ICE!

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Hey everyone...I have finally found a computer with a USP port so I can send you some pictures.

I am still alive and kicking although with a few new brusises that I am quite proud of actually! On our way from Barrytown to Franz Josef Glacier we stopped at a place called Punakiak where we saw what is called Pancake Rocks. Basically it is rocks stacked due to the wind and pressure from the ocean that compacts the rocks to look like they are stacked pancakes (or something like that). While in Punakiak Brianna (a girl from the States) and I went for a walk thru a rainforest area that was absoluetly beautiful and very wet! By the time we were done the walk we were both a little muddy but it was a nice way to spend the afternoon.

One of the pictures I am including is of a few of us standing on a bridge with the snow covered mountains behind us. The mountains where we were headed (Franz Josef) and if you look closely where the river runs to a tree line is where 15 of us decided to play some paintball. It was a riot. The first few games involved the rest of the world against the Americans (the rest of the world won!!) and after that it was boys against girls. Basically we got slaughtered and have a few good welts to show for it. It was a riot tho! Then we all got to sit on a bus for an hour with stinky people...

I would have to say that the high light of my trip so far on the South Island has been the Franz Josef Glacier. I splurged and did a full day hike up on the glacier that was awesome! The Franz Jospef Glacier is unique to other glaciers in that it is one of two (I believe he said) that are located in a rainforest, the other one being in Chile. The Franz Josef also is the fastest moving glacier in the world at the moment at a rate of 2.5m per day. It was amazing to be up there and to see the different ice colors and shapes. There were a few spots where we had to crawl thru some tight spots and trek across some steep cravasses (spelling?). It was great tho! I only fell once which wasn't too bad. Overall it was an awesome day, we were on the ice for maybe 6 hours so by the end of the day I was glad to be in a hot shower!

My next stop brings me to Queenstown where I am going to stay for a few days...I am needing to break from a couple of people from my group as my nerves are getting thin with them! Overall though the people on the bus have been a lot of fun although Brianna who I have been hanging out with most is staying in Franz for a few more days...

Well I shall be in touch with you-take care.

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Photos

Road Stop
Some bus mates

High Spirits
Brianna and I BEFORE getting slaughtered by the boyz!

Nothing But White
One of the wider tracks we took on the glacier

River Walk
Brianna and I went for a hike one day...

Punakiak
Pancake Rocks

Comments

[Christa]

WOW!
Hey Joe....it looks absoulutely beautiful out there...what an awesome adventure for you...dare I say I am jealous??? Tee hee

[aunt Marja]

Awesome
Hih, Michelle lokks like you are still enjoying your self. Looks great but brrr ice and snow. We had lots of rain. Thinking about your travels lots to talk about when home.