Sunday 13 March

Kia Ora, 

Recovery from yesterday’s bike day.  We piled into the Pedaltours van minus the bikes and drove up into the mountains.  About an hour plus out, we started the Routeburn track, a hiking trail that took us up to Key Summit, 919 metres above sea level. The overlook (heads up Kent and RuthAnn on Palm Island) showed us the start of the Hollyford Track, with sun highlighting the tremendous views.  All of these tracks are terrific, and after the hour and a half up to the summit, we lunched amidst a slow trickle of young hikers out on three day treks.  They looked at our sandwiches longingly, but admitted that they were eating well along their way.  We gave ‘em cookies.  

The descent went well but I may have pulled a small thigh muscle...whine, whine, tomorrow will tell plus I have pharmaceuticals.  We then drove to the boat station on Milford Sound. Spectacular views, quite similar to our day on Doubtful Sound.  The skipper eased our boat nose first under the Bowen Waterfall, so Mimi tested her new raincoat by being right under the water cascade.  Her idea was that we will have novel pictures, and the coat passed with good scores.   Also met a family of mother/daughter/mother/son(daughter and son are ‘buds’ that had just completed four days hiking the Milford Track (trail) and staying in wonderful little huts, fully equipped with kitchen and indoor plumbing. They were ecstatic about the whole experience. Hmmmm. might be Mimi’s next adventure!  We bird watched our way back to TeAnau via our second passage through the Homer Tunnel, taking pictures of a busker kea then, opting for pasta in town before walking with our biking colleagues back to the hotel.  Now repacking for tomorrow’s bike stint, a 90 km distance to a farm homestay. Rain is predicted. Hmmmmm.....   Today also marks our leaving Fiordland, biking south then east toward Invercargill.  Joe, I need you to help pace me.

Photos later!!!