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Published: October 13th 2007
Wanaka
Our first stop on the way to Franz Josef.I can't believe I haven't posted in three weeks...
I moved in with the woman I mentioned. It seems to be going quite well although I've only been there less than two weeks so I won't count my chickens just yet. I really like the atmosphere of the neighbourhood. I'm living in a cabin in a "Holiday Park" right against the mountain. I'm surrounded by nature and it smells so good.
It turns out I did have to do the medical for my work permit but I had already decided that I wanted to stay enough that I would pay it. Either way, the company is paying for the permit so that lifts a bit of it off me. I get my results of the medical in two days so hopefully everything will be done by then and it can be sent off. I'm not really stressing too much over it anymore, there's not much I can do at this point.
So now to the travel part. On Friday I boarded the bus to Franz Josef. Within a few hours I realized that being on the road again was exactly what I needed. I had made a pact
with myself not to think of anything that could possibly stress me out and it worked quite well. I think taking buses in New Zealand is a lot different than taking buses in Canada. Here people are travelling and at least somewhat enjoying the journey rather than just hoping their destination is coming soon.
Shortly after Lake Hawea we were on the west side of the island. It clouded over and all phone reception was gone for the next five hours. On arriving in Franz Josef I checked myself in and then went to have a look at the glacier walks. Jordana arrived shortly afterwards. We booked our half-day trek, had some of the free soup from the backpacker, and then relaxed in the hot tub.
The next day we showed up just in time at 12:30pm. They talked to us a bit, geared us up and got us on the bus. I didn't look at my watch at all but they told us that it took about 45 minutes from the car park to the base of the glacier. At that point we put on our crampons and climbed up the glacier. It didn't feel like we
Waterfall
Before two days of rain. had gotten very far onto it before we had to turn around and go back. When we got back we gave back the gear, ate more free soup and hopped in the hot tub again.
That night we went out and one thing led to another and we got a ride back to Queenstown on a tour bus for free. It was really good.
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Natasha
non-member comment
From back in Canada, eh!
Wow, that is so freakin awesome! Totally beats sitting in my living room studying, watching the leaves change on the hills out my window... Maybe I'll have to win the lottery and come see you in the summer, wherever you are.