Arrived at Franz Josef last night and stayed at another campsite, sleeping in our van of course who is now named Bruce! We did a climb today of the Franz Josef glacier! Wow you really get a concept of how big it is once your on it. we had to wear spikes on the bottom of our hiking boots to enable us to get a good grip when walking on the ice and a big mac in case it rained or we got cold. It did rain a little but the views were still fantastic. When on the Glacier we walked up steps that the tour company guides made in the ice, having to stop every few mins whilst the guide readjusted the guide ropes that enabled us to haul ourselves up the steps. The ropes and bridges have to be re-adjusted all the time as the glacier is constantly melting! When I say 'bridges' I mean a makeshift walkway made from a ladder, plank of wood and some sticks and a bit of rope! Nothing dangerous at all, only one person allowed on the bridges at one time and only one foot on each step at any one time.......just so there's no accidents!
Drove on afterwards through a place called Greymouth and on towards Picton. Decided to make a stop for the night before Picton and park up by the beach (we are actually allowed to do this!), had a gourmet dinner at the waters edge of Spaghetti (cold out of a tin) and bread, this is actually what we've been living off since our trip! I am now a conisseur in tinned spaghetti! Think I'm hooked as can't seem to get enough of the stuff! what a life we're leading! xx
JO
18/02/06
Arrived in Queenstown yesterday, went for a drive to Glenorchy did a bit of sightseeing, drove back to Queenstown and parked up for the night at the side of the road (of all places right ouside a YHA hostel!). got woken up early hours this morning by the council! Turns out you're not allowed to park up at the side of the road and camp!;)) But we're Pikeys!! we're allowed to camp where we want aren't we??
After driving on to a 'free' carpark, washed our hair in the river, cleaned our teeth in the public toilets (not actually in the toilet might I add!), we went for a ride on the Gondola's and also on the Luge's. The Luge rides are great...they're like little tobogans (not sure of spelling) but you can go alot faster and the track is more like that of a race track. Just the thing for big kids like ourselves! Made our way back down the mountain on the Gondola's and drove to Wanaka. Stopped of there for about an hour to go round puzzle world and the maze there, then made our way towards Franz Josef. Actually booked in at a campsite this time....not bad price 7 bucks a night pp.......Bargain.
JO
16/02/06
We got something sorted to travel in............A f**king mini-bus! As we left so long everything else was booked up, but we've figured we can probably save ourselves a bit of cash by sleeping in it as well. We picked it up today..Oh my god we are going to look such Pikeys driving and sleeping in this thing. It's a WHITE 13 seater mini-bus! what have we let ourselves in for??!! After picking our stuff back up from Shona's cousins we started our Road Trip, Headed first to Akaroa harbour then onto Ashburton, couldn't find anywhere to park up so drove on till we got to a place called Geraldine parked up in a rugby club carpark! Put up makeshift curtains then bedtime!
JO
14/02/06
Went to Manly yesterday met up with family for a last meal as left for New Zealand this morning. Had a nice meal and a few beers, then made my way back to the city. have had an offer to go into the city tonight for a drink with some of the staff from 'the Pine', girls decided didn't want to go as our taxi was to pick us up at 7am this morning to take us to the airport! I on the other hand being as sensible as I am decided to go;)) Had cracking night but let's just say I cut it alittle fine getting back to the apartment at 6:45am only 15 mins before taxi was due to pick us up. Mates were pretty pissed off I reckon as they didn't know where I was. Ah well s*** happens don't it! (did feel little guilty). Arrived in Christchurch and got picked up from the airport by Shona's cousin, who we're going to be staying with a few days till we can sort ourselves out with a campervan or something. Fingers crossed we can get somet shorted at such notice! xx
JO
12/02/06
Well how are we all? Bright eyed an bushy tailed I hope!
Coogee was a good un. We lay on the beach for a few hours getting the 'Lobster look', then met up with maes around 5pm. Of course it was then time for the Goon to come out (for those of you who don't know what goon is, it's the name given to any cheap wine! The cheaper the wine the worse the after effects the next morning! A true backpackers tipple), mmmmmmmmm goon just can't get enough of the stuff! Sausages, Roo steaks and sorts were cooked on the barbie and the drink was a flowing. later in the evenin it got a little chilly so we all piled back to a mates flat. Stayed there a while then El, sho and I made our way back to........Guessed yet??? The Pine! El and sho didn't stay in long and went of upstairs to bed, i however stayed chatting to some regulars...........talking the usual crap that you do after a few drinks whilst (I) was admiring the Barman;)) ......Thats all folks!
JO
11/02/06
Hey y'all, didn't do much yesterday apart from nurse a mother of all hangovers! Sho and I didn't got in around 9am yesterday morning after going for a 'couple' of drinks downstairs in the pine! we finally got the hint to leave after the cleaners came in cleaning around us......I reckon though if the smell of disinfectant hadn't been so bad we'd of probably stayed longer;)) Just to set the record straight we weren't the only 2 proping the bar up till that time!! The rest of 'em were Irish....God can they drink. El and I decided to stay in last night and do the sensible thing of having an early night! Like good girls!! Bit of detox and all that.
We're off to Coogee beach today for a spot of roasting ourselves then joing up with some friends for a barbie on the beach....This life is so hard I tell u's! Will let you know how the bbq went!
JO
09/2/06
Today we got off our buts and did something constructive!! Yeah!! We went to the Blue Mountains for the day! It was fantastic there are some fabulous views to be seen up there. It was a really hot day so it got a bit too warm when doing some of the walks (ahhhhh bet you all feeling really sorry for me!!), but we coped. We went on a mountainside railway which is the steepest in the world and back up the mountain on a flyway. We went round the whole Blue mountain tour on a hop on hop off bus tour. There were some crazy drivers but cool at the same time as they let you out at places to take photos that aren't normally allowed! Always a bonus gettin them risky pics:)) Off out on the beer later so gotta dash....... AGAIN;)) Laters xxx
JO
5/2/06
Hi all, can't say that i've really been upto much since I last left a message! The girls haven't got much money and their spirits seem a little low at the moment. We have however booked to do the Harbour Bridge climb on Tuesday, I'm well looking forward to that it's supposed to be really good and you get amazing views from up there. I have been to the rocks market today, the Botanical gardens and the Goverment house. It was a kind of lazy day but i've walked me little legs off I can tell ya! I think thats about all i've done today so far! Gotta dash as it's now time for the pub! I'm not really drinking that much it just sounds a lot when put into print;)) The tan is coming along nicely!!xx
JO
3/2/06
Ooooh my head hurts today;(( I have now left my aunts and have joined up with my mates again in the city. We went out last night as a 'welcome home' session. Emma and I decided it would be good to get on the wine........this probably would of been an ok idea had we not ended up sharing 3 bottles or so between the 2 of us! My god were we ill! It was definatly not a pretty sight! The pics will be on shortly.......Maybe;)) We have both spent most of the day lay on the hostel bedroom floor winging about our hangovers and getting Ellen and Shona to mother us;)) Now that we are now feeling a little better there is however talk of another boozy one tonight. I am only doing this however for you guys back home!! Doing you all proud an all that!! xx
JO
30/1/06
I am now back in Sydney, I flew back from Cairns 2 days ago. I was going to do the journey by coach again but it just takes far too long and its no cheaper than catching a plane. I haven't been well for the past few days, have had a fever and a bad throat. I'm so not having much luck lately! I decided to come back to Sydney already so that I could spend some time with my grandparents as they have recently flown over and are staying at my Aunts house. I'm currently staying there as well but am kipping in the campervan.......it's nice to have a bit of peace and quiet and not have anyone snoring in the next bunk! Have spent the day with the grandparents today at Darling Harbour the weather has been lovely and warm but with an occasional cool breeze. We ahd a walk round, took a few piccies and went to this 3D cinema called the IMax. It was cool plus everyone gets to make a prat of themselves as you have to wear these really stupid glasses. I will post the piccies on here soon....so keep a look out! ended the evening with a nice bbq and wine.
JO
27/1/06
I am now in Cairns after a mamouth of a coach journey! 14hrs I think it was in total!! I've checked into a 'budget hostel' called Leo's, budget being the word....but hey cheap cheap cheap. They advertise as giving a 'free' evening meal. This particular meal entailed a baked potato with gravy and a wierd lump of meat with gravy served up in a bowl. I managed to force it down like a true trooper;)) Spent the rest of the night with a few people I met drinking and swopping 'stories'. Managed to get a little tipsy for the sake of the nation and ended up in a bar/club with the group I was with. Over here you have to have ID wherever you go even in the pubs! I wasn't able to get served in one pub in Airlie beach as I didn't have my ID with me........yeah cos I soooooooo look under 18!!;))) There's a few more stories to finish off this tale.....but they are unfortunatly not publishable!! Anyone wishing to know will have to ask via email!! xx
Sue Marsh
Hi Jo,
Read your timesheet and card at work the other day, what a laugh we had it made me think you have made the right chioce to go travelling. It made me want to go to Turkey right away never mind I willl have to wait until May when I have my holiday 2 weeks in our apartment wahoo!!!
Anyway matey will have to go now but I contact again soon.
