Well hello again. . . . I did have my night out back in Queenstown and I think I shall leave it there. . . . It got a bit messy to say the least! I ended up going out at 5pm with Bridget and a friend after her 3 bungy jumps. . . . ! And well, stayed out from then. . . Emma came to meet us, then Olivier and Pete met us and we continued into the evening. . . . . Yeah, it all got a bit messy as I attacked the Jameson's whiskey. . . . ! Everyone left as they had work and stuff the next day, but I continued and met up with some lads from Wakefield. . . . ! Not sure what time I got in, but my head was a bit fuzzy in the morning. . . . . I took this as a good wake up call to have a night out for a while. . . . !

Anyway, enough about that. . . . . I headed off early for Franz Josef, as it was a bit of a drive. I didn't really stop anywhere on the way or do anything, as I wasn't in the mood and wanted to get to Franz Josef in time to book some adventures. . . . !I did however pass through some beautiful countryside, but to be honest, it is all pretty nice!

I got to The Fox Glacier first, however wasn't planning on doing anything here, I did however take a short walk towards the Glacier from the car park, just to get a look and to be able to say I have seen it!

I left there and 10 minutes or so I was in Franz Josef. . . . . The sun was shining and the place was tranquil. . . A small town, well village really, but enough here to keep you occupied for a few days. . . . I got checked in at the YHA and then headed back into town on foot to get some food and plan what I was going to do. . . . . After a full belly it all became very clear. . . . Heli-hike and then Quad biking! Easy way to blow a few hundreds pounds. . . . . ! I booked them both and then headed back to the hostel to chill for the evening! I managed to plough my way through my book after dinner and watched a bit of TV, probably a film, can't really remember. . . . !

Had a bit of a lie in, then made breaky, then read my book for a bit before heading down to the town for the heli-hike. . . . Now then. . . . Basically, you head off up the mountain in a helicopter for about 10 minutes, the pilot takes you around and over the glacier a few times, right up to the top and then back down to about half way. . . . You then jump out, get your spikes on and a guide takes you round for about 2 hours on some great looking ice. . . . You get to clamber through little crevasses and slide down stuff. . . . . It was awesome. . . . I was recommended to the heli-hike as you get up to the best ice. . . . And believe me, it was worth it! Check out the photos, however I don't think they do it justice?!? After the walk round, we got picked up by the chopper again and taken back to base. . . !

Once back on earth I headed back to the hostel to dump some clothes as the day was getting quite hot in the sunshine and I was going quad biking and didn't want to feel stuffy!

I quickly got some lunch and then we were off again. . . . I met a guy and his daughter on the hike and recommended the quad biking to them and they agreed, so met up with them again and a few others, got kitted up and off biking! It was great fun, different to some of the other biking I have done and the bike make was Bombardier, so I felt privileged. . . . It was all going good until the Fiona, the guys daughter planted herself at high speed into some hedges and trees. . . . . I saw the whole thing and was first in there to make sure she was ok. . . . . Luckily she didn't hurt herself, however did hurt the bike. . . . hmmm, enough said there!

As one bike was down and she wanted to continue, I got given the job of carrying the guide, I think he thought I was the most competent rider. . . ?!?! This however didn't really please me, as I had paid for a bike to myself. . . . . ?! Whatever, all was good and I only scared him a few times. . . . Oh yeah, he was from Stoke, so I had to give him some grief. . . . !

That night I chilled out and watched the All Blacks hammer Canada in the rugby, then crashed for the night after reading some more of my book (Nearly finished it - It's a Jack Reacher story by Lee Child - Good books, hey Jen?!).

I the morning I headed of towards Greymouth, however was contemplating going kayaking on a local lagoon. . . . At the road junction I decided to take a look and when I got there the guy was just setting 2 people up, so I listened to his brief and got a kayak of my own. . . . Basically you rent one and get given a map to follow, etc. . . . . It was awesome, such a beautiful day and so peaceful on the water! I am not sure how far I went, but I was out for about 4 hours. . . . . I went up little rivers and allsorts, it was great! On the way back however, I had the wind in my face and I was against the tide, not too strong, but enough. . . . ! I got back ok and had a cup of coffee we the owner and chatted for a while. . . . She recommended staying at the village just prior to Greymouth, Hokitika, as it was a lot nicer, supposedly!

I had had enough of driving by the time I got there, so decided to stop and watch the sunset at the beach and rang a good hostel I had been recommended. I got in ok and headed up after sunset. The guy running the place was from the UK, a really nice guy too. . .. . ! That night I headed into town to the local art house cinema. I know another weird trendy, quirky cinema with old sofas for seats. . . . . . This place though was a bit weird to say the least. A really small place and I was the only one there. . . . . I watch a weird French spoken film called C.R.A.Z.Y. It was sort of quite good, but them subtitles don't half tire you out sometimes?!

Later that night I nearly finished my book, but was too tired, so crashed out but got up early, got the log fire going and finished my book with a nice cup of coffee. . . . . !

After breaky I took a steady drive to Greymouth. . . . . Yeah, not much here really and it doesn't really have a good feel about it. . . ! With that in mind I decided to do the Tranz Alpine train crossing to Christchurch, just to get a different perspective on the scenery. . . . . I will be going back the next day though, so only 1 night in Christchurch! The train journey was ok, but to be fair, the scenery is all the same. . . . . I sort of get Grahams point about not wanting to see anymore sunsets or scenery photos. . . . ! Point taken mate. . . . . It is beautiful here, but I will try and get some pics of hot chicks for ya instead!

Anyway. . . . In Christchurch now, so gonna plod around here tonight then back on the train again first thing in the morning to head back. . . . Take care guys. . . . . !