The first thing you always notice is that the sun rises on the other side of the mountains. Being on this side is such a special feeling. There are differences, beyond the awe of the scenery, which subtly change everything. Undermine all exppectations. I decided the best way to gain some foothold in this new domain was to get running. So I ran up to the Franz Joseph glacier (not such a long way) before breakfast. It was fun running past all the tour groups nervously clutching each other on the 1 metre wide formed pathway...

So there are no photos of that glacier (which is the more spectacular one, at least from the base, in case you're interested) 'cause I didn't take my camera running.

I decided to leave Franz Joseph to the kids and drove on. Okarito was definitely on my list of places I must see (this photo is of the road to Okarito). Now what a quintesential west Coast town it is! (I know using the 'Q' word is pretentious, but hey, it does have a real meaning beyond all the cliche). I want to go back there. And stay a while. It was cool.

I kind-of started to enjoy driving so that day I passed through [Hayden, do you remember the board game "Tour of New Zealand"? I wonder if this all started back then. I can't wait to get to Coromandel!!] Hokitika, Greymouth, Punakaiki (I took the obligatory photo of the pancake rocks), Westport and loved driving through the Buller Gorge. Awesome!

I terminated (to use glacial metaphor) at Nelson. I didn't intend to go so quick. It just happened. And getting here, and after seeking reassurances from Tohia that she would still speak to me afterwards I checked into the legendary Tahuna Beach Camping Ground. It's huge! It's right beside the beach where all those photos are taken in the gallery - and where I took the one of me where you can actually see my face. Have you noticed that there are no clouds in any of these photos. I bet if you're in the Northern Hemisphere right now you noticed.)

I've booked my ferry crossing for the 11th and I'm going to make the most of what the area has to offer until then. I'm happier now that I'm occupied. It probably doesn't do to stay still for too long. Don't want to do too much instrospective thinking now!

Righto!

Chris