To shreds you say...?

Sian's legs are on fire. Today we write to you in shreds. ribbons... We have just climbed the Fox glacier complete with crampons, alpenstocks and nasty hobnail boots. Magnificent scenery (as usual here) but the walk was tough, and we're just gettting over a days horse riding in Queenstown. Manuel and Boris did things to me no male ever has before (they were my horses - S).



We've been making our way along the south and west coast of south island over the last 2 weeks, lots of driving on waggly roads for Dave so that we could see all the Lord of the Rings scenes and get in all the sights. This was a day trip we did to 'Edoras' a.k.a Mt Sunday. the guidebook said we'd have to cross "a few small streams" which turned into pretty big rivers complete with salmon swimming upstream in them. By that stage we couldn't turn back (having already waded through smaller sreams Hobbit style) so had to strip down to undies and cross the river that way. It was FREEZING FREEZING cold but worth it in the end as we got to see a mysterious figure in white patrolling the mountain top - possibly Gandalf.





Done all the touristy things along the way - visited the Moeraki boulders (150 million year old balls of rock/crystals just sitting on the beach). Climbed the worlds steepest street (and got a certificate to prove it). Tried to see the penguins 5 times but failed, only caught a glimpse of one in our headlights (should have run it over for a better look). Got very close and personal with a seal and Sian had a bit of an Attenborough moment... Went Quad biking over the hills of Te Anau (clocked an impressive 58km/h) and spent an expensive 15 minutes in 'Minus 5' (an ice bar in Queenstown, everything including your glass is made of ice!)







A highlight of the Fjordlands was cruising on the Milford sound. spectacular cliff faces, waterfalls 3 times the height of Niagra falls and a pod of dolphins swimming beside the boat!





More recently we went to Deer park (the place where Aragorn falls off the cliff and the Warg riders attack in the two towers film) but we had more fun playing with the animals :)












So that's all from us, a big catch up. Hope you're all well at home. have to run now as it's 5pm and we have an 8 hour drive ahread of us to go whale watching in the morning - life remains tough as always for the travellers!



xox Sian & Dave-o