Blue ice

Trip Start Nov 01, 2006

137

179

Trip End Oct 31, 2007

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Flag of New Zealand Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand
Thursday, July 5, 2007

We left Wanaka amid reports of snowstorms in the area, so we were slightly worried that we might not make it to the Glacier before the snow cut us off. But we needn't have worried; the weather wasn't exactly lovely - rainy and windy and very cold - but we didn't see any snow and got to Fox Glacier mid afternoon. We were actually heading for Franz Josef but as we were driving through Fox we thought we'd stop and see it. We parked up in the car park and took the (according to the signpost) 1 hour walk to what they call the Terminal Face, which basically means the foot of the glacier. The walk took a lot less than an hour and we've noticed that a lot in this country. I'm not sure who they use as their measure for the length of walks (a 90-year old granny, perhaps?) but most signs seem to vastly overstate the time a walk will take. Or maybe we're just super fit and fast. Hmm.

Anyway, after a short walk we were at the edge of the glacier, or as close as the barriers would allow us to go, and it was amazing

02 Fox Glacier

. Bright, crystal clear blue ice snaked its way up (or down, I suppose) the valley on a scale that's incredible. We stood and marvelled for a while and as we were walking away, heard a bang and turned around just in time to see a huge piece of ice dropping from the glacier into the valley below. As we kept walking away we kept hearing the bangs of more pieces falling away but never quite turning round in time to see them. What an experience though.

After that excitement it was a short drive to Franz Josef, where we checked into a hostel room with the same kind of arrangement as last night - one room in a two-room cottage with its own kitchen. The kitchen and equipment provided were pretty basic, but I still managed to knock up a pretty nice meal. I'm quite proud of myself actually that I've managed to cook what I've wanted even with the shared, student-like kitchen facilities that have been available. Anyway, because it's July 4th, the Blue Ice bar in town was having a party and offering a free shot to anyone stupid enough to brave the by now awful weather (very cold and pouring rain) to get there. We've been quite dull whilst in New Zealand (although we've loved that), staying in the warmth to watch TV most evenings, so we decided to brave the elements and get our free shot. In actual fact, the free shot was the only evidence that tonight was any different from any other, and there wasn't exactly a party atmosphere, but at least we tried. Even the American couple in the other room in our cottage didn't go out, and the party was to celebrate their nation's independence, and they were about 10 years younger than us, so it made us feel that perhaps we're not that old and dull after all. (R)

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