NZ Notes

*I have spent a lot of time in Irish Pubs while here. I have really been fond of Kilkenny Beer. I am not sure that I have seen it in the states much. It is an Irish cream ale, like Guinness. It is probably a little lighter in weight and color than Guinness. I hate Guinness by the way, so I am not sure why I like it but I do.

*I lost my sunglasses. Crap. This is why I never buy nice sunglasses. I am terrible with them. Anyways, I searched for new ones and couldn't really find any that I liked because all of the ones I see here are the adventure type sunglasses and the Kayne West type sunglasses. Since I am not YET a rap mogul I bought the latter kind. I don't like them and will buy some that are more me when I get home.

*I keep trying to figure out cricket. I don't get it. Really confusing.

*There are a lot of croquet lawns here.

*The soda cans are old in style, compared to what we have in the states. They are like the cans we had in the 50's, more square and narrow mouth.

*It is getting harder to find places to stay as the busy travel season picks up.

DAY 19: Road Day to Picton

From NZ - DAY 19

PICTON -- I had a pretty long road day.

I travelled from Greymouth to Picton, where tomorrow I will be taking the ferry back to the North Island for my final week in NZ.

There is not much happening in Picton so I am just chilling have a few brews and enjoying my Sunday.

It is beautiful out. It is sunny and about 70 degrees. I have a pretty good tan at this point.

The road was pretty nice and calm. I snapped a few shots but not many. The picture above is of the bay in Picton.

DAY 18: I Hate You Franz Josef

From NZ - DAY 18

GREYSMOUTH – Today I went for a glacier walk on the Franz Josef Glacier.

It was quite possibly one of the worst decisions I have ever made.

It was like torture. I don't mind hiking, and even enjoy it, but feeling like you could fall down at any moment and die or break a leg for five hours is just not fun.

The trek started at 1 p.m. and ended at 6 p.m.

The first leg was through the bush, up and over a hill, that I would say is close to the height of Cascade Mountain outside Portage – except much steeper.

So first I wrecked my leg muscles by climbing up and then going down with wobbly legs was disturbing. I was basically hanging by a rope on this muddy, slick and wet track for about an hour and a half. It took another hour to get to get to the glacier weaving through a rocky river bed.

So yeah it took 2.5 hours to get to the damn glacier. So I was on the glacier for about an hour and it was completely not fun. It was all climbing ice stairs feelings like you are going to fall and die. Going down was worse.

I was so tired by the time I got to the bottom of the glacier I could not comprehend doing another 2.5 hours of rough climbing and walking.

At this point the only good think I can say about this experience is that I did not have a heart attack – if I had been at all on the verge of one, this would have been the time.

Being on the glacier was quite lame as well. So the entire walk back to the bus was me thinking... this was horrible. Why did I do this?

Normally this whole thing would have been fine, but the bush walk, climb, was the killer. This was only added because the river decided it wanted to flow over the normal track.

The people's little guide said Medium (or level 2 of 4) in difficulty. No frickin' way. There were a lot of people who had a very difficult time. It was not just my overweight self.

I left town immediately after the trek and drove to Greysmouth, which is about 2 hours away.

I hired a motel room for the night so I can really unwind. I had a go in the whirlpool. In the states I could not afford a place like this, but the greenback's strength against the NZ dollar is helping me out significantly.

It is about $1US = $1.82NZ.

Air New Zealand Plane Crash

FOX GLACIER -- Maybe I should have went with Quantas.

This is not exactly confidence inspiring.

"Air NZ Crash"

Happy Thanksgiving

FOX GLACIER - Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends and family.

Hope everyone is well and that the Lions lose like usual.

For those of you doing Christmas shopping for me. I want two more weeks in New Zealand if that can be arranged. Cheers. See you all in a couple of weeks.

DAY 17: The Need for Speed

From NZ - DAY 17

FOX GLACIER -- In the afternoon I booked a jet boat ride as well as a helicopter ride. Both ended up being quite awesome. The jet boat was really fun and I got a little wet, but not too wet.

Before that I had to kill some time so I walked around the Queenstown Gardens and saw Quantom of Solace (it was decent, I was kind of lost having not watched the first one in quite a while.)

After finishing up my day in Queenstown I headed north for the Fox and Franz Josepf Glaciers. I will be doing a glacier walk. The drive was long but spectacular. There was almost nobody around and the scenery was amazing -- a perfect combo.

I am headed north quickly to see as much of the West Coast as possible but still get to Picton by the Nov. 30, when I am scheduled to make the voyage back to the North Island for my last week.

DAY 16: Floating Along in Queenstown

From NZ - DAY 16

QUEENSTOWN -- Today I really felt like I was on vacation. It was a leisure day for me. I decided to sleep in late for a change -- until 9:30 a.m. I then headed out for a peaceful day walking about Queenstown.

The city is rather small but very commercial. It has some nice bars, pizzerias, and shops.

In the morning I took a gondola (basket thing) to the top of a hill to this entertainment complex high above the city.

While I was there I partook in riding several luge tracks, which were great fun. I may do it again tomorrow.

After that I checked into a new hostel downtown, which is just great. It is basically an riverfront hotel at extremely reasonable prices. In the states I would expect to pay $150 to $200 for a night here meanwhile I am paying about $40 for my own room with its own bathroom and TV. This is quite amazing for a hostel.

I had some ice cream, did some Christmas shopping.

I did some para-sailing out on the water on a glorious day surrounded by mountains.

It was a very smooth and quiet ride if you can believe it.

Good fun. Tomorrow I am taking a jet boat ride as well as a helicopter ride up into the mountains.

I Had Some Crumpets Today

QUEENSTOWN -- Since I was going to be gone all day in the Fiordland I needed to back lunch.

Of course I forgot to do this the night before so I had to go to the gas station in the morning and find something to take with me.

I grabbed some blueberry muffins and searched for another item to take knowing I had some chips and apple bars in my bag already.

I came across these pancake looking things and grabbed them.

I didn't realize it until later that they were crumpets. I had no idea what crumpets were until I started eating one.

Quite good. As good as English muffins (which surprisingly I can not find anywhere around here).

I wish I could find these in the states, I might quite come to like them.

DAY 15: Doubtful This Trip Could Get Any Better

From NZ - DAY 15

QUEENSTOWN -- I took an all day trip to Doubtful Sound in the Fiordland of the South Island today.

It was a hell of a day. It started out very rainy but cleared up quite nice by the time we were on the sound.

It took a two buses and two boats to reach but was a fun journey full of sights to see.

It could have been warmer and less cloudy but I am not going to complain.

Afterward the trip I set out for Queenstown where I am staying for a night or two. I plan on doing something adventurous -- not sure what yet.

I also met an Italian guy, who I gave a lift to Queenstown. We had dinner and some beers and good conversation. Tomorrow night we plan to have some more beers.

That is all for now.

I Love Daylight

TE ANAU -- It is 9:15 p.m. and it is still light out.

It will be depressing going back to Wisconsin, where I assume it is dark by 5 p.m.

DAY 14: Amazing Milford Sound

From NZ - Day 14

TE ANAU -- Amazing. Amazing. Amazing.

I took a cruise on the Milford Sound today and it was amazing.

It was raining like crazy, but that made it all that more magical.

It is impossible to describe... but let me try. Imagine entering a valley where on all sides you are surrounded by a thousand waterfalls. That is somewhat what it was like.

Since there was so much rain waterfalls dropped off the tops of the mountains in the Milford Sound. It was just amazing. When I say thousands, I mean thousands. Imagine driving 60 miles and being surrounded by waterfalls the entire time. Just amazing.

And that was just the drive into the Milford Sound. When I got to the sound itself I boarded a cruise ship for a two-hour venture.

It was a nice and very wet tour. It was raining like crazy.

The mist of the rainfalls off the mountains created whiteout conditions in some parts and I got crazy wet trying to take pictures.

My camera also got a little wet and I had to keep cleaning the lens with a sock that I threw in my bag.

Since it was so wet I could barely take any of the photos I wanted. You can check out a bunch of photos in my web album from today, but none of them do the place justice.

It was amazing.

I am staying the night in Te Anau at a YHA Hostel. In the morning I am being picked up for another Fiordland trip to a place called Doubtful Sound. It will be an all-day trip.

After that I am heading toward Queenstown.

Nate, your right the South Island is kicking my ass. Cheers.

DAY 13: I Just Deleted Every Picture I Took Today Execpt One

From NZ - DAY 13

INVERCARGILL -- Yeah. Crap.

I can't believe I just did that.

I would not have been able to upload them tonight anyways because I do not have wireless.

I spent the day sightseeing and saw three nice waterfalls and an impressive train station. It would be nice to show you but I can't. Crap.

Anyways. I am in some town whose name I can not remember. Just had some brews and will be heading to a new place tomorrow. Will be on the West Coast of the South Island heading for Queenstown.

Cheers. I can't believe I did that. ARRRRGGGGGGGH.

UPDATE: Above I added the sole picture that remains from the day 13 tragedy. At least it is a decent picture. The picture is of the Moeraki Boulders.