Saving private Miki

We met a Japanese guy named Miki at Wairuna organics in Clinton. He was there because he wanted to learn English and had been setup by a Japanese company to stay for free there. Well little did Miki know that everyone was staying for free, and there was little opportunity to learn English outside of all the farm work that needed to be done, plus all the volunteers were pretty much non-native English speakers. Anyway, Miki asked us to come save him and take him to Queenstown. Well, we picked him up, and after a night in Queenstown, where he decided he was so broke he would sleep in a chair at McDonalds (we offered him a tent and some blankets... which he took), he decided he also could not afford a plane ticket out of there... so we ended up bringing him most of the way to Christchurch. This picture is of all of us. Miki is practicing his hitchhiker thumb.

The road to Milford, and Milford Sound (Actually a Fiord, YES Eileen a FIORD, Kiwi spelling)

Gunn Lake. This is what is known as a Hanging Valley. When 2 glaciers collide and one is located higher than the other you get one valley that is suspended above the other.

Milford Sound with Mitre Peak on the left.


More of Milford Sound




Looking back toward the mainland from the beach at Milford Sound

Just before entering the Milford road tunnel.



The nature trail along Key Summit on the Milford road. Lots of small mountain Tarns (small lakes) up top here.

Doubtful Sound (It's actually a Fiord)

This was actually the last thing we saw in Doubtful Sound, but I couldn't help putting this picture first. It was just such a spectacular scene that it needed to be your first impression of Doubtful Sound.




Us on the Fiordland Explorer




Lots of long cascading waterfalls!


Kathy in a kayak. That mountain is so much bigger than this picture leads it to be. If Kathy were next to the shore she would be about as big as that white spec on the lower right side of the shoreline.


Sunset on the sound, this is approaching the ocean.


Fur seal colony.





Twilight in the sound.


Headed back.




Amazing. This is all part of one enormous World heritage park, so no one and nothing is established here except for the birds and seals.

Lake Manapouri and Willmot pass

On lake manapouri, headed out to Doubtful Sound for an overnight boat trip.


"Leaning Peak" seen from lake Manapouri.


The top of Willmot Pass looking into Doubtful Sound.

Lake Te Anau

A bit of a sleepy tourist town this time of year. Te Anau is pretty nice to walk around, and has a beautiful lake next to it for which it is the namesake.



It snowed up high overnight. The residents know when winter is coming because the dustings of snow up high do not melt during the day.



The "stink horn" mushroom. We actually thought we had found a flower that fell off a bush, but it turns out this was a fungus growing straight out of the ground. It apparently smells really but, but you could have fooled us, we didn't smell it at all.

Anyone want to buy a van?

So, you're probably wondering what happened... First off I will tell you that Kathy and I are totally fine, not a scratch or bruise on us. So what happened is... We were driving along a highway about 55mph, and a dog comes tearing out of someones yard right into the middle of the road. DJ slams on the brakes, and smashes into the dog, which causes poor Vixen to go into a tailspin... After swerving back and fourth 3 times we finally lost it and ended up in the ditch against a wire fence. The whole time both of us just begging her not to roll over. Well, she listened, but we still caught the fence while sliding sideways and ended up ripping off the bumper, the grill, both blinkers, and one headlight. .... Oh and yes, the dog is dead as a doornail. Vixen in the ditch just minutes after the accident. See our skid marks in the road? Yes, we went pretty far after that... The vanette in pieces. We are in Te Anau now, the van is still totally driveable but we are having some trouble getting parts... we will keep you updated. Looks like we might have to drive to a different major town with better auto parts resources.

Wairuna Organic Farm, Clinton, NZ

Weeding sweet weeding. At least it's sunny out, and there are lots of good people around.


This is an herb circle that we are weeding... well, I am taking pictures, and they are weeding.


Harvest! Some array of turnips, a beet, and a german cabbagey thing...


BIG TURNIP


Sorting and boxing for the farm market.







The Hilton @ Wairuna. Only 4 1/2 hours of work per night! No cash needed :)


All meals included too! This is our 4pm lunch.


Angie. He was sassy (aka Bite-y). Yes... Angie the boy.


Interior of the Hilton... Or as we nicknamed it "The cradle of filth".


All that stuff hanging from the ceiling is dried garlic. They have to hang it in an insulated enclosure so that the dew doesn't drip on it and it doesn't rot... So I guess we don't have to worry about vampires.






Our new parking sp... er... home.


This one never made it out. Now it is a permanent volunteer housing... truck.


The fields at sunset.