hello hello,

We have travel a lot since i last updated this blogaroo. We have left the deep south, traveled the length of the west coast, cut across the middle of the south island back to the east coast. It has been a spectacular few days of driving!

Our first stop on the west coast was Franz Josef Glacier were we adventured onto the ice. It was fantastic! We donned our crampons (i was slightly concered that i might impale myself.. you'l all be glad to hear that this did not happen) and trotted on up the terminal face (this is the technical lingo that all us pro ice climber know.. its the big bit at the front). The ice at the bottom of the Glacier is covered in rocks and stuff but once we got up a bit its beautiful clear, really blue ice.. magical! We got to climb though a ice holes and slither though a tall, thin cracks in the ice.. awsome!

The drive up the west coast was brilliant and really different to the rest of the island we have seen so far. Cause they get loads of rain on that coast (about 7 meters in some places and 10 meters at the top of the Glacier) its really jungley, with loads of massive ferns and lichen covering everything. The road sits right on the edge of the coast and winds up and down the cliff faces.. brilliant to drive but a bit hairy if your a passanger!

Cutting across the island (yet another top drive though the mountains and coming out the other side watching them melt away into the planes) we spent the night at Hammer Springs. Basically theres nothing there but a load of thermal hot pools. So unfortunatly all we could do was lounge about in beautifully hot water watching the sun go down and the stars come out! I cant tell you how much hard work travelling can be at times!

And then to the amasing bay and penincular of Kaikoura. Mountains on one side and alot of ocean on the other Kaikoura is really cool, and we had yet another brilliant walk on the wind swept penincular where there are loads and loads of sea loins (and i think i saw a Kaikoura penguin)!

And thats about it for the mo. Oh.. we saw a really big hawk (i think it was a Harrier) chase and catch a little birdy.. it was only about 2 meters away when he (or she i surpose but he look more like a he to me) caught it... bloody but really cool!!

love to everyone xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx