Random story:

The day before we hiked the glacier we hiked to the terminal face of another glacier, Fox. At one point you needed to cross a stream that went pretty steeply downhill. Michele decided to rest there for a while on a nice wide rock that had a view of everyone who passed by.

As Michele is sitting there some older folks pass by and have a difficult time with the rocks and water crossing as they are old and they don't move the way they used to. In other words they are old and creaky.

Michele sitting there is worried that they may fall down, break something, be swept away by the stream down more rocks, break their neck and die. She is so concerned that she almost yells, "Don't die old people!" She doesn't though. She manages to control herself, perhaps squeaking warnings that only she can hear. Can't you see her? Because I can and it is making me giggle. Don't worry the old people miraculously make it across the river.

Upon seeing me at the terminal face of Fox Glacier she tells me this story and now I tell the rest of the world.

We just left our Serious Fun group and our guide Lynette. So SAD!

Yesterday we traveled from Abel Tasman to Nelson/Marlbourough Sounds. We did a little shopping in Nelson and then headed to a few wineries in the Marlbourough Sounds area. SO MUCH FUN. We got a little silly with all the wine and liquor tasting. We traveled on to our hotel which was amazing. It was right on the water and it was a whole floor with 6 or 7 bedroooms and 3 or 4 bathrooms. There was a balcony with a view of the sounds. It sucked that we were only there one night but oh well. Lynette made an amazing salmon dinner and then we watched Austin Powers. Not very active or anything but tons of fun and a really nice last day.

We left early this morning after Lynette and Michele took a dip in the 50 degree water. We took the ferry from Picton to Wellington and then we were abandoned by the rest of the group in front of our hotel. Although they tried to get us to come along for the rest of the 10 days of the trip.

Now we're here for another four days. I think we'll be heading to the Te Papa Museum, maybe a hike, shopping, water in some form knowing Michele.....and then home. I can't believe the trip is almost over. I will be glad to see everyone, but going home...sigh.

Driving around New Zealand has made me realize how much water there is in this country. First of all it's an island so obviously there is the whole ocean surrounding it, but then as you drive through the country there are lakes, fijords, rivers, creeks, streams, babbling brooks, waterfalls, glaciers, snow, ice, drips, and puddles.

Water, water everywhere. Michele has of course tried to submerge herself in all the water we stop at. Hwee!

Tomorrow we are again surrounding ourselves with water and seals! We're heading into the Abel Tasman National Park where we get to swim with seals. So EXCITED!

Hiked a glacier.

Five more words:

Michele with a pick axe.

'nough said.

On Wednesday the 23rd we headed out of Queenstown towards Milford Sound for an overnight cruise. It was a beatuiful drive through farmland and the Fiordland National Park. At the top of the mountain just on the otherside of the tunnel and the way into Milford Sound Lynette ushered us out of the car and had us mountain bike down the mountain to the boat dock. It was a little terrifying going so steeply down a road where cars could come up behind you, but it was also a lot of fun. We ended at the boat dock five minutes before we needed to board the boat.

We boarded the boat, got our accommodations (I got the top bunk! - Fun!) and we were off. We cruised around the Milford Sound and anchored. Michele and I then got on a smaller boat and we spotted penguins. These Fiordland Crested Penguins are apparently quite rare (according to the skipper). We took too many pictures of said penguins and after finding no more we were back on the boat for the night.

Yesterday, the 24th, (yes that's right it's Friday the 25th here. So bizarre) after a beautiful tour around the Milford Sound on a gorgeous day in an area where it apparently rains 300 days of the year we headed back towards Queenstown. We stopped at the end of the Routeburn track to take a short hike. We climbed for about an hour and a half to two hours up to Key Summit which is 919 meters high (or 3,015 feet). It wasn't a necessarly difficult hike but having been less than active lately it still required some work on my part. When it became more than a little strenuous for me I kept plugging along thinking, "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming." This internal thought I blame on my recent associations with one of the cutest two year olds ever which made me smile and think of Santa Barbara. Also on this hike memories of the girl scout backpacking trips with Kristen, Katie, Daphne, Eydie and Bob were brought to mind and I could not help but think of Eydie singing the backpack song and making us all groan. I even got the song stuck in our guide Lynette's head and that pleased me to no end for no good reason at all.

