Jan 25, 2024: Queenstown -> Aoraki / Mt Cook

We’re going camping! We stockpiled groceries, sim card, hats, super glue, and a frying pan.
What could possibly go wrong?

Well, today was a good reminder of just how wrong things *could* go.

So far this trip, we have missed a flight because security and biosecurity took much longer than we expected.

And then Kate texted us enroute today to check if we were on board the ship, the Navigator. Fortunately our passage on that vessel is not until Monday – it ran aground yesterday evening in Doubtful Sound! The ship called a mayday, and everyone was safely evacuated to Te Anu.

We spent hours and hours today waiting for a car crash to be cleared from our route to Mt Cook. It’s a 4-5h detour to go around, the road was closed since 10:30am, and we were still waiting at 6pm. But delays are only inconvenience, not incapacitation. I’d rather be waiting in a car than be going by helicopter to the nearest hospital (or the morgue for that matter).

So, yes, adapting is better than the alternative. And I do so appreciate being, and being here.

When the road opened, we backtracked from that epic detour, and enjoyed marvelous views of Aoraki (Mt Cook), NZ’s tallest mountain at 3,724m.

We set up the trusty tent, and had supper while watching snow and ice crash off the hanging glaciers above us.

Alice