Milford Sound

As we think hopeful thoughts about the people in Queensland in the thick of Cyclone Yasi , we were happy that the gale force winds we were supposed to get here passed us by. It was a category 5 when it hit last night, and winds were to be 290 kms/hr. Barry and Yvonne Brown gave us an update about their friends at Jumba Station west of Charters Towers who were okay as of last night.

We were away for a couple of days to Milford Sound. A 5 hour drive south to Balclutha, west to Te Anau, then north to Milford. Only 2 turns to get there! Rolling farmland, sheep/deer grazing and dairy on the way with that wonderful NZ green.

Rudyard Kipling described Milford Sound as the eighth wonder of the world. Fiordland National Park has spectacular mountains and though 'awe-inspiring' is a cliché, it really describes this part of New Zealand. We stayed in the backpacker hostel at Milford Sound Lodge with a communal kitchen. On a nighttime walk through the bush we found glow worms. The next morning, we took a nearly 2-hour boat cruise through the Sound out to the Tasman. Had muesli, fruit, toast, coffee and Marmite onboard breakfast. The weather was fine and there were even three obliging seals on Seal Rock. Beautiful cruise, well worth it if you're down here.

Karin did this trip as a backpacker 30 years ago, and was thrilled again with wildlife encounters: the keas were still working the cars on either side of the Homer Tunnel, which was a thrill in itself. Can't wait to show Aunt Sue that video! We were held up due to road construction inside and beyond the tunnel, so keas (alpine parrots) thought they would start disassembling our car. Jim was content to watch from the back seat. One cheeky guy spied some banana bread in the front, so practically climbed in to help himself. I know, not supposed to feed them!

Once we left the national forest, Rick actually turned the car around so I could get some sheep photos in a paddock with hundreds of them (I think my evil influence is beginning to work on him). Why lamb/mutton is so expensive here when there are so many of them, I must find out. Wool prices are the best in over a decade, so that might be it. You can't get lamb shanks and wool both too long before the animal gets annoyed. This week, back to work! Gill found us a student, Nylla Ah-kuoi, who is going to spend some time with Jim. She runs a dance studio and we meet her tomorrow.