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3/8/09
Today we took the Doubtful Sound cruise with Real Journey's. This is the only compay that goes into Doubtful. We begin with a 55 minute boat cruise across the Manpouri Lake. The boat was full so we sat six to a table. It was a great way to meet people from all over the world and share experiences. We met more Americans on this tour than any other time on our trip. In fact while checking in we reunited with the couple we met on the ferry coming from the North to the South Island. Other people where from Scotland, San Francisco, the Netherlands, and Indiana.
On the other side of the lake we boarded a bus that would take us 22 km across the Wilmont Pass. The road was put in during 1963 to support development of the power plant. Prior to that, people would have to walk this distance and stay overnight in a hut before venturing up the Sound. This time Al sat by the window. The road was not that bad and is only used by these buses and maintenance people.
From the bus back to a boat that would take us up Doubtful Sound. The weather was cloudy with some clearings of sun and times of rain. One might think that rain would be an unwanted item on such a trip, but in fact the rain provided great opportunity. There are waterfalls that are permenant in the Fiord and others, many others, that are temporary. With the rainfall we where blessed to see so many more temporary ones. There where falls that came straight down the hillside like ice cream melting down a cone. Others came shooting out from the tree covered hills and became a mist driven by the wind to near bare rocks and then into a stream flowing downward. We heard from a couple from Norway that their homeland is very similar to this.
We crusied the sound for 3 hours, going out to the Tasman Sea where there were 5 foot swells. We saw a Cruise ship come into the mouth of the sound and go around a large island, however, they did not come deep into the sound or go up any of the arms which we were able to do.
After this cruise, back to the 22 km road and then down 2 km into the mountian where they had cut out the powerplant in 1963-67. The tunnel down goes in a big circle making a complete loop and 1/2 underground. The tunnel is 6 meters wide and at the end there is a small Y, the bus was 11 meters long and the driver had to pull into one arm of the Y and back into the other to turn the bus around.
Short tour in the power station then back to the first boat back to Manipouri. It was a great trip, that we would recommend.
3/9/09
This morning we drove to Milford Sound but did not take a boat trip. We had been warned about the Bus drivers on this road, but it really was no worse than many roads we had been on. The Sound at the anckorage was beautiful, but just in and out for us with some pictures.
We did stop and take a few pictures on the way out. Last night was the first snow of the season and many of the mountians which were snow free yesterday had white tops this morning.
We are going back to Manipori tonight for dinner, we happened to see a bar/cafe that serves Ostrich and Marcia has a soft spot for it since her trip to Africa last year.
Tomorrow, off for Dunedin, and the east coast, back to the Pacific. Hoping to do the Speight's Brewery tour and a Cadbury Chocolate tour if we get there early enough as well as an Albatross encounter?
I found the Speight's commercials pretty funny, here is a link to view some. http://www.apexrentals.co.nz/NewZealandVideos/new-zealand-rental-car-tv-ads-videos.aspx
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