Hilary the water diviner

Guest Editor: Hilary the wet weather hodge

13/01/12 –

Friday the 13th – it absolutely bucketed down all day – it was raining yesterday but nothing like today. The locals were thrilled – they hadn’t had any rain for a couple of months – they should consider calling on me when they need rain – as soon as I arrive the rains come. Never mind we had another much needed restful day and Luke and I managed to get a short walk in before the heavens opened on us on our way back to the apartment.

14 and 15/01/12 – Doubtful Sound – another rain soaked adventure

The New Zealand Fiords are called Sounds of which one is Doubtful Sound. To reach the Sound you travel across Lake Manapouri and then by coach to the beginning of the Sound – this takes 2hours with very beautiful scenery – even in the rain. You then board a boat which takes you through the Sound just out into the open sea to look at a seal colony, goes back into the Sound and moors overnight.

The first past of this trip was with low cloud and driving rain – and guess what - again the first they had had for sometime! However, there was a distinct advantage to this as we saw a plethora of dramatic waterfalls which would not have been there in dry weather. Half way through the afternoon our luck was in as the weather cleared for the planned activities to take place – kayaking and for the brave swimming.

I wanted to kayak but how would I manage to get into the kayak from the back of the boat – no problem says one of the crew – so with a certain amount of disbelief and Luke offering to tow me back if necessary I set off and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Next up was the swimming – with some fascination from the boat’s captain and crew and other fellow passengers who were looking on this elderly woman holds hands with Luke and James as we jump in together. Only about ten of us (out of 56) took the plunge. The young boys then started to jump off a platform on the boat about 10ft above the water and of course Luke and James joined in – come on Mum says Luke – no I don’t think so I reply – come on you can do it – so guess what I clambered up and with considerable encouragement from the assembled crowd jumped in and have lived to tell the tale(there are photos to prove it)!

After an excellent dinner there was a presentation about the geological history of New Zealand which basically comes down to a combination of a land mass breaking off from Australia moving across and combined with earthquakes and glaciers forming the country and we were looking at the evidence of this through Doubtful Sound. One of the striking things about the country is how unstable it is with earthquakes, glaciers, thermal mud pools etc. My lasting impression of Doubtful Sound is of a beautiful, majestic wilderness.

Sunday morning James was appalled to be told that breakfast was between 7 and 8am and he had to be up as the crew had to make the beds in the cabins at 8am. Anyway he managed it and we sailed back and reversed the journey to reach our car at midday. We then set off for the four hour journey to Dunedin which was uneventful. Luke decided he wanted to go to the theatre but there wasn’t anything on so we settled for going to see the film The Iron Lady.