Seen where we stopped to view the viaduct and the protective roof over the road. No keas but the sign looked nibbled on.
Just on the other side of the thin yellow nylon rope marking sections of the path to Franz Josef Glacier.
Posted on the frig in our room at the Bealey Hotel.
Another day, another glacier.
Today we left the Chateau Franz and headed up to the Franz Josef glacier. We didn’t go all the way to the end of the viewing path, mainly because it involved several quite steep sections at the last, but we had a great view from where we ended. The bulk of the path was broad and easily accessed. There were lots of people of all ages including some quite little ones being cajoled and coaxed by their parents away from all the enticing stones to play with. The shape of the snow/ice on top of the glacier was fascinating, and I pulled the term Penitentes out of my dusty brain.
After that we took off in the general direction we were headed but took a detour towards a white heron sanctuary. We didn’t really want to go on a jet boat tour, but as we approached the building, there in the estuary was indeed a white heron. I clearly saw it and enjoyed watching it fly away on its huge wings but my photo was iffy, so you’ll have to take my word for it.
From there we wandered up the west coast, along the shore, through small towns (hello Ross!) and up to the Bealey Hotel. Along the way we saw lots of examples of unstable mountains and land and a wonderfully engineered solution protecting one bit of highway just before Arthur’s Pass. Now we’re settled for the night in a lovely big space with kitchenette, lots of beds to choose from and a very nice bar and restaurant just up the drive. In fact while we were having dinner tonight, the folks got up from the next table and ducked out and when we looked out the window – there they were looking at a kea!
We did have a delicious dinner tonight – rump of lamb with scalloped potatoes and veggies plus a dollop of mint jelly. This was not the weird green jelly but mostly clear with finely minced mint in it. I had a Monteith’s Black.
Pay no attention to the less courageous. — Robert Genn
After all our “warm-up walks” it was down to serious business. All that driving and walking had been to get us to Fox Glacier in time to walk up the path to meet it. Then we would go onward to our resting destination for the night at Franz Josef Glacier village.
when we got to our room at Chateau Franz, we looked out to see this, Franz Josef Glacier. But that’s for tomorrow.
On our way to Franz Josef Glacier today, Marge and I took several walks that had been recommended to us when we stopped at the quilt shop. The first was not on that list, but had a nice short 20 minute loop. The second took us to the Blue Pools. There we got to see not only the glacial blue waters and water-carved rocks but also a handful of young guys cannon-balling into the water (you did figure out it would be REALLY cold, right?) from a bridge strung across it.
It was easy to imagine the woods surrounding the pools being filled with elves or even being a part of other forests in Middle Earth.
The third, Ship Creek took us to the Tasmanian Sea but also through woods and past a wetlands with open water.
Marge commented that it was a pleasure walking with someone who was taking a lot of photos too – we sort of leapfrogged past each other as each of us paused to photo something. Perfect. Also nice to have a walking partner to discuss birds and plants and whatever else comes to mind.
They have birds in New Zealand. Quite the variety of birds too, and I’ve managed to meet quite a few and hear at least one other one, a morepork.
Today, I managed to see and photograph a Tui (WHAT an incredible range of calls and vocalizations. Marge described one as a squeaky door.) and a tomtit who did not seem shy at all, letting Marge video him for a few minutes and came over to pose for me. Also got a nice photo of a fantail.
When your views on the world and your intellect are being challenged and you begin to feel uncomfortable because of a contradiction you’ve detected that is threatening your current model of the world or some aspect of it, pay attention. You are about to learn something. This discomfort and intellectual conflict is when learning is taking place.
