Oh dear, been a while since had a chance to update you all on the adventure! so a quick recap on local events so far.

Last time we were just about to climb Mt Doom, otherwise known as the Tongatero crossing. a 18km walk/treck/hobble up and over a volcanoe. Well, our merry band of hobbits hobbled up 'the devils staircase' (a mountain of steps all by itself), through freezing cold, climbed sheer and slippery rock faces, slid down the shingle of dust and volcanoe scree stuff, crossed over the emerald lakes and then traversed over rocks. Just when we thought it was nearly all over we had to then get down! The fun had only just begun! We started our decent through what looked like an easy path but it was neverending, we then had to treck through a small jungle with even more steps, if any of us see more steps again we thought we might cry! Not sure i exagerated much, it was a b**** of a day and bloody hard work, so we all went out and got thoroughly slaughtered in the pub to celebrate! It was a well deserved few hours in the kareoke bar with lots of beers!

We next made our way down to a lovely little place called River Valley Lodge, Very prety, lovely and peacefull, till we turned up at least! Just the River, the valley and the lodge for miles!

The next big event was Wellington! now this was an event in itself, This envolved another nite out on the town as we cellebrated the seperation of some of our hobbit friends. Super Ted and frodo were off back up the other side of the north so we had a good few drinks to send them on their way! \

we took the ferry in the morning, if a little tired and possibl;y still a little drunk and pootled accross the water to Picton and then drove to Nelson.

Stopped to look at lots of prety waterfalls, lakes and short scenic walks along the way but the big event was the plastic bag fancy dress party in a lovely little place owned by Les, who is at least 100yrs old but he cooks a mean steak! The fance dress was the most fun we have had for a while! we dressed as Maouri girls but just made from bin bags! we had shreded skirts, jewelery made from straws and paperclips and headbands to match, Sara looked scarily convincing! Anyway, we all let our hair down and joined the all black rugby team, a bunch of cheerleaders, a few bees and butterflies, the entire trijan army, mermaids and countless other drunker loonys who would have looked really stupid if we were anywhere else in the world! Needless to say we were all a little less than our best in the morning!

Well that was still ages ago, so what happened next i hear you ask? Well the best is yet to come!

So we had a painfull and boring journey towards glacier land and stopped in Franz Josef and I (Philippa) thought to myself, what would clear my monster of a hangover? then came the solution! I had booked this the previous day but had kinda forgotten i had it to come! I got in a small, well very tiny plane with Celine a pilot and two very energetic and lovely men we had met only minutes before. The pilot Dave flew us over the Fox Glacier, up and over Mt cook amd Mt Tasman and we went up to just over 12000 ft, then, with the help of Rod and Greg we attached ourself firmly to the lovely men andd then gave a quick wave to the camera befor we jumped out the plane! Oh My God, was that the most amazing thing i have ever done, i totally forgot the hangover as i fell at some stupid rate through the sky freefalling for 45 seconds before the parachute opened. the guys were so lovely and fun to spend time with and i have to say it was the best few hundred dollars i have spent so far!

Well to almost attempt that i went on a glacier hike the next day and me and Sara plodded the 13km or so up, over, under, through and around the tightest, coldest, toughest crevaces we could find, and quite wet in places too! With the lovely guide of 'Tex' the Texan we spent a whole day having so much fun. Aine did a similar thing but from the comfort of a helicopter!

Well thats about all i can fit in for now so catch you all soon, prob in Queenstown!

xxx