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3rd August 2007
Up today at 9am and straight on the road to the 'Glacier Country' - where 'Fox' and 'Franz Josef' Glacier lie. We decided to climb Franz Josef, its higher than Fox. Arrived around 3pm at the Glacier Resort and paid for a hike up the Glacier for tomorrow which cost us $90 each, which is quite expensive for just a half day hike, but i suppose i may never get the opportunity again. Not everyone can say they've climbed a Glacier! I just hope the weather is not too bad as the clouds have been extremely low since we arrived in NZ, and heavy rain is forecast for tomorrow, so just have to wait and see. Paid $22 for our night stay in the camp, and in bed again for around 8pm!!!
4th August 2007
Our half day hike meant we had to be at reception for 12.30pm, we got all kitted out with raincoats, hats, gloves, crampons (to go under your boots specifically for ice climbing) boots, and waterproof trousers, so as you can imagine we looked the dogs b******s!! NOT! Left reception on a bus to the bottom of the glacier, then on we hiked, it was breathtaking, the whole day took around 4.5 hours, and we were on the ice for around an hour and a half. Tried to get as many photos as poss but the rain was unbelievably heavy, which was a shame, but i can hold the views in my memory forever i suppose, i just wont get to show you guys! i was expecting it to be really knackering but it wasn't too bad although some of the steps that had been man made into the ice were quite steep. Il put up the photos that i did manage to get so you can have a gander. We walked through a really thin crevace (obese people not allowed) even my shoulders couldn't squeeze through parts! The ice was so blue, we were told that its because there is no oxygen in them parts of the ice as the pressure from so much water and ice fall has pushed it all out. you learn something new everyday! By the end of the day, we got back onto the bus around 5pm and i was soaking wet, so back to the resort and straight into the shower!!!
5th August 2007
Today we left 'Glacier Country' and on the road about 10am. Arrived back into Christchurch about 3pm. Decided to go to the Antarctic Centre where we saw 'Little Blue' Penguins, which were so cute, and also we went into this chamber, where we experienced an 'Antarctic Storm' where the temperature dropped to below -8 degrees! And the wind chill was horrific!! But thankfully it only lasted about 5 mins. It was just really informative about Antarctica and Scott Base, was interesting but not really worth the $30 we paid, for just around 90 mins. Then off to find a campsite.
6th August 2007
Today not done a lot, just wandered around Christchurch, which may i mention, does not have a lot to offer for a city. Then in the evening we met up with the Irish Girls for one last time - went for a nice cheap and cheerful tea at "Denny's" - Horrible memories return to haunt me from Florida '96 - if you don't know the story, please don't ask!! Then stayed the night parked up outside the Wicked Campers Depot in some dark street!!
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