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If I was a god fearing man the portents for my next 30 years were not looking good.
We woke early to a torrential downpour which very quickly became unrelenting and came as a bit of a surprise after the days of sunshine preceding it during my happy go lucky year of 29.
After opening my biffday cards and my one and only pressie, which was a lovely photo album of my first thirty years upon this lucky planet (thanks mum) - anne promises me the rest are back in the uk....
All the cards felt the need to remind me that i am thirty, except for Anne's which provided me with a birthday prediction from the Mystic Monkey unknown to all but my self:
"I can see you travelling far this year. You will start your journey with a little apprehension and finish it with great joy."
Quickly forgot about the whole age thing safe in the knowledge that the Mystic Monkey would not lie to me and joy awaited me - Anne was not entirely convinced that giving up my job to undertake the Mongolian rally based upon the musings of a hallmark card was the wisest thing.
Have had three showers, the first on the way to the ablutions block, the second actually in the bathroom and the third, you guessed it, on the way back to the campervan we were on the road off to Franz Josef.
Sadly due to the rain our planned trip via helicopter up onto the glacier was cancelled, but after booking into a campsite we regrouped and booked ourself onto the hike up to the glacier instead.
The hike was great fun, no only because we got to feel like an arctic adventurer wearing crampons, but also because it was nothing like we had even seen before. The glacier moves at a rate of 4m per day and no climb is the same - well that was our guides defence when i stood in a slush puppy filled hole, that and my stupidity for opting to put my foot in a hole rather that wall of solid ice. Our guide was an adrenaline fueled kiwi who had a strong dislike of uniform urban areas like Christchurch (a town no bigger than Chelmsford and a hell of a lot greener - Anne suggested that he should probably avoid New York).
We forgot to pack water so tried some of the water flowing through the glacier - forget evian this is the real deal.
To relax after our adventure we headed to the hot springs and hired a private pool to relax as only a middle aged 30 year old can.
We ended the evening with a celebratory slap up meal back in the wagon - bully sarnies (corn beef) with a bottle of pale ale.
All in all a good day. Job well done.
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