(written on the 31st from notes taken previously)
In early yesterday, out late this morning. 🙃
I think it was either just before or just after 10:30 when I finally drove away.
It was rainy, and I wasn’t feeling very adventurous today, so with the weather and my current attitude, I mostly spent the day inside my van driving north, getting out just to take pictures.
It was sort of a bridge-view day, as it was pretty much only the views from several Bridges that I stopped to take pictures of. 🙃
First up was the Mahitahi River Bridge, where I snapped some pictures and veged for a little bit.
Next up was the Karangarua River Bridge.
Then the Weheka Bridge (over the Cook River). Last time I was in New Zealand, while chase did the hike to Franz Joseph Glacier, I naively tried to quickly Riverwalk up to Mount Cook via the Cook River. 😆
I made it a good long way, but nowhere near Mount Cook before I needed to turn back because I ran out of time.
I had enjoyed beautiful views and a nice nap, though. 🙃
This time, it was just pictures from the bridge.
I stopped off in Fox Glacier to avail myself of some roadside public toilets and recycling bins. I had flashbacks of my last time here, where Chase and I had stopped at the same place for a good long time while I battled with my airline customer service people who kept making promises to me that they actually, apparently, weren’t allowed to promise me.
That airline debacle was a pretty annoying saga last time. 😅
Though I wasn’t too keen on the gas prices, my next stop was the gas station in Franz Joseph. With the war in Iran and the shutdown of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, prices were the highest I’ve ever seen–the equivalent of $7.50/gallon.
😶
I had more flashback memories there as well, as I remember Chase and I had gotten gas there, and we’d also paid for gas for a cute American girl who was I think having… payment troubles?
I forget exactly what the issue was.
From there I headed to the Franz Joseph Glacier car park, the place I dropped Chase at last time before doing my river hike. With the rain, there wasn’t much to see, and having seen glaciers before, I wasn’t feeling the need to do the long walk to see the glacier. I would have liked to have seen the waterfalls, but they were so. many. people. that I just… wasn’t feeling it.
I did take some pictures, though.
Instead, I drove across the Waiho River Bridge, parked in a little dirt parking lot on the other side, and then walked back to take pictures from the bridge. 🙃
Being only a little ways away from where Chase and I took our helicopter ride up to the glaciers last time, I popped on over again.
There was only one car in the parking lot, and the little building was all closed up, so I’m guessing that either that company isn’t running anymore, or they weren’t running trips today because of the weather.
I availed myself of the toilet that was there, remembering its quirky nature from last time, and then I stopped off to take pictures from the Whataroa River bridge.
With a freedom-camping spot close to a beach relatively nearby, and the next one being a decent bit north and east of Hokitika, I decided It was worth another early stop, since I planned to go back to Hokitika Gorge. 😁
Mirroring yesterday, instead of journaling, like I should have, I just veged out the rest of the night.
Lift the world.
Bring it on.
~ stephen
Lift the World 