Disney-worms – 03 January 2008

It was a wet morning in Queenstown. While we ate breakfast and packed up the car there was a slow and gentle rain falling. However, by the time we checked out and made our way down the hill from the lovely Coronet View Bed and Breakfast the rain had subsided. Our first stop of the day was only about five minutes away. Yesterday, while on the bus to the Queenstown Rafting base station I spied a fabric store. Remembering how to get there we stop this morning to check over their selection. After some tough decisions on what to get we were on the road for Te Anau.
Surprisingly enough, Hayley did not sleep during the car ride. Instead, she stayed awake working to finish up the Middle Earth Magic journal entry. As we rolled into Te Anau she clicked save and was done. Yea! Now we just need to find some internet to post our entries. I think we are almost a week behind in getting them online. The internet has been sparse lately. Once parked in Te Anau we entered the Pop Inn Café for some lunch. To our disappointing surprise, the milkshakes once again were like flavored milk instead of a thick icy consistency. Insert sad faces here.
Across the street from the café we checked in for our day’s scheduled adventure, the Te Anau Glowworm Caves with the company Real Journeys. While awaiting the Luminosa, our catamaran ride across Lake Te Anau to the caves, I also confirmed our pick up at the Antler Lodge for tomorrow’s overnight trip to Doubtful Sound. On board the Luminosa we became aware Lake Te Anau is the largest lake on the South Island and the second largest lake in New Zealand in terms of surface area, second to Lake Taupo on the North Island. Lake Te Anau is also the third deepest in New Zealand. As we disembarked we entered the Cavern House where we got a brief overview of the glowworm life cycle. Unlike the first time we heard the glowworm life cycle back up in the Waitomo Caves, this time we were able to pay attention and have video visuals presented to us to demonstrate what was being said. Breaking into small groups of about ten to twelve people we made our way into the cave. Walking along elevated metal grated passageways the roar of water rushed beneath our feet. Before reaching the Glowworm Grotto we stopped to see some glowworms up close and admire a very powerful underground waterfall. Above the falls our guide boarded us on a small vessel, turned out the lights, then by pre-laid rope pulled us into the grotto. With only the sound of the waterfall behind us we sat in total darkness gazing above at the cavern ceiling. The site was amazingly like laying out under the stars as the glowworm fishing lines were emitting a star like luminance. The slow tranquil drift through the cave reminded us of a being on a ride at Disney World.
Back on the Luminosa we began the ride on the sun deck to obtain unobstructed video and still images. At one point the catamaran splashed into the wake of another boat and sent water spraying up on the sun deck. I felt as if every drop landed on my left side, drenching me and my video camera. No, this was one instance when I was not practicing “safe camera” and did not have my camera condom on. Needing to act quickly, I moved below deck and got the camera dried. On my way underneath I happened to pass some older woman. Behind me, she stopped Hayley and asked her what aftershave I used because she liked it.
Upon our return to dry land we took some photos then perused the shops along the lake front. With nothing exciting to buy we decided to check into tonight’s Bed and Breakfast, the Antler Lodge. Our host, Helen, met us in the driveway and showed us around. When Helen showed us we would be making our own breakfast I thought Hayley was going to go through the roof, not in anger, but rather in delight because she was on cloud nine. It meant we did not have to get up bright and early. Also, we did not have to have breakfast with total strangers and she would get to have her eggs HER way. At the conclusion of our tour, while unpacking the car we heard a siren sound off, reminiscent of a tornado or air raid siren. Funny thing was there was not a cloud in the sky, nor were there any planes. Talking with our host, she explained it sounds off when the fire brigade heads out for an emergency. Helen also told us of when how when she first heard them here in New Zealand it brought back memories of when she used to live in Israel. With the fire brigade heading out, I took a nap in the very comfortable reclining chair, feet resting upon the ottoman. Hayley opted to watch some television.
Rested up it was dinner time. Realizing how much we had been craving Italian last night we opted to do it again, only this time at a restaurant called La Toscana here in Te Anau. I had the ravioli, Hayley a pizza. She did share a slice of the pizza with me. It took me back to the days of living in Hampden and eating A & A Pizza, a taste I had not had in nearly two decades.
Leaving the Italian behind us it was now time for some internet. We located a place called Wash & Surf, a Laundromat with internet. The computers were set up in an adjacent room to the laundry room. They had coin operation boxes, charging a dollar per ten minutes of internet time. We were both satisfied in that we were able to check emails, however, there was no way for me to connect with my laptop and there were no USB ports for a flash drive. Therefore, I was unable to post journal entries or upload photos to FaceBook. With a half hour of internet time to whet the appetite we called it an evening. Having travelled so far south and west, our return to the lodge for the evening at 10pm was still under the remaining light of the setting sun. It was not until after 1015pm it became black outside.
Cheers,
Bob and Hayley
Points to ponder:
· America’s Most Wanted on New Zealand TV
· Appetizers are drinks, entrees are the appetizers, and mains are the entrees