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Published: December 23rd 2005
It’s been just a short while over a week since I left the states and not much has happened that would separate the beginning of this trip from the average Aussie/Kiwi holiday. I can’t show any pictures of Sydney that you haven’t already seen a thousand times whether it be from the Olympics or wherever. Below are some pictures from Christchurch New Zealand however there’s not much to report from that city either due to the fact that we were there for no more than 18 hours total. The Tranz Alpine train ride through the southern alps of the South Island was interesting but not nearly as breathtaking as advertised. It was once we got our rental car and began the drive down the coast on the wrong side of the road where this trip and this blog begins….
I just passed through a curious little town where business is booming in a local sports bar because the other one burned down. You can’t access the Internet for the next week because the owner of the local computer bus, (that’s right, computer BUS!) is on holiday. Helipads out number grocery stores by a ratio of 4 to 1, stop signs out
number street lights by a ratio of 2 to 0. But most importantly, you can hike through a rainforest to find an expanding glacier waiting for you with a dirty little grin. The town I speak of is Franz Josef and the .the aptly named Franz Josef Glacier
Due to time restraints, we only spent one night; passing through the entire town, before we realized we were actually in town. The park entrance is located just over 500 meters from the center of town that has a path leading into what would appear to be the Paleolithic Age. Countless waterfalls adorn the mountains that surround the valley’s thick jungle. After only a mild walk out of the jungle and into the river bed, you find the Glacier, and from a distance it looks more like a vertical frozen river, reminiscent of a dirty ski slope towards the end of season. After an hour’s walk along the river, however, it’s clear you wouldn’t want to ski here.
The river is littered with large chunks of ice that have broken off and flown down stream making the water a less than desirable temperature for an afternoon dip. The smart folks in town
have placed ropes at the end of this hike to prevent the inexperienced from attempting to climb the ice, but that is merely a recommendation. If you want to traverse the ice blocks that are still moving down the mountain at about a meter per day, it’s your call, however there is a local in just about every building in town that is willing to take you money in exchange for a guided tour. If you don’t have the time, which I didn’t, hop into a helicopter for a birds eye view and make snow angels up at the top. Choppers aren’t cheap, Snow Angels are free…
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Knuff
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Keep on...keepin on.
Yo man, Looks like you guys are having a blast. I am jealous as hell that you guys are back there. I miss it. Meet any hot Kiwi chicks? Keep up the good work bro. Happy Holidays too. Ttyl.