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Published: March 19th 2009
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15th March 2009 - MILFORD SOUND CRUISE & OAP BUS - AWESOME DAY!!
I felt a little better when I woke this morning. I think sleep had been the cure though the bags under my eyes are starting to take over my face! This wouldn’t happen if I was a celebrity….get me some botox!! I gathered my stuff and tried to shower but that water was so so cold!! I could barely put my body under let alone me head…I decided to go for the greasy hair look and leave it another day…I mean…which travellers wash their hair every day?!! After my rubbish shower I headed downstairs for breakfast, Nat followed and once eaten we waited for the bus…due at 8.30am!!
The bus was on time. We were the first on the bus but after a few more pick-ups the bus filled up nicely. Nat and I had hit the jackpot again though…a bus full of OAPs!! I knew I should have bought some Worthers Originals to take on the journey!! We were 2 amongst and group of 6 pensioners on a road trip (no kidding…so cool), a Japanese lady, a mother and daughter combo and the best of all…..’The
Trotters.’ That was our name for them anyway…they were the highlight of the whole trip!! They were from “darn sarf” and the guy was so much like Del Boy I half expected him to say’ lovely jubbly’!! His wife was called carol…close enough to Cassandra and acted just the same!!
Along the way Simon the driver told us some tales about the wilderness and the history of the place. The chat was a little over my head as I am still in my 20s and not ready to push daises quite yet but the oldies enjoyed it!! The scenery was stunning though and the only thing that kept me awake!! We stopped a couple of times along the way at points of interest. The first stop was ‘Mirror Lakes’ and they did exactly what they said on the tin….reflected like a mirror! Cool!! We also stopped at some snow topped mountains for a photo with low cloud hanging over…so nice to see. We asked Mrs Trotter to take a photo of us with the scenery In the background…may as well have been in Tesco car park for all the view she got.
Back on the bus we
travelled towards ‘Knobs Flat’ for a toilet stop and then on to wait in the queue at Homer Tunnel. When I saw it and rode through it I was so glad we didn’t decide to risk cycling. It was on a 15 minute light timer to let the traffic through and all downhill going. Had we have not crashed in the dark or been hit by a passing car we would have probably made it through but no way would we have been able to pedal back through in time on the way home…..we would have been in dead place for sure!! The OAP bus was definitely the way to go and worth the money!
Once through the tunnel we stopped once more at a small stream wit crystal clear waters before continuing to Milford Sound. The Trotters entertained us all the way there without them realising. Straight out of Bookie Street!! Off the bus the driver gave us our tickets and lunch (lettuce sandwich with a hint of ham) and advised that it was free tea and coffee on the boat!! Get me on board that one (no pun intended)!!
We were on the ‘Milford Adventurer’ for
our cruise. It was a nice enough boat and the views were just stunning. We had been told it was the most beautiful place in the world and after seeing it I was not going to argue. There were mountains either side, crystal clear calm waters, sunshine, waterfalls, the works!! All Amazing! The skipper gave a running commentary as we went along though I preferred the Trotter commentary…especially when they tried to tell me that Mitre Peak was the tallest mountain in the world….not sure Mount Everest would agree!! They bickered constantly about everything in such a funny way I could only laugh!
We cruised right out until we reached the sea before the boat was turned around and we headed back in. Nat and I made the most of the free tea…3 cups. Even Delboy was surprised at our ability to drink tea…”you aint avin anover are ya?” he kept asking and his mrs kept calling us “the girls…aint they young?” You kind of had to be there to find it funny but it really was…so comical!! Love them!!
We saw seals on the way back in, got soaked by a waterfall and took in more of
the scenery….Beautiful! The whole cruise was sweet as!! Well worth going and I loved it..as did Nat! Before we got on the bus our driver gave us some more chat on the wilderness and showed us an Orchid plant. Delboy was off first to look before exclaiming “That aint an Orchid….aint worth a photo that aint!” He then disappeared for 10 minutes to look at the water we had just cruised on for 90 minutes. Simon just shook his head and laughed! To be honest though I was with Del….that wasn’t an Orchid as I know then and there is only so much flower talk one person could take. I had definitely had my fill on the way there without hearing more on the way home!
Back on the bus heading back to Te Anau we stopped in a few more picturesque places for a few photos and walks. The journey back was hilarious and I got the giggles where I could not stop laughing! The Trotters upped the ante and came into their own. Everytime we got off the bus to look at something they would bicker constantly about taking photos and get back on the bus about
5 minutes after everyone else. 1 of the pensioners even started taking bets on who would be last on the bus. Not very good odds!! The driver took the mick too but they took it all in their stride…comedy value = 10 out of 10!!
The places we stopped at were lovely too and my camera took a hammering…as you can see by the photo overload! We did a bridge walk near Mount Tutaka (can’t remember the proper name so I made that name up), looked out on Hollyford Valley and the Routeburn Track, walked to the Chasm and visited lake Gunn!! All pretty special places and felt privileged to have been able to see them! It was then back to the bus for the last hour until we reached Te Anau. I really really enjoyed my day….saw a lot, laughed a lot and had a fab time!!
Back at the hostel we dumped our stuff, did a supermarket shop and cooked tea. After tea we settled in the TV room again to watch ‘The Fast and the Furious’ before heading to bed for some sleep and journal writing!! Spot on day…I hoped tomorrow would be as good!!
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