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I warn you, this is going to be a long blog….
Probably the most productive day I have had and will probably ever have in my life - also one of the best of the trip so far. I can't believe how much we crammed in! Follows a short list:
1. Woke up at 5am and climbed a mountain (Mt I-RON!)
2. Played Scrambled Eggs
3. Went to Puzzling World
4. Stopped at Lake Hawea
5. Went for a walk at the Blue Pools
6. Stopped at Fantail Falls
7. Stopped at Thunder Creek Falls
8. Stopped and walked the circuit around Lake Matheson (supposed to take 1.5 hours I think we stormed it in 45mins)
9. Got to the Hostel
10. Had the BIGGEST meal - EVER (well deserved)
11. Izzy Bizzy let's get Quizzy
So, here we go!
The plan from yesterday to get up early and walk to the top of Mt Iron came of well and we were all up and out of the cabin by 5.30am, (sunrise was around 6.30 I think) so off we popped in the car to the bottom of the mountain and proceeded to walk in the dark - steep doesn't describe it in some places, don't get me wrong it wasn't the steepest mountain I'd walked but it was constant just up the whole way. I stopped a couple of times and said to the guys just to leave me and go up and I'd follow because I wasn't sure I was going to make it up in time for sunrise. They ignored me of course (cheers guys) and just walked at my pace - we went through the motions of picking out markers in the distance to make it to and then stop etc etc and eventually, made it to the summit with plenty of time to spare. (God it was a toughy)
We all sat for a bit and had some cereal bars and water etc before taking a few photographs and experiencing the different phases of sunrise - it was a wonderful view as we looked down over Lake Wanaka surrounded by the Mountains and the town down below us - lots of pinks and oranges and clear skies.
After the sun had come up we saw a couple of people on the mountain, one couple in particular was very funny as it was an old couple, probably well into their 80's, dressed in what looked like long johns and woolly hats, briskly walking the mountain track, no stopping, one minute they were there and the next they were off down the other side. Brilliant - we all commented that we thought they had probably been doing the same walk every day for the last 20 years or something!
View thoroughly soaked up we walked back down the mountain… it was at this point that I made a bit of a fool out of myself by commenting on the fact that it was really good that someone had come up and sanded the handrail that was in one section, to which Chris replied, "or it was done before they brought it up here!!?" ….. Damn it. Moving swiftly on we made it back to the car, and it was here I noticed that there was something on the side of the steps at the entrance - upon closer inspection we realised that it was a knitted, yes, knitted, poo. Yes. Poo.
Apparently, Chris informed us that Wanaka has their own famous version of Banksy, but called Knitsy, and they knit things…this particular treasure being a knitted dog poo, with a note about remembering to keep the area tidy and clean up after your pets.
Brilliant, just brilliant!
Back to the cabin it was and a very welcome few slices of Vegemite on toast and a pint of tea was had before showers and packing the car up to move on to the next destination. It was then that we discovered the Trampoline - I can't remember the last time I laughed so much for such a long period of time. We played Scrambled Eggs (you sit with your legs crossed holding your toes, whilst somebody jumps up and down - first person to let go has to do the jumping!) which, I have to say I am totally rubbish at but my God it was hilarious, I laughed so hard I gave myself a headache. (photos available!) It was just a brilliant game and we had a lot of fun, the perfect activity post mountain walk!
Still laughing about Scrambled Eggs, we took a little trip before heading down to the Lake and then off to Puzzling World. Oh Puzzling World, how excited I was to visit it - it was like heaven - until of course I spent about half an hour on a slider puzzle that I just couldn't crack! ARRGHGHGHH! It ended up with the guy saying it was a real difficult one, me running out of time and subsequently having to buy a copy of it so that I could take it home. I will not be beaten.
Puzzle safely in my backpack we headed off en-route to Franz Joseph Glacier which is on the West Coast. We knew it was going to be a long drive, with lots of beautiful scenery along the way, but I can't really describe just how beautiful it all is. We stopped at one place along the road, Lake Hawea, which is literally just a lay by, and the water was so still, the mountains, the road, the trees and sky all reflected off it perfectly, a real mirror image, and then in the distance we saw a little speed boat coming towards us which just look fantastic. The lake was so big it looked like the boat was crawling along but you could see that it was cutting up the water, literally just splitting it in half. It doesn't stop there though, you think you have seen the most beautiful sight but when you get back in the car and drive along the winding roads and mountains you come across another, more beautiful sight.
Blue Pools was the next one a short walk from the road and across a suspension bridge over the water *gulp* and you are looking at the bluest water you have ever seen. Bright turquoise pools of water, fish visible below and mountain tall trees all around you. I had a moment where I panicked slightly on the suspension bridge and started shouting at the buys to stop swinging it, when I realised that it was me swinging it by running across it towards the end…. Ooops.
Cleverly we had thought to cook some pizzas up the night before whilst we had access to a kitchen and made a few sandwiches so we had cold pizza and sandwiches for lunch sat on the edge of the Blue Pools. I was last one to go over the bridge on the way back as I absolutely hate those things, and quite sweetly when I made it to the other side, the guys had mentioned to some people waiting that I was a bit wary of them and they all waited for me to cross on my own. *awwww*
Back to the car and the next stop on the list was another short walk to Fantail Falls where a vicious looking Kea was waiting for us in the car park, quite happily just walking around the cars (if they nip your tyres they can rip them so we were a little cautious) so we moved on down to the walking track pronto and out to where the falls were. It was high up in the hill side and across a very large area of pebbles, separated by a river, so you couldn't get up close to the falls but the view was perfect. After my previous faux pas about sanding handrails, the guys tried it on a bit and mentioned about some dam opening every few hours and the river overflowing and we needed to leave….blah blah blah….sorry to say I fell for it for only a few moments before I realised they were all taking the piss! Nice! Well, I'll be laughing last when I tell them there will be no Quiz book time later!
Yea, that's right, I know how to play mean, hit 'em where it hurts! The Arrowwords stays with Muddy Pony!
Not to dwell too much, the next stop was Thunder Creek Falls - beautiful as it was, we didn't stay here long because we were getting attacked by Sandflies so, we came, we saw, we took photos and we legged it back to the car, sharpish.
Next stop of the day, Lake Matheson, also known as Mirror Lake because it's very famous for its reflective views - first thing out of the car Michelle and I needed the loo so off we went to find one, very soon coming across too porter loo type things. It has to be said I was in good form that day so as I was leaving I thought well where's the flush, so shouted out "how do you flush it!?" before quickly realising my mistake, walking outside to Michelle and saying "Nevermind, it's a long drop…."
Silly Stephy. You take these things for granted though! Honestly, and I rectified my mistake, plus I'd been up since 5am….
Laughing about that (or at me) for a while longer we decided we would need to speed walk if we were going to make it to the view point on the Lake before sunset as it was already getting dark (again) so we marched off at a quick pace and made it to the view point just in time to get some great shots. On the way back however, the sun was gone and it was dark and we had to use my torch to see what we were walking on (or in…) and Darren commented that we had woken up in the dark walking and now we were finishing the day in exactly the same way. Pretty cool, when I look back at how much we did and how much ground we covered in the one day.
Back in the car we headed off to Franz Josef and the Glowworm Backpackers place, by this point incredibly hungry and a bit tired if we're honest. Soon as we got there we asked the guy where was good to eat and he mentioned the Blue Ice Café and that they had great ribs…
…I turned and looked at Michelle like it was Christmas…I had been craving ribs for a couple of weeks - it was meant to be! Even more so when he gave us vouchers so that we could get money off! SWEET!
So off we popped to the café which was a nice little place, had a look at the menu and it was here that the boys were challenged to the 'Big Boy' meal comprising of, an 18" Baton of bread filled with Cumberland Sausages, Mushrooms, Onions, Cheese, Ketchup and Mustard WITH Chips!!?? The guy behind the bar, pointed over to a pretty burly bloke and said "he only got half way through it" Well that sealed it for the guys, they had that and Michelle and I both went for the ribs, aptly named Sticky Fingers - how pleasant.
All I can say is it was lucky we were hungry and to give him his dues, Chris not only finished his meal, but had some of my ribs and chips too…..hungry at all, Chris? After eating and watching the rugby match we got up to leave and head back to the backpackers place when I started to play with some of the balls on the Pool table just bouncing them off the cushions etc…
….SHIIIIIIIITTTTTT! There are balls on the table because someone was playing at half time in the rugby and they turn the lights out when it came back on so they had to wait…..ARGGHHH! It took me a minute but I realised my error and turned to the guy covering my mouth with my hands and looking genuinely mortified. I apologised to him and he just laughed and said no problem. Michelle was wetting herself and I just couldn't stop apologising. Leaving quickly after, Michelle made me feel slightly better by highlighting that he hadn't had to pay for it because it was free - good point - but I still looked like a right idiot just coming up and blatantly ruining the game.
This day was NOT one of my best, it has to be said.
Back in the room and in bed we all did a few Arrowwords puzzles before I think we all fell asleep, well, I know I did…
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