Lewis Pass to Arthurs Pass

After soaking for 2 hours in the mineral pools at Hanmer Springs, Dad and Ben took us back to the trail head. Awesome to have them come down and join us for a day.

Dad, 81 years young, still has the spirit. He was ready to join us if it hadn't been for the ferry they had to catch back to Wellington.

One of the longest swing bridges we crossed.

These bridges are needed in the steep mountain gorges of New Zealand.

Sarn taking advantage of a natural hot spring deep in the mountains.

Huts, huts and more huts...each with their own character and charm.

This is an old hunters hut. I will be featuring some more in the future.

One of the many boulder strewn stream beds that are part of the trail.

You literally make your way (follow your nose) up stream until you see another

orange marker. Can you spot Sarn some where in this photo?

Crossing over Goat Pass and into Mingha Valley towards Arthur's Pass.

This is what happens when you loose a bet...Press-ups

in Arthurs pass.

...one...two...three...ten...

Here, we see a Kea (Mountain Parrot) trying to eat this sun umbrella.

Kea's are known for their mischievousness.

Question:  What is the national sport of New Zealand and where do we rank world wide?

Day off with Family in Christchurch

Carol, Sarn's mum, flew in from Sydney, Australia to spend a day with us.
She picked us up in Arthur's Pass and took us to her sister Kaye's house in
the Christchurch area. Some much needed R and R and plenty of food!

Carol making a spectacular omelet.

Left to right: Sarn, Geoff, Kaye and Carol.

Oh, by the way....The roast lamb was simply exceptional!

Scrubbing our packs clean from the built up sweat and bacteria.

2 years ago, Christchurch suffered a devistating earthquake,

killing over 180 people. The signs are still very present, with so

much more clean up work to be done.

What a reminder that life can be taken from us at any moment...

A reminder to live life while we have it!

Parts of the city still look like a war zone...

My memories of a picturesque garden city seem so distant, and

my heart goes out to the people of Christchurch.

Carol took us back to the trail head...Thanks Mum!!

From here, it will take 3 days to get to Lake Coleridge, then another 6 days

to the beautiful turquoise Lake Tekapo.

Find Lake Tekapo on the map...We will have completed approx 2,300 km's 

by then. Along this section, we will also get our first glimpse of New Zealand's

highest peak, Mount Cook, (named after the explorer Captain Cook).

Until then...eat well, love well and walk a lot!

KIWI FIRSTS

Do you know these New Zealand history makers?

Who was the first to conquer Mount Everest?
                

Sir Edmond Hillary:  Sir Edmund made international headlines in 1953 when he became the first man to scale Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak, along with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay.  Sir Edmund devoted much of his life to helping the Sherpas of Nepal’s Khumbu region. He was made an honorary Nepalese citizen in 2003.

Do you know how high Mt. Everest stands?  Where is it located?

Votes for Women

In 1893 New Zealand became the first self-governing country in the world to give women the right to vote. It was to be nearly 25 years later, just after World War I, before the UK and USA followed suit.

For car, kitchen and hairstyle enthusiasts…curious aren’t you!?

Ernest Godward: a prolific inventor and best known for the following:

The ‘economizer’: (an early form of carburetor that allowed vehicles to run on kerosene, gasoline oil, fuel oil).  By the 1930s he was recognized as the world’s leading authority on the internal combustion engine.

How many models did Ernest Godward invent?

He also invented the eggbeater, 

 a burglar-proof window, and the world’s first circular hair pin.

 Can you guess which of these brought him international success and allowed him to become a full-time inventor?

SPEED, SPEED, AND MORE SPEED...CHECK THESE OUT!!
      

Hamilton Jet-boat:

As a small boy, Sir William Hamilton had dreamed of a boat that would carry him up New Zealand’s shallow and swift flowing rivers. He invented the world’s first propellerless boat. Since then, the Hamilton Jet has been the means to explore and access waterways all over the world.

What year did he invent the jet boat?

Sir William Hamilton went on to invent the hay lift, an advanced air compressor, a machine to smooth ice on skating ponds, and the water sprinkler amongst other things.

Bungy Jumping:   Don't try this at home!!

Here we go...!


Here we go...













Long way down... 

 Yes, you do come back up out of the water!!

 Certainly the most hair-raising Kiwi invention! And, probably the most famous Kiwi invention of the modern world! 
Daredevil AJ Hackett pioneered the Bungy Jump, opening the world's first commercial site in 1988, (off of 129 foot Dawarau Bridge outside of Queenstown). The year before, he illegally leapt from the Eiffel Tower in Paris.  

What inspired A.J. hackett to invent Bungy Jumping...do you know? 

Splitting the atom

 

Kiwi scientist Baron Ernest Rutherford was the first in the world to split the atom. He was awarded a Nobel Prize for his work with radioactivity.  What year did he accomplish this incredible feat?

 

 

Hard Spectacular Yards

WOW!!  2,000 km's (1,242 miles) done already! Two thirds of the way completed...

The 7 to 8 days in the Richmond Ranges, for me, was the hardest physically that I have ever done!
The trail is more of a goat trail with steep ascents and descents, which required my focusing on every foot placement.
Besides that...the scenery was fantastic!

Setting up camp in the forest

One of the many swing bridges on the trail. A must, especially in high waters.

Studying the map.



Looking down at a D.O.C. hut

Hiking across the tops...

It was pretty difficult walking on these rock screes.

Phil and Emily, from England, hiking the Te Araroa Trail.

Bathing in the mountains...so refreshing!!

A bunch of happy through hikers!

Mountain water at its purest...cool, clear, and ohhh so good!!

Rewarding ourselves after a physically tough week... with 2 litres of rich, creamy ice cream, (that's half a gallon!)

The Nelson Lakes region is simply "Spectacular"!

A view of Lake Rotoiti

Up in the mountains

The lifting morning mist

Looking back at Lake Constance



Along the valley floor

As I'm sending this blog, we are relaxing in the picturesque Village of Hanmer Springs. Well known for its natural mineral baths...Ahhhh....Guess where I'm heading right now?

PS:  I have lost weight on this walk. Can you guess how much?