Milford Sound

We have truly entered the land of Middle Earth. Forgive the Tolkien reference (soz for the nerd out. It probably won’t be the last time). A side day trip to see one of Earths Wonders - Milