STRAY Tour
DAY 11
I got up late and met with Barbara and Chops, they'd decided to do the heli-hike too. We signed in, got all the kit on and walked over to where we could hear the helicopters. It was a great setup because you can hear the helicopters behind a ridge, which you walk up and over. As you do, the noise and sight of the two helicopters sitting there in front of the river (which runs off the glacier,) rotors spinning, ready to go, hits you.
Life is Good.
Hugging the mountains to one side, we got taken up to the top of the glacier, where the pilot performed some fancy moves putting the helicopter on one side and letting us drop, pulling up in time to fly low over the bright blue surreal blue ice-shapes at the top.
We were dropped off half way up the glacier on some compressed ice. We were given crampons and ice pick type things which we were supposed to use for balance. Now I generally enjoy listening to people and their interesting facts and stories. But Chops just kept yabbering on and on and on about his Helicopter days. He was boring the fuck out of me! If I didn't do it, Barbara would've.
We walked around and saw various ice holes, ice bridges, ice cracks and even an ice tunnel.
Whenever I'd get thirsty from walking, I'd just knock some ice off the side of the glacier and eat it. It tasted like ice cubes. I looked all the way down the glacier, then up to the top and figured it all must taste like this. That's one fucking big ice cube.
As if to prove this wasn't the big jolly laugh we were taking it to be, The guide kept saying things like 'Don't walk on that side, follow my track. If you fall down there you'll die." Which focused our minds somewhat.
We still had a laugh though. I figured I had to do the Dumb and Dumber thing and get my tongue stuck on some ice...
...twice.
To be honest, 2 hours was long enough walking around on the uneven terrain of the glacier. I'm so glad I didn't do the full day hike. Even after a couple of hours I was getting used to walking on ice, not paying as much attention, then slipping (no major falls though luckily).
The guide cut a landing pad for the chopper.
Then we made our way back down.
We spent the rest of the afternoon sitting in a cafe drinking coffee and looking at the mountains. Waiting for the full day hike people to come back.
The Nurses unfortunately had had enough of getting up early every day and decided to stay in Franz Joseph until the next bus came along. They also wanted to do Skydiving over the glacier, which meant they weren't going to be in Queenstown for my birthday which was a shame.
Speaking of birthdays, it was Chops' birthday that day (27th) and a girl called Ceri's (they were born on the same day), Mine and a girl called Louise (who got off the bus back at Taupo) on the 29th and Laura's (Nurse) on the 31st. Another one for astrologers, in that we're all on the same bus?
We spent that night at a quiet lodge, outside of a quiet town called Haast. Which was a shame because it would've been good to have a big party for Chops as he's as big a piss-head as I am. It must be a Gemini thing.
Day 12
Clouds which come in from the sea and hit the west coast of NZ have no where to go once they cross the coast, as the southern alps mountain range (which stretches throughout the south island) stops them in their tracks and makes them dump all their water. As such, when we crossed through the Haast Pass that day, all the mountains went from rainforest covered to barren rock within about an hour. Luckily it was a nice day too. We drove past a series of huge lakes with massive mountains either side and the crisp clear blue sky made the place look absolutely beautiful. You can taste the freshness in the air.
We stopped off at a roadside cafe and decided we needed to do something for the new people getting on the bus later. Brandon, an bloke from California decided him and Mark, a quiet bloke from Ireland would become 'Precious' and 'Merl'. A flirtatious gay couple very much in love. As that wouldn't involve the rest of us, we ended up going for Reservoir Dogs names each. Brandon, carrying on his 'Precious' roll claimed Mr Pink, Mark, with his low carefully worded voice became Mr. (Barry) White. Everyone was given various colours and because of my tendancy to do pretty much anything, just to see what its like, I was given the ironic moniker of Mr Yellow
We stopped off in a place called Puzzle World just before the town of Wanaka. Its a place full of optical illusions, brainteasers, games and a massive outdoor maze. The highlight was a room built on a slant, but with everything level, so things appeared to roll up hill, stand on one side and generally confuse the brain. I found I could make myself feel sick and nearly fall over if I ran from one end of the room to the other.
There was also a room which looked normal, but was actually tapered to be tall at one end and short at the other. It looked really funny afterwards seeing myself and Mr Pink appear to shrink and grow as we walked around the room on the time-delayed video outside.
We went to the small town of Wanaka afterwards, a beautiful town built on a lake surrounded by mountains. "Mr Yellow" Chops said as I was getting off the bus. "I forgot to tell you, I've booked your birthday stuff." (a grin exploded on my face as I'd told chops roughly what I fancied doing) "Go on..." I said. "Be at NZone skydiving at 8am tomorrow morning, AJ Hackett reception for the Nevis at 2pm and you're doing 'The Ledge' at 7.30pm tomorrow night." BIG GRIN. "Oh and we're doing the Kawarau Bridge at 4pm today..."
I knew he wouldn't let me down.
Click here for my Kawarau Bridge Bungy