After the hike it was a day of a lot of driving as we headed back to Queenstown and then to Wanaka. Today Michele and I did some kayaking on Lake Wanaka. It's another gorgeous day. The sun came out as we were kayaking making up for the fact that our bottoms were soggy and wet.

I apparently did not back out. I apparently did bungy from 43 meters. I apparently did not have time to think about it.

I mentioned to Lynette our tour guide, which we picked up yesterday that I wanted to bungy the next day on our free day in Queenstown. She immediately said, "Wanna do it today?" and I said, "Ok." (I'm an idiot I know)

The next thing I know she is on the phone booking a time and we are back in the car on our way to the Kawarau Bridge. We get there I'm out of the car and at the "Here are your options area" I'm asked for my name, asked what options I want (I got the jump and three photos. I opted out of the DVD and am a little sad at this point that I didn't get it, however, how often would I really watch the damn thing)Then I was asked to sign a release form, to stand on a scale and my weight was then written on my hand in big red numbers branding me for life apparently. I was then given a piece of paper with my name and my weight. My weight seemed to be written everywhere which is probably good as it is apprently important for the whole bungy process.

All of this was done very quickly with no time for thinking, something they do on purpose I'm sure. I was then told to go through the doors and walk to the bridge. Michele and Lynette came with me while Hugh and Dia stayed at the watching area to take pictures of me taking the plunge.

Upon arriving at the bridge I was put in a harness and then asked to sit while a nice New Zealand boy wrapped a towel with some straps around my legs. If I had been thinking straight I think I would have wondered how on earth that was supposed to keep me from falling when the bungy pulled on it.

I know someone jumped before me but I have no memory of watching him jump. Michele continued to smile encouragingly at me and take pictures. Lynette made comments like, "Have you looked down yet?" which I readily ignored. And then I was standing up and inching forward with my legs bound together towards the edge of the platform. About then I was starting to think that I couldn't do it. I mean 43 meters (which I think is around 140 feet) doesn't sound that high and is certainly not the highest jump here but damn if it didn't seem that way.

New Zealand boy was very good at his job. He ran through multiple instructions which went straight over my head. I opted for the water touch and he told me to make sure that my arms were straight out and my chin down as if I was diving because otherwise I might smack my face on the water and that would not be fun.

After talking rapidly at me, making me smile for the camera, wave to the crowd he said he was going to count to five and then I was going to jump. I at this point said, "I don't know if I can do this." He then told me that he was not going to make me jump. He was holding my rigging and I was completely safe. He told me to look at the bridge across the way and this is two seconds of your life and the next thing I knew I was falling. I don't even remember thinking jump. I think I stopped thinking. I must have closed my eyes for the initial plunge but the next thing I knew I was falling.

I didn't quite touch the water. Very close but I just missed it. I was silent on the way down and once I bounced back up I just started screaming. Afterwards Hugh and Dia said the crowd laughed at me. Hell as long as I was entertaining. I bounced a couple of more times, my shirt flew upside down and the whole thing was a complete rush.

I was then being told to reach for a pole and they lowered me into the raft. I was given various instructions all the while one of the other New Zealand boys was making small talk which I could barely answer considering I had just jumped off a bridge. I was quickly ushered off the boat and walked back up to where everyone was waiting. When I got back up to the top people who had watched me jumped waved at me as if to say, "Oh good you're still here, Hello."

Upon my return I hugged Michele and Lynette and then I was ushered over to a screen where they showed the video of me jumping. Again surreal in that I had just done it from a completely different perspective. After the video I got my pictures, my tshirt and we headed out of there with me on a complete high.

The whole thing was very efficient and fast. I don't know if I could ever do it again but I'm sure as hell glad that I did do it.

Mom you can breath, I'm just fine.

There are pictures online, well, not quite yet but they are to be posted soon. In the next day or so you can go to AJHackett.com and input the code AJHK511216246848 for my pictures.

Before leaving for my trip the only question I was asked was, "Are you excited." The answer was usually no. And now that I'm here, I'm tired. And apparently a good height.

It's nice to be somewhere else. Somewhere out of the country. Somewhere that is not work. However, a bed would be nice. And a shower. And Michele's wallet (which is in the luggage storage at the moment - oops).

So, we're here. Safe and a little delirious.