Overcast Fiordland

Nov 20

I forgot to mention in all my driving I have noticed my family has been named after all these places in NZ. There have been several St Patrick’s churches and the Patrick River, the John Burns studio, I passed the Mary Burn (I found out a burn is a stream or creek) and last, the Roaring Meg. That was the stream at the bottom of the gorge I drove over three times.  But the best sign I’ve seen was the wayside sign that read “Roaring Meg Lookout” because that’s what we say whenever Meggy is in a bad mood:)  (Couldn’t resist Meg!)Now I need to find something named after me.

By the way, all the scenery is spectacular and I can’t begin to describe it all.  Every part of my drive, aside from the cities or towns has been everything I could want from this trip. I would love to send back a live, real time mini-cam of where I am. The weather changes the mountain views constantly and as I drive the terrain is always unfolding new and incredible treasures. I won’t be able to describe all this to you, but I will try to mention the highlights, without being boring or repetitive.

Today arrived overcast and cool so I slept in. After I finally made myself climb out from under the warm down comforter and dressed , made some coffee and ate breakfast, I took my computer over to the main house to hook up to the internet. Once there, I met a couple from Calgary staying in the house and I got some tips on where I should go for the rest of my trip from Jessie. We also looked at the weather patterns for the next few days and decided Monday was the best day to try the Milford Sound cruise and flyover. I have discussed with her the best way to see the sounds and she definitely thinks it is by helicopter or airplane as the cruise only shows the scenery from the water. She also suggests I go into Te Anua and see a special movie filmed of the sounds by a helicopter pilot who also worked on LOR’s.

I wrote for a little while then headed in to Te Anau. With mountains on both sides and behind me, a lake alongside and the sheep and cattle beside me, I wind my way to Te Anua and their Visitors Center. I picked up some info on walking the different tracks and headed to the wharf for a trip to the Glow Worm caves. These caves were across the lake so we took a beautiful new catamaran toward South sound and around some islands for about 25 minutes and were let off at the entrance to the caves. A guided tour took us bending way down into the caves. After a minute we could stand again and were lead deep into the mountain along wet walkways and dripping walls, and rushing, thundering underground rivers, waterfalls and whirlpools. Eventually we reached a boat landing and got into a boat that is sent into a pitch black, really, really black, dark cavern where the glow worms live. We looked above us in the blackness and tiny pin pricks of light dotted the dark. It was like mini-lites or a night sky in the far north. We traveled in silence for about 5-10 minutes watching the patches of light. The worms use the light to attract a mate and it was enthralling to sit and watch in silence.  We came to the end of the cavern and were once again in the tunnels of rushing water. We followed the guide and emerged into daylight in the forest beside the sound. Quite an interesting and beautiful experience. I cruised back to town and drove to the special cinema to see the movie made by the helicopter pilot so I can get a peek at what I will be doing in two days. I sit next to a man who was on the Glow worm cruise. I think he thinks I am stalking him. The movie is stunning and I am getting excited about the trip. I then went  to Saturday night mass. The tiny church has a hunchback, really old priest and a total of 10 people including 3 children.  I still can’t understand what most people are saying. If I hadn’t know this gospel by heart I would have been completely confused. After mass I went grocery shopping and was shocked by food prices. I  skipped a bottle of diet Coke because I wouldn’t pay $3.79 for one bottle. A box of cereal is $6.50 and grapes $10.00 a kilo. I then spend $8 on fish and chips (not bad) for dinner. I get two huge pieces of cod and tons of fries all wrapped up in newspaper, piping hot. I ate it at the lake front and drive home stuffed. I then watched TV with Tiger the big, beautiful resident cat sitting and purring on my lap. All in all, I spent a nice relaxing first day in Fiordland.