amazing!!! Keep them coming! xxx

[Maria]

I can't wait to see you!
Hey guys this blog is great. I will have to do one myself. Your trip looks fantastic. You must be up in Cairns now and I'm looking forward to giving you a warm welcome in Brissy! Your going away page made me cry more than when I left! Don't worry Mum and Dad I'll look out for them over here! See you soon! Loads of love, Ri x