Got some intermittent Internet connection tonight, so here goes. We have been travelling fast down the west coast for 2 days, and stopped and seen so much that I have got all the details muddled up!
Yesterday, another lovely sunny day, stopped at a viewpoint for Mount Cook at Hope Saddle,
passed through the enormous Butler river system, picnic lunch overlooking the ocean at a previous mining village, tackled the Trueman track which turned out to be about 15 minutes to a cliff formation and fresh waterfall,
checked into campsite lodge below the level of the sea:a new rather precarious flood bank made us feel a bit vulnerable as the waves crashed 10 feet away!
Our late evening visit to the pancake rock formations and blow holes was stunning at high tide
before an indifferent meal at a roadside pub. No worries though as we have been consistently overfed all trip!
Today was an early start after a pancake breakfast! This has been our first rainy day, but that didn't prevent us enjoying a short coffee and shopping trip in Hokitika and to buy lunch,all subsequently left by the roadside in error! However, Chris our guide managed to produce a slightly odd assortment of food for a picnic at the Okarito trig point, a fast steep ascent in glorious weather again and our first glimpse of the high snowclad mountains.
On again back to the main highway, amazed to be sharing the road with the railway, no signals at all where the rails shared roundabouts, and and one point a shared bridge! Traffic generally pretty light and considerate, but even so it is a bit weird to have to check for trains in the road! Eventually got to Fox glacier,
another fast steep walk up to the viewpoint, but in fact the glacier has retreated significantly in the last years so we were some distance from a disappointingly grey mound which was the glacier. Not white and glistening like I had imagined! This evening we had a magnificent early meal, and gratefully early to bed in a very well organised camp and lodge site.Chris and i are again in a disabled access room! It would appear that twin bed accommodation is not common, so disabled friendly rooms tend to have a spare single bed....wonderful sunset.
Yesterday, another lovely sunny day, stopped at a viewpoint for Mount Cook at Hope Saddle,
passed through the enormous Butler river system, picnic lunch overlooking the ocean at a previous mining village, tackled the Trueman track which turned out to be about 15 minutes to a cliff formation and fresh waterfall,
checked into campsite lodge below the level of the sea:a new rather precarious flood bank made us feel a bit vulnerable as the waves crashed 10 feet away!
Our late evening visit to the pancake rock formations and blow holes was stunning at high tide
before an indifferent meal at a roadside pub. No worries though as we have been consistently overfed all trip!
Today was an early start after a pancake breakfast! This has been our first rainy day, but that didn't prevent us enjoying a short coffee and shopping trip in Hokitika and to buy lunch,all subsequently left by the roadside in error! However, Chris our guide managed to produce a slightly odd assortment of food for a picnic at the Okarito trig point, a fast steep ascent in glorious weather again and our first glimpse of the high snowclad mountains.
On again back to the main highway, amazed to be sharing the road with the railway, no signals at all where the rails shared roundabouts, and and one point a shared bridge! Traffic generally pretty light and considerate, but even so it is a bit weird to have to check for trains in the road! Eventually got to Fox glacier,
another fast steep walk up to the viewpoint, but in fact the glacier has retreated significantly in the last years so we were some distance from a disappointingly grey mound which was the glacier. Not white and glistening like I had imagined! This evening we had a magnificent early meal, and gratefully early to bed in a very well organised camp and lodge site.Chris and i are again in a disabled access room! It would appear that twin bed accommodation is not common, so disabled friendly rooms tend to have a spare single bed....wonderful sunset.
it's really nice to be able to keep up with your travels!
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