For Vengeance They All Cried

Greymouth Cops On My Back Blues

'Tis true, pride comes before a fall and having been chuffed at our progress of the day before today as we travel to Fox Glacier I am on a straight road, the sun is shining and the Plod pull me over and fine me for speeding. It was a fair cop guv' and the plod in question was perfectly civil and pleasant and didn't give me a lecture just a fine and information on where to pay it!

Somewhat slower than planned we found our way to Fox Glacier. Check into the motel, grab food at Neve's Cafe and Monst attempts to sort a helicopter flight for that day. Doesn't happen it's too windy up top so instead we tramp to the base of the Glacier (I look for bears and fox's muttering things about mints but nothing doing) and head to a Gillespies beach that promises seals but delivers driftwood.

Eat later in the Saddle Pack and virtually exhaust the local eateries... Hobnail Cafe and Bakery we leave out.

Whirly Birds to Queenstown

Flight up to Jackson's shelf above Fox Glacier. The helicopter is a glorified vibrator! Still the family enjoy it and it's good to see waht from it's foot looks like a very grubby glacier more pristine up top. Snow landing is an opportunity for photies, Cal to throw the obligatory snow balls and for me to slip and fall on my arse. Coming down don't half hurt the ears.

Drive to Queenstown is long and slow obeying speed limits. Scenery is breathtaking, Monst and Cal kip out back and miss a treat. We stop for lunch. I have my first winter cold so arrival at Queenstown is a relief to say the least.

Chinese for tea then Irish Coffee to try and chase away the cold.

Technorati Tags: Greymouth, Speeding Ticket, Fox Glacier, Shantytown, Glacier Tramp, Tramping, Helicopter Flight, Jackson's Shelf, Gillespie's Beach, Queenstown, Irish Coffee, Winter Cold

Das Boot and Das Go Cart

Voyage of Discovery

Spend the morning before we leave in Te Papa, it's not really enough time to do the place justice but it does fill our time nicely. Cal quite enjoys the earthquake experience. Monst is knackered and just chills in a movie section at one point. I'm reminded that natural and delicate graphics are good to look at. Top place.

I fetch the car, we fill the tank and head out to the Interislander Ferry Teminal, we're an hour early, check in, dump the big bag and car seat which comes as quite a relief and I sort the car. Grab the paperwork and head to a closed Hertz Office and drop off the keys.

Ferry journey is exciting for all of half an hour at least until we get close to Picton. Sort of fjord entry so very pretty. Dunno which is meant to be the Dover or Calais equivilent but which ever Picton is it's much more quaint. Sort the car at Hertz and we move to a Corolla from a Focus. Locate the hotel for the night, dump the stuff and find some food. Head to a place called the Barn. I enjoy my medallions of pork but then I like veg and it comes with plenty. Monst less impressed with her pan fried chicken. It was adequate. Good beer though.

Snow, Rain and Mud

Breakfast at the Dog and Frog in Picton is good, full fry for Monst, pancakes for the boy and me, mine with the now obligatory banana and bacon. Nice cafe as are most over here. In anticipation of drive Cal and I stretch our legs, me wandering about, him running around like a loon in a play park. Cool.

Drive to Greymouth looks long on the map, we've been told about 6 hours by locals, we do it in four including lunch stop! Monst along the way has spied On Yer Bike and considers it to be a Cal friendly activity. So we pitch up, passing the first game of rugby we've seen while here despite the evidence of a rugby mad nation. Turns out we need to wait an hour because the guide is out, indeed we see him go. Not a prob it's nice to relax. Sort the clothing, sort of wader things with boots attached, Cal is poured into his, I struggle into mine, feel like Humpty Dumpty as the thing involves braces. Then an oilskin over the top. Get into the cart and off we go round a practice course following Ian on his quad. Cal giggles and continues as we go round the thing proper, wallowing in deep long puddles, scooting through mud, we don't get up a couple of hills and requre a tow. We get wet muddy and Cal loves it. Certainly his fave thing so far.

Struggle to locate the Ashley Hotel, room is cold when we arrive, I grab a shower to wash off the much of the go carting, Monst susses the laundry because our clothes need to visit it. Dinner at the Bonsai Pizzeria in Greymouth which is good, and cheap. $60 (about twenty quid, with pizza, garlic loaf, chips, drinks and puds thrown in). Back to the hotel, Monst hits the laundry. Read more of 'How to Train Your Dragon' to the pair of them, last chapter to go now before the move to 'How to be a Pirate'.

Technorati Tags: Greymouth, Wellington, Picton, Te Papa, Interislander, Dog and Frog, On Yer Bike, Go Cart, Mud, Pizza, Laundry, How to Be A Pirate, Toothless