Catching up!

Because we seem to be on a lot of the byways, rather than the highways in our travels, we do not always have good Internet access. And therefore, I have not been able to update this column! Without adding pictures (the website deemed it necessary to change the format, said format I was just getting used t, so adding photos will take a little more study on my part), I will just type! My last photos posted took us to Dunedin, and for there we went to Te Anou. We were there one night, during which time we went to a cave of glow worms, and the next day we to the Milford Sound, in the heart of Fiordland National Park. We spent the day getting there (had to make a lot of stops along the way), and then spent the night in the sound on board a three-masted sailing schooner. We were Each able to get in a sea-kayak, and paddle about, even right up to the base of a waterfall that is twice the height of Niagra Falls. It does not look like it because it does not have the width, but I understand that when the rainy season happens, it is quite a gusher. In fact, they refer to the entire side of the fiord as the Cascades because of how the waters cascade over them during the spring rains. After our boat excursion, we made it back to Te Anou for the night, then left for Queenstown. We happened to be there for ANZAC Day (April 25), and had several delightful excursions into the adjoining countryside. We have had the chance to do a great deal of "trekking", and the weather has been most cooperative! From Queenstown we went to Wanaka, the turned back to the coast and the Franz Josef Glacier National Park. As we traveled, we could tell the autumn weather was trying to give way to the oncoming winter. Waking up in Franz Josef Village, we had snow "frosting" the forest and quite close to the ground. It is easy to see how the amount of snowfall can create the glaciers. Surprisingly, with the cold weather, the snow and ice, the last thing you think would be a bother would be Sand Flies! We stopped by the beach on our way to FJ Park, and while I was fixing a picnic lunch for us, my ankles and wrists were virtually eaten to distraction! And even as I write, nearly two weeks after that happened, I am still scratching!!! We went up both the coastline and somewhat inland to Greymouth, turned in our rental car and took a train across the country and back to Christchurch. More to bring you further up to date later!