Day 32: Okarito - Fox Glacier Township
Get your hill legs out.... it's back on our bikes; we ride into glacier country. We set out early to allow time for optional glacial viewing activities for those who wish.
While the north end of the North Island braces for another extreme weather event (Cyclone Gabrielle), we have been enjoying uncharacteristically wonderful weather here on the We(s)t Coast of the South Island. Today was a relatively short day, so six of our crew scheduled a 40-minute helicopter flight out of Franz Josef to one of the glaciers. They had a wonderful outing and the weather could not have been better.
While they were up and out early to ride the first 27 km to catch their flight, five of us were up early to hike up the Okarito Trig Walk to watch the sunrise. Young Alex actually did both - hike up, run down, inhale some breakfast, and jump on his bike to catch the others already on the road. It was absolutely worth the early alarm for us.
Robyn cresting the trig point.
Info boards to read while we're waiting for the sun to show itself. Apparently there is a kiwi unique to this region. They are nocturnal birds, so Tom played a recording of their call last evening in case we were to hear them during the night. Sounded like a small child being murdered.... We did hear something like that early this morning as we set out but it turned out to be a kea bird.
Looking out towards the lagoon............
Looking towards the mountains................. Mount Cook is the pointy one on the far right; Mount Tasman is the one just left of it.
First light on the tip of Mount Cook.
Five minutes later and Mount Tasman is getting some of the love.
Another 15 minutes........
And.... another five...........
The sunrise itself.......... The initial pictures are of the sun lighting fringes around some of the clouds. It was mesmerizing in person, but rather distorted with the zoom photography on the phone.
Looking away from the lagoon and then on the path back down the hill.
Back "home" for breakfast and gearing up for a day on the bike. We got away about 9:30 and it was an easy ride to Franz Josef for lunch, where we would meet up with the folks who did the helicopter ride. First up - 10 km to get back up to the main highway.
They're serious about their kiwis down here!
The road that got away...........
More mountain views rolling into Franz Josef.
Lovely Lake Mapourika
Lunch stop in Franz Josef. It's just a little tourist town, but I sure wouldn't want to live there. The helicopter noise was non-stop, although I suppose there are many days when the weather doesn't allow them to fly.
I love these public toilets in NZ. You slide the door open & closed and push the big button to lock it. It talks to you - to confirm the door is locked and that you have 10 minutes to finish your business. Then music starts to play. In some you press another button to dispense toilet paper and in Picton the toilet only flushed once you turned on the water to wash your hands.
On our way to Fox Glacier. Only another 20 km or so, but three big bumps to get over. Each one was about the height of the Cochrane hill or Mount Norquay, but in less distance. Ugh! Not many pictures through here. Too busy grinding away. The downhills were fun though!
We got in to our hotel pretty early so some of the keeners went another 10 km return to a lake and did a little walk there. Darn; I had already had my shower by the time they hatched this plan. Besides.... blog business to catch up on.
Another big day tomorrow.............
Stats for the day:
Distance: 51.6 km
Elevation (Garmin): 2989' up, 2456' down
Elevation (RWGPS): 3612' up, 3090' down
Weather: 11C - 25C. Blue bird day!
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