We all stopped for a break. Seems we were pretty much exposed to the sun. I put on sun screen. I hear that the ozone layer is pretty bad in New Zealand and skin cancer is a big concern. It was getting so hot from the sun that I was grateful for the cool breezes and the mountain shade. We got up to Harren Saddle Hut. Laurie, Ann Marie, and I dropped our packs to take the side trip to the top of Conical Hill. It is quite steep and rocky. It never seemed like it would end. People kept reassuring me that it was worth it. It was. It gave us great views of Hollyford village through to Lake McKerrow, Martino Bay and the Tasman Sea. It took us an hout and a half to do this side trip. We didn't get down unti about 2:00. We still had to hike about another 2 and a half to 3 hours. It was a weary hike down. The sun was still quite hot and I didn't have a lot of water.
Laurie and I reached the Routeburn Falls Hut. Julianna was waiting for us. She didn't do the side trip to Conical Hill because she wasn't feeling well. Ann Marie still hadn't come down so I waited for her as the others went ahead. Once Ann Marie got to the hut I moved along. I wanted to get down early enough to try and dry the fly to my tent. By the time I got down, it was an hour later and laurie had her tent set-up. The tents are quite a ways from the hut. We have some snow capped mountains in front of us. I cooked my dinner and had a Snickers bar for dessert. Ann Marie came down with her dinner and ate with us. We can't go to her hut, but she can come to our campsite.
The air is cold and everything feels clammy. I will be glad to take a shower tomorrow.
March 21, 2003
It is oly 8:41 am. We are already at the parking lot where the bus is suppose to pick us up. Laurie and I got up at 5:45 to pack up. We met Ann Marie and Julianna at the hut and we were on the trail by 6:20. It was a nice walk out. It told us that it would take 2 1/2 hours to get to the end. It only took us 1 3/4 hours. Now we have to wait for the bus, which is not coming until 10:00.
I have my tent fly hanging out to dry. It is quite wet again.
One of the things I meant to write about last night is about the current news. When we got to the hut last night Julianna had heard on the radio about the air strikes. It makes me realize how out of touch I am with the world. Since I have been traveling I haven't seen the news, haven't listened to the radio, haven't read the paper. In some ways I am glad to be in my own little world and not have to worry about what is going on.
I woke up happy that it isn't raining, happy to have food and water, happy to have terrific views, happy to be with friends, happy to have a place to sleep. There are no phones, it is oeaceful, real simple. I suppose that is selfish. I know other's lives aren't that simple. They have to deal with work, families, traffic, and the news.
I wish the world could be at peace and harmony. I know that will never happen, so I will live in my own little world for now.
6:17 pm, I am gettting hungry. We are waiting for Ann Marie to come back with the car. So I decided to finish today's notes so I can drop this in the mail with my film. I am hoping to have a link to the website so you can see the photos.
Anyway, back to the rest of the day. We cought the 10:00 bus at Routeburn Hut. The bus dropped us off in Glenorchy. We had to wait thirty minutes for the next bus to take us to Queenstown, where we are staying for the next two nights. There was a stove so we bought some goodies. I got my bag of ice and diet coke. That is pretty much standard for me when I get out of the woods.
We bought a paper to catch us up on the war news. It is sad that it has to come to this and that is all I am going to say about the situation.
We got into Queenstown about 12:00. We couldn't check in until 1:00 so we had to walk around in our dirty , smelly clothes. We were use to it, but I don't think the other people were.
Laurie and I walked to the library and used the internet. We were thinking it was free, but found out afterward that it wasn't.
We then walked around town checking out restaurant for dinner tonight. I was just thinking this will be the first time going to a restaurant for dinner unless you consider Wendy's a restaurant.
I think this town is so cute. I wouldn't mind staying a couple more days, but I guess there isn't much to do unless you are into the adreneline sports. We saw some people land from paragliding. I think it looks pretty neat. Maybe I can talk Laurie into it. I think I could if it wasn't expensive.
Ann Marie and Julianna, Laurie, and I went out to eat at an Italian restaurant. Laurie got chicken curry, Ann Marie got salmon and I got lamb. The we all split to get a sample of each. Julianna doesn't eat meat so she had pasta and sauce. Afterwards we walked around town and picked up some ice cream for dessert. Their freezers don't seems to be as good as ours because all the ice cream was soft. We ran into three ladies from Vancouver that we met on the Routeburn Track. They are very good hikers. A couple of them did the Annapuma cirsuit so I had to talk to them about it, because we will be doing it. She said there is nothing like it. The only thing we have to worry about is the maoists now. We should be fine.
When we got back to the hostel we looked at Ann Marie's 20 something rolls of pictures. I only have 3 rolls to develop. It gets too expensive.
Well, time for bed.
March 22, 2003
I got up early and took a walk. I wanted to walk to the top where the gondola is. I found the trail and it seemed to take forever. I hiked for 45 minutes and still hadn't reached the top. I wanted to get down because Laurie was making breakfast and Ann Marie and Julianna were leaving to go home shortly. So I turned around without making it to the top. I was dissappointed because it looked like I would have terrific views. This is also where they take off for paragliding. I don't know how early they start, but
