Current mood:

happy

Glaciers everywhere you go
Quick note before I head out for the day.

Happy Valentines day to everyone!

We're in Franz Joseph at the base of the NZ alps. It's pretty chilly this morning here and in about 2 hours we're going to take a helicopter up to the top of the Franz Joseph Glacier and take a hike over the glacier and through ice caves. Then a quick ride back to town on the helicopter. I can't wait - everyone says if you do only one thing in NZ this is the thing to do!

I can't believe I have less than 2 weeks less - time is just flying along but I'm having a wonderful time and every day you think the scenery can't get any better but every day it does. The night before last we stopped over night in a town named Mahinapua that had about 30 people or something and there is only one hostel that the Kiwi bus is the only tour that stops there. This old guy Les runs it and cooks a huge steak meal every night then throws a Poo Pub party and everyone dresses up in plastic bin bags (garbage bags) in some sort of costume. My friend Sarah went as Frodo and I went as an Elf with a long black plastic dress. Then you drink lots of local brew to forget how foolish you feel wearing a plastic outfit.

It was quite fun and it's right on the beach and across from a lovely lake rimmed with forest with mountains in the background everywhere you look. So who knew the view could get better but here in Franz Josef it is amazing!

Now I'm off for some breakfast and coffee then for some high flying fun!

Sweet!