New van!!

This is really crazy!! Millie did not want to go to Christchurch at all. The van broke down AGAIN right before we had to pick up my mom. So the engine blew up again!! So we ended up buying a new van. This all occurred Friday and Saturday. The one good thing about that old van is that it always broke down next to a mechanic shop. These guys were a lot more fun and seemed like they knew more of what was up. The engine had no oil in it. We had the new engine for only 3 weeks!! You would think that the thing would have to have oil in it. There was no leak. So the moral of the story is when it is going to cost you more to fix a car than it cost just buy a new one!! We broke down about an hour south of Christchurch. The new mechanics, Phil and Brad, were really fun and nice. Brad drove us into Christchurch and helped us find a new van. Tested it out for us and found us a really nice Nissan Vanette for 1750. It is so much nicer than the old one. Hell the guy we bought it from said if we are leaving from Christchurch we can sale it back to him for 1200. So we really can't lose. I mean 550 for a month to use the van. And I am really sure that is we try to sale it in Auckland we can get at least 2000. Van in Auckland go for a lot more than down here. So We shall see, but new van is great. Way easier to drive and goes a lot faster us the hills. Only wish we would have found this one first!!
So that aside everything is going good.We picked up my mom on Saturday and headed to Mt. Cook. Got there Sunday and did a great little hike. Mt. Cook is a trip. It seriously looks like it has a face on it!! nice hike, but it was really windy!!!
Monday we headed back to Wanaka and did some more climbing at Hospital Flats. It was good fun.I really like the climbing around Wanaka. we also did the Rob Roy hike again. It is one of the best hikes I have ever been on in my life. It is just so stunning. Well worth going and doing again.
Tuesday we headed to Queenstown to do some climbing at Wye Creek. The approach is brutal!! Great hike as far as beautiful, but it is literally 45 minutes of hiking at a 65 degree angle up!!! Really steep. But totally worth it!! So you get to the climbing and you are overlooking a giant lake and it is beyond words. THE most beautiful view. The climbing was also really great, really nice rock. Good holds, good moves, solid foot holds, good gear!! I could spend at least a year climbing there. I would love to go back. I may have to move here. Someone send my cat and dog!! Hell now I have a good van to get me around!!!
So life is good. The people hear are great. I really like Brad. He was SO much fun. Funny guy!! Lot of energy!!
Today we are headed back over Haast past and doing a glacier hike tomorrow. The weather has been great.
I know I am leaving out lots of stuff. Did I mention that I got a job offer. Picking Grapes!!! But hey I would get to work outdoors!!! Maybe even some free wine!!! Like I said someone send my cat and dog!!
Take care all.

South part of south island

We did a great hike on the southern part of the south island. Well that is once we found it. The directions were really sad. It was a really long nice day hike. We hike around for about seven hours. The car park area was really interesting because it had a lodge with a shower, and that was much needed.
After we took our shower we headed out towards Intercargrill, along the "scenic highway". Funny thing about the scenic highway is that most other roads we had been on where way more scenic. It was very strange. On the map it appeared that it would be near the coast, but most of it was just far enough away where you could not see the ocean.
By we had made it all the way up to Dunedin and had decided to head for Elephant rocks and get some climb in. We pick up a hitch hiker along the way. David was really funny and he lives in Dunedin so we made plans to meet up with him on his way back to Dunedin from Christchurch.
Spent a really nice day climbing and then met up with David and headed to his house in Dunedin. It was a complete hippie crash pad. Good fun. a bunch of really nice guys. It was nice to have a home base for a while. We hung out there for Three nights. The funny thing is somehow we landed in the middle of a "roommate situation". Stacy and I are sitting in the living room when the one roommate comes home and starts telling the other roommates that he is moving in with his girl friend. It was really strange. They did not seem to care that we were there, but it got uncomfortable so I excused us. It was really funny.
So yesterday we went climbing at Long Beach. Great climbing area right next to the beach. Today we went back to do some bouldering in the caves and now we are headed back to Duntroon to do some climbing. So here are a few more pictures.
Later.

Wanaka

Well we finally got some climbing in or I guess I should say I did. Stacy and I went out just south of town to a place called Hospital Flats. I was able to get a few climbs in. It was really fun. And a very nice setting. It was how ever hot and humid which made it a little difficult to do anything hard. But it was fun.
Then next day Saturday the 14 we all went out to try to do some more climbing. I spent the better part of an hour trying to find this one climbing are that was in the shade. Funny how the climbing guide book says that a lot of people get lost going to this area. No kidding, maybe because the directions are REALLY crappy? So anyhow by the time I found the area Kris and Stacy had both lost interest in climbing so we went back to the car and I did some bouldering. It was rather disappointing because I really wanted to get some climbing done before we left Wanaka.
On Monday 16 we headed out to Queenstown. We got there fairly late in the afternoon, so we just checked into a hostel and walked around town. What a fun town. Very touristy, but a total party town. I remember thinking that I could really have some fun in this place. And hell we were after all going to be there for St Patric's Day!! The one thing Stacy wanted to do was Bungee jump. So She set that up for Tuesday afternoon. Monday night was pretty mellow. We just hung out in the hostel and had a mellow night. It was a much needed rest day.
Tuesday we got up and headed out to the bridge that Stacy was planning on jumping off!! It was really cool. I can not believe how many people they chuck off that bridge everyday. One after the other. Oh hey and if you are over 65 they let you go for free!! I know what I am doing for my 65 birthday!!! So after a two hour wait it was finally Stacy's turn. She of course opted for the dunk at the end. Oh let me explain. You can either get close to the water, put you hands in or dunk. It was actually really funny. Half her body went in to the water. Fun stuff.
After we were planning on climbing. We headed out to Wye creek. Looked at the one hour approach and decided to go to another area that was "right by the road" When they say right by the road (highway) they meant right by the road. Good chance your belayer is going to get hit by a car!! So we decided to go drinking!! Seemed safer. And it was after all St. Patric's day. So we went to the Mexican restaurant (Cuz we thought it would be funny) and orders some margaritas. And so began the drunken night! I think that drinking is a sport in Queenstown. It is after all the extreme sport capital of New Zealand. At least that is one sport I usually don't finish last, but then again sometimes finishing first is just as bad as finishing last. It was a fun night. Woke up with some green paint, but at least my hair was not green. There where several people in the bar painting Irish flags on people and putting green paint in peoples hair. It was fun from what I remember.
So then we were off to Milford Sound yesterday. Wow no words can describe how incredible that place is. IN fact I am not going to try. I will post some picture at a later date. That is seriously the best I can do.
Well I am out for now. Probably headed a bit farther South. The weather is meant to be rainy so we are headed to the coast to look at the sea!!

Rob Roy Glacier

Well we hit the town Thursday night. We figured we could all get drunk and pass out in the van. It worked until about 4 in the morning when this angry town council member (or so he said) decided he need to wake up all the people sleeping in vans near the lake shore. It was actually really funny. He told us we could drive just out of town and park next to the road. So we went to a camp ground just out of town. It was again a great surprise to see in the morning that we were next to a beautiful river. Funny how we keep waking up in really nice spots.

So yesterday we went to hike the Rob Roy glacier. It was a hour and half drive down a wash board road to get there. But it was totally worth it. The hike goes over a swing bridge that was really cool. It took us about an hour and a half to get up to the glacier. I will post photos as soon as I get them burned to the CD. It was seriously amazing. Giant glacier with ten huge water falls plummeting off giant cliffs. Wonderful day hike.

Strange people story!!!

Driving back from the glacier there was this van behind me and another one right in front of me. When we get in to town we went to the gas station. The van behind us pulls into the gas station. The guy driving walks over to my car to tell me that I should have let him pass me because I was going slow. I just looked at him and said "So I should have let you in front of me, so you could be behind the van that was in front of me? And you thought you needed to stalk me to the gas station to tell me this?" It was really strange. But amusing.

Well I am posting some pictures but these are old one, but just fun pictures.

Wanaka

So today we arrived in Wanaka. This town is really cute. Right by a huge lake lots of nice sail boats. Beautiful.
The day before we had drive in from Nelson lakes we did a quick little hike to a glacier. Stacy and Kris's first real life glacier. When I asked Stacy if she had ever seem a glacier she replied, "yeah on TV" Funny girl!!!!
We camped last night just outside of the Fox glacier. Of course we got to the camp site at night since we were at the local pub until well after dark. So it was a great surprise in the morning to see that we had a perfect view of the glacier!! Great way to start the day. Took some quick pictures and headed into town for some coffee and food. After we ate we drove out to the trail head to do a hike, however the trail was closed so we decided to drive on and do a hike somewhere closer to Wanaka. Up the pass we went. It was one of the most amazing drives I have ever done. Water fall cascading down the cliff right next to the road!! Snow capped mountains. We stopped along the way several times to do some short hikes to a few water falls. It was really beautiful. But as with everything in life everything has its issues. The Sand Flies were out in full force. They are cruel creatures. Try to suck the life right out of you!!! I bet you can see a sand fly swarm in every photo!!!
Well tomorrow we are planning on going climbing and then do a hike to the Rob Roy glacier. Should be a full day.
That is all for now. I put some photos up and will still at some point try to update the last post. There are so many details I have left out.
Hope everyone is having as much fun as I am.

Trying to keep up the blog!!

I know I have not posted anything in a long time. I am trying to keep up but we have been so busy!!S

So here is the short and sweet version!
The van was broken down for a long time
March 2 We hitched to Nelson to go party with Adrian, a guy I met at Paynes ford climbing. It was CRAZY!! I'll write more later.
March 3 Van still broken had to rent a car to go pick up Kris (my freind from New York)
March 4 Went climbing with Matt at Castle hills and then picked UP Kris.
March 5 Went climbing at Charleston Sea cliff. Teh most beautiful place I have climbed in a long long time. Right next to the sea. Just have to make sure High tide doesn't catch you!!
March 6 Hiked at Nelson lakes and Finally pciked up the Van. Partied in Nelson for Kris's birthday
March 7 One word HANGOVER
March 8 Bike and wine tour
March 9 Kayak at Abel Tasman
March 10 Hike out of Abel Tasman
March 11 Driving to Wanaka!!
Sorry so short I will elaberate later, but right now I am suppose to be meeting Stacy at the VAN!!!
Take care and I promise I will up date in the next two days!!!! More details to come!!!! Oh and pictures. I finally burned some picture to CD so I can add picture!!

Pretty boring weekend. Spent the day Saturday walking around in the rain. I spent most of the day totally soaked. Sunday we just drank most of the day. We tried to Hitch out to Abel Tasman but it was not working so we figured beer always works out well. The rain Saturday really put a damper on things because we were not able to kayak and hiking was just messy. Well it was not bad just a little boring.
So now it is Monday and the Van should be fixed this afternoon and we will head to Castle Hills to meet up with this guy Matt and some others to do some climbing. It should be fun.
New engine and all!!