Written 7th October 2011

Hello!

I am currently sat in the YHA with Amy, Amelia and Kathy overlooking Lake Wanaka as the sun is setting! I can see snow capped mountains in the distance and have just eaten pizza and chips with a bottle of L+P! J

I have had a fantastic few days in Franz Josef and have basically written off the whole right hand side of my body! Here's how I did it!

So on the journey from a Greymouth to Franz we called at a number of scenic spots along the way. Nick the driver of the bus made my last week one of the best on my tour! He went the extra mile for us loads of times and on the bus was a right laugh. He loved his cheesy music and got on with the group really well! Anyway… one of the places we stopped at was where I discovered my latest craze when it comes to taking a picture. Introducing….. "The Handstand!" Although Amelia has just pointed out that I actually found it on the journey to Greymouth. I then made everyone stand along a jetty and set my timer going, sprinted up a hill, down some steps and along the jetty just in time to make it!

The bus arrived in Franz Josef early afternoon and after checking in at Chateau Franz the rest of the guys went sky diving! I decided that having already jumped I would have a go at quad biking! Nick and I went out for a 2 hour session with the guide driving though bogs, forest, swamp, river bed, rivers and grass land! Basically any surface you can think of. I loved it!! After about 5 mins I got the hang of it and was smashing though water holes, and mud pools having a great time! The guide then took us on a track she only takes experienced drivers on and it was fab! We pulled up in the middle of the flats and had a cuppa while taking in views of the Franz Josef Glacier, it was awesome! We took a few jumping pictures, a few hand stand pics before getting a lecture of the guide about how after the break is when most accidents happen because people get over confident. After that we headed back to the base and I can remember riding along, while skidding around bends, thinking that I should take it easy as I could feel myself going at it more and more! Then we entered the forest, the ground thick with mud and track's about 30cm deep! We were flying around the track and then…… I hit something and can remember the front of the bike coming up and then landing in a pile of mud! I flew of it the bike, luckily not hitting anything and jumped up as fast as I ever have done out of a mud pool! I jumped up and hopped back on the bike just as Nick shouted Hollie the guide. She appeared back at the scene just as I was checking out my thumb, which was killing, and was trying to act as normal as possible. She asked what had happed, to which I replied, "I think I just hit the handle bar on the tree!" Looking at the bike the start button looked as though it has broken off, so we were told to find it! In a pool of mud that is a hard task! Then Nick worked out that it had twisted round so we had the simple task of just pressing the button and we would be on our way!

Update: You would not believe the night we have had tonight… We have been laughing all night drinking cider and having a chat…..

Anyway, back to the bike. It didn't start. I could just see $ signs flashing in front of me! We opened the bonnet, checked the fuses and wires but there was no electric! Just as we were starting to get worried Hollie noticed the kill switch had been caught, phew! I had just about survived, the bike was ok and I had just about got away with it. We set off again and I only had to adjust to driving without using my left hand thumb while tilting the handle bar because the tracking was now out! We got back to base, all was ok, she didn't notice the wheels and we got changed. After we left the office Nick and I fell about laughing as it was actually very very funny! My thumb was hurting, arm hurting and knee hurting. I was ok though and loved telling everyone J

In the evening we went to the local bar for drinks and a game of pool J

The next day was the big hike! Franz Josef is famous for its glacier. Starting at about 230m above sea level the glacier full day hike covers only 1/10 of the full glacier. After around 4 hours of ice hiking we reached 701m above sea level. We walked up a rocky part to begin with and the put our crampons on. It was a beautiful day with perfect blue skies! We walked up and down massive waves of ice following our guide Zach. He spent the day carrying a pick axe and cutting out steps for us! Along the way to the top we went to various different parts of the glacier and found new stuff. The glacier changes everyday and as Zach is one of the top guides he was allowed to make new tracks. It was cool to think we were walking where nobody else had ever walked before! At this point by the way I now had a blue aching knee, sore arm and a painful thumb, all was good though J One of the cool parts we found was an 'Iris', basically a very thin crack you can walk though! Being my new slimish self I was first to give it a go! I side stepped though the tiny crack and looked up to the surface above me to pose for a pic! Then I had to duck down and crawl though the tunnel before hoisting myself out! Luckily I just about fit! We then found a water hole and climbed down into it before climbing up the mini waterfall back to the surface. The whole experience was exhilarating! All I could think about was the fact I had left my pen knife at home in case I had to cut my arm off! We reached our lunch spot at around 1pm and I enjoyed ham and cheese butties with crystal clear glacier water to drink. One thing I did do at lunch was play a prank on the guide! Just as we set of he had put a rock in the bag of a new guide. Apparently a prank that, 'only the new boys fall for!' When Zach went to look at the next part of the climb as we all finished out lunch I took the opportunity to prove him wrong! I placed a rock in his bag and let him guide us the the summit of our climb which took another 2.5 hours! We then met up with another group and I got their guide to ask Zach to look in his bag! He was gutted! I loved it!! J We then posed for a group pick at the top before the weather closed in and we all wrapped up. We headed down the glacier as the rain started and we all got wet through! By the time we reached the bottom we were soaked! I did however enjoy taking a picture of a Kia, a pretty impressive bird that I managed to get really close to! When we got back to the town we were knackered. By this time my whole body was aching, especially my right hand side! We went to the shops to get some tea before heading to the spa pools! It was bliss!

We sat in the pools for ages and the girls enjoyed one of my 'legendary massages!' Then it was back to the hostel where we made a big Spaghetti Bolognese and all fell asleep pretty early!

So this morning we had an early start and a new driver, Soap! Yes this guy is called Soap and is a complete plonker, in a bad way! At 8am he was playing rock music on his bus! This put me in a rotten mood for the morning and I spent most of it sleeping on the back of the bus. As the morning we went on however I came round and by the time we got to Lake Matheson, Mirror Lake, I was just about ok. Oh no… Sorry I wasn't. Soap told us we would stop for an hour and we could do the 30 min return walk to the viewpoint and then spend 30 mins in the café. The route was actually 30 mins each way so we ended up literally running back the bus! This put me in my bad mood! Anyway by the time we got to Hasst I was ok and enjoyed my butties sunbathing! South island as I have said is amazing! The lakes are like mirrors, the mountains appear from nowhere and are just incredible! We stopped at a number of places along the gigantic Lake Wanaka and drove down the length of it for about 3 hours! Its massive! We eventually arrived in Wanaka and spent the afternoon in the beautiful little town. When we checked in Soap got our bags off the bus but had top take another bag off to get at ours. Then we walked in the hostel and he got back on the bus and drove onwards to Queenstown, leaving the extra bag! About 30 mins later we were heading off to the lake in our swim stuff, as it was roasting, and noticed the bag! The silly b***** had forgot it so had to come back, I said he was a plonker! So anyway, we spent the afternoon sunbathing and swimming in the lake! It was bloody freezing in the water though! We all ran in together and pretty much ran out just as fast! It was a great afternoon and I even managed a cheeky little kiss in the lake ;-)

Tonight we have just chilled while having a drink, 'chatting' and relaxing. We have had a crazy few days and there is more to come, tomorrow it's the Bungee!!!

I have just heard that the legend that is Dave Kelly might be coming to see my in Washington! What a man! Also, a little bird tells me that my right hand man Mr Roper may have got clearance from Asda for his Saturday off so he can come too! I can't access the internet at the moment to see their messages though! It is also… 9 days until I meet mum and dad in Buffalo!!!

Anyway, I am still alive after my eventful past few days. I am a bit bruised and battered but I am having an epic time!

See you all soon,

Love Tom xxx