Road Trip

There were tentative plans to go down to wanaka on a bit of a road trip. Elizabeth had the idea, there were a few maybes and i was keen to join her and Rosa, her three year old daughter. I went on my ski journey, my mt ignorent trip, and then returning went over to firm up the plans. But her car was acting up. Having battery problems, then starter problems and so I just enjoyed some good food and and a movie.

James, a kiwi bloke I met through couch surfing, was keen to meet up for some climbing and was going to join us in our road trip. Hearing that car one was out of action he said we could take his car (I didnt know he had a car until then). Elizabeth needed to fix her vehicle, but james and I were itchin to catch some good weather. I threw things together, grabbed some snacks and we stated out

HOW!

Through christchurch and the unpleasant crowded, semi farms to the southwest along the canterbury plain. onto the backroads to avoid traffic, curving now and then but strait as an arrow towards the ever larger southern alps. Through geraldien, home of Barker's Jelly (who make a redcurrent jam at times which I am still trying to find in stores). The sky was basted in clouds which coalesced along the mountains but seemed too thin as we went. We stopped on lake Tekapo, and the

church of the good shepherd. The Church is perched on a little peninsula and the front of the church overlooks this gorgeous lake and the mountains at it's head. Onwards in the car. my nose pressed to the glass taking in sights soon to feel familiar. Pie and a quich to refuel, in a sleepy feeling town. Then we stop in the middle of the road. the hills around look like tinder ready to burn. soft sugar lumps in a desert that you know is dry but cant quite believe. A fact made harder to believe by the slightly dusted peak seen through a valley.

Eventually we arrive and there we set up tent in the car head lamps. And it's product promotion time! The best outdoor brand: fairy down, now a memory after reaching too high and soling out to krapmandu. High ISO, no tripod so jerry rigging with string and branches and twigs. We contemplate other nights that might have stars and consider the rushing river we hear but cannot see frothing over rocks. Might it flood in the night? na ,no rain forecasted: should be good aye!

The day brings sunshine and it's off to the crags! down along the lake of wanaka, around to hospital flats. Here sick horses were once nursed back to health, now a nice farmer allows folks across his land to the schisty rocks. Sun blazing we rock up some 18s, 17s and 19s. Sweet as trad in a corner, a cool overhang, and odd crimpy features. Then got buggered by a 20: odd crack that ate my hand for a solid 3 minutes, that wouldn't hold a ring lock, that taunted us with sharp crimps. I finally made some progress and got up over the roof to top out. But it took many falls, flails, blood and man grunts. James never quite managed it so we quite for a snack and moved over to the tombstone. There the weather suddenly turned, sunshine that had kept us perfectly toasted was gone and then it started spitting on us. Just get up one and then the rocks too sweaty to continue to so we fool around on some boulders before we decide to call it quites and head back into Wanaka to eat (spicy indian!) and call in for the night.

The morning dawns misty. Indecisive and vague we go to the crags hoping for sunshine. And who should be there at the parking lot? It's Elizabeth!

the car was fixed and she decided to come south as well! We hope for the rocks to be dry and say see ya later as we go to explore. Across the valley is Diamond Craig and many other interesting - wet - climbs. looking down from diamond craig a stream flows by a massive boulder covered in moss in a vale of green. But all is wet, so we bumb around thinking maybe we can will the rock dry, but then head to an indoor climbing gym to play around for a bit. Sequency climbs and a wicked roof with doable climbs finished off the afternoon. Elizabeth came and joined, and I jumped around with rosa on the bouldering mats for a while, tumbling, headstands, and flopping down like fishes!

Adam's parents generously offered their home to us so we showed up and took over the kitchen, then slept on the floors and the extra bed. Thanks! Unfortunately we had a lazy morning, and with dodgy weather continuing in the wanaka area decided to head south even though starting late. Meeting up with Juan, we all pile into Elizabeth's car for the true road trip. Queenstown and brief refuel on the famous fergburgers. Then many rainbows en route to Te Anau. On the Milford road a kiwi brings smiles to faces, and we stop often for photos.

The noses plastered to windows soon become detached from jaws as mountain rear up and sheer granite walls with clinging green trees and vegetation hem us in on the road. Add the glowing orange of a sunset on the peaks and it's no wonder we didnt make it into the sound itself until after dark. We made for the blue duck for some tasty pub chips, a couple a pints, and some games of foosball followed by a round of pool.

We found a little back road (like we weren't on one already! milford is a total dead end) and set up camp. We cooked a meal while rosa - exhausted - clung to juan, but refused to sleep. I then took on the task of feeding juan to chuckles and big smiles. The yummy rice satisfied us as we gazed at the cloudless stars above. Tired form travel it was time to sleep: Liz and rosa in the car with juan (who didn't have a sleeping bag), James to his tent, and I opted to forgo the tent and bivy wrapped up in my tarp. I found a soft grassy spot to lay me down, and gazed up into the stars. I managed one shooting star before sleep overpowered me and I was gone.

Morning dawned with speckles of condensation clinging to the tarp about me. My tung snaked out and captured the refreshing purity of dawn. So the south I saw rosy peaks, and I softly called James, reminding him of his dawn intentions should he wish to go photograph. I gazed up wards at the steep granite, a waking moment of the night was recalled. An awareness of bright light, hazy awakening, and amazed realizaton that a rising moon had illuminated that granite wall to feel like day, but I had slept on. Now another celestial body rose, bathing orange that hard grey stone, throwing warm roses on white snows.

bliss don't last long, though in the moment it was eternity. As all stirred and broke fast the car was tested and would not start. We walked into the small facilities of Milford for a jump and some fluid. but the car was toast. James' AA membership was used to call in a tow, and we milled about Milford. No cool hikes but we had clear blue skies and amazing views of mitre peak! The tow guy from Te Anua (2 hrs away) got the car running, but it wouldn't idle, so he had to give us a tow. Only three could fit in the truck, so James and I packed our things and hit the road to hitch out.

Oddly enough a mobile home gave us a lift! almost never happens. Ridiculous people though, drove 4 hrs along with their mates in a separate van to see Milford for just an hour. Te Anau was restless n awkward. we didn't want to be there and james felt pressure to get back to christchurch and arrange some job interviews. The two of us mulled over it all at the pub and decided to split in the morning for our car and christchurch. And we did, after a long wait on the road we got a hitch to Queenstown and then three more to get us to Wanaka and the car. 4 hours after that we arrived in christchurch, 10pm tired from driving and having had an interesting preview of Milford sound...