River Surfing and stunning Milford Sound.

Right...we're going to have to relax the amount of detail here as things have certainly moved on a bit.

Mon 2nd Oct.

Another sunny day, what's all this stuff about it raining all the time in NZ...simply not true or am I just a lucky git? Lucky the sun was out as it was time to get cold and wet...again.

Now I really wanted to go canyoning (full on wet suited day out abseiling, rock climbing up waterfalls and throwing yourself off rocks...the Goonies experience I've been after), however is too cold apparently at this time of year and was talked into riversurfing instead. This involves all the unsexy wetsuitedness your heart could desire but without the fun as far as I'm concerned.

Now I shouldn't complain but maybe I'd had my fill of uncomfortable activities and this was really a step too far in the exercise direction. Katie hates to get cold and wet and strangely wanted  to come along and seemed to enjoy it more than me! The problem was that it involved a boogie board and a lot of rapid water and this you had to negotiate with a pair of absurd flippers. This takes some skill of which I obviously have none and found embarrassingly I had to be pulled along for more than my fair share of time by one of the guides.

When you're that close to the water those waves are really quite big and we were encouraged to go into something called "squirts" that pulled you under and shot you along the bottom of the river. I have decided there is something I'm scared of and that's drowning in rapid water. Don't think I'll be learning to surf after all.

Halfway through I simply gave up paddling, was pretty pleased when the quiet water arrived and I could lie face down on my board and breathe deeply with one eye open on the scenery. My advice is do not do this activity unless you are pretty darn fit and and you get off on lack of oxygen!

That evening we were quite excited to have been asked out by some local guys that Katie had met. Unfortunately I forgot that Katie is two thirds of my age and it really was like hanging out with Ben and Tom (nephews). Not a problem really, but these boys had way less manners than my nephews and totally ignored us for much of the evening. I'm pretty sure there was no one over the age of 21 in that bar and clearly I was about 100 to them so I beat a hasty retreat back to the backpackers and the comfort of an old lady's bed.

Tues 3rd Oct

Up way too early than is good for you...but this was because of a proper road trip undertaking! Have I mentioned the Italian before?

Well this guy was a resident in our backpackers and I thought he was ok...for some reason. Must review my character judgements. I think I felt sorry for him as his English was a bit rubbish and I know how it feels to be surrounded by people you can't understand. So we invited him along on our trip to Milford Sound much to Katie's "eeerrrmmm...you sure"'s.

Me and Masamo (the Italian) went to hire a car as the hedonistic Katie had stayed out on the piss the night before and was still in bed. We picked her up at her flat and immediately the Italian starts taking photos of her. Not a good idea to take pics of a lady who's just woken up after 2 hrs of sleep and doesn't like you anyway. This does not make good traveling companions.

4 and a half hours later and the Italian has not stopped talking once. I am fairly polite but there comes a point where you just run out of fake laughter. Bar that the journey was fantastic, the scenery even better than the birthday views and it was sooooooo nice to drive a car.

One thing the Italian was good for was ideas for interesting photos and you'll see what I mean if I ever get the time to put some on here. However, he did make us pose with heads through the life ring of the boat we cruised round the Sound on and that was more than a little cringe worthy. "No I don't want one with my camera thanks...you can email that to me" Thinking lets not prolong the embarrassment any longer infront of these other tourists please.

Milford Sound itself was the absolute pinnacle of NZ scenery...had saved the best till last. Towering snowcapped mountains that tumble in waterfalls and rainforest down to an emerald sea. Fantastic combination of landscapes if you ask me. The area had been gouged out by glaciers over the ages and is renowned for it's wet weather...but not when Shelley's there of course! Brilliant sunshine the whole day.

The journey home was interesting for several reasons: 1 the Italian had taken the wheel; 2 a lot of animals wanted to commit suicide on the roads that particular evening. The sunset was amazing as we drove back which is great but we had a long way to go and the Italian made us stop about 1000,000 times to take more pics. Then he ran over a bird which nearly made Katie cry and did not help their already shaky companionship. Then we nearly hit a rabbit, five seconds later a hare and whilst trying to explain the difference between the two a massive dear appeared in the road. Luckily the Italian, although a nuttcase of a driver had probably better reflexes than mine and managed to avoid all but the bird which he described as "gone flat"!

Back at the ranch I avoided the drinking games in the kitchen but did go for a quick beer with the Italian and his strange friend Rob. I declined Masamo's offer to walk me home (he had a habit of invading personal space) and snuck out when he thought I'd gone to the loo thinking I'd never see him again as I was leaving the next day.

Wed 4th Oct

Unfortunately I tried to book the bus for 8 that morning and the office was closed so I was in Queenstown for another day and ran into the Italian...of course. He seemed a little offended I'd run off and it turns out he'd called at my room later on and frightened the life out of my new dorm mates...who were Irish believe it or not!

Spent the day doing blog things and way too much time in a phone box trying to change my ticket from Christchurch to Sydney rather than Melbourne. Ended up paying about 100quid and made mental note to do these things earlier or stick to the itinerary. Watched a movie in the backpackers lounge and tried to avoid the Italian.

As it was my last night in Queenstown (again) I decided it would be a shame not to go out in style and made my way up the hill to Katie's place. She lives with 5 very sweet lads and we had a great time playing the card game "shit head"...sorry if that's offensive to anyone but that really is the name of the game and I've been playing it for years.

Back in town we headed to a lovely bar where in walked the medical students from the caves at Waitomo. So nice to bump into people you've met along the way. Then my new roomies tipped up and before you knew it there was the Italian. Obviously we said hello and immediately left. Pretty much the same thing happened at the next bar but I was outside talking to and old Aussie guy who was a little pist but very interesting and being looked after/held upright by his nephew.

At another club latter on I was to be found giving dating advice to some young Canadians (I was asked where they were going wrong!) and chatting to Katie's sweet housemates who'd joined us. A very good send off from Queenstown was had by all and I didn't get home till 5am! She's still got it!!

Thurs 5th Oct

Sadly the revalrie comes at a price and low and behold I missed my 8am bus! Suprise!!

Panic set in as this is the only bus to Chrischurch everyday and I thought I'd have to hire a car to be able to make that rather expensive flight. Panic over....another bus goes but it costs 50 bucks! Several hours later I was on this rickety old thing unable to sleep as the driver blasted soft rock over the speakers. I didn't really like Meatloaf before...now he makes me wince.

What had been lovely though was that as I walked down to the bus stop laden with all my bags I'd bumped into 4 people/sets of people I knew. I'd been in Queenstown 6 days and seemed to know more people than I do in Bristol. Ain't travelin lovely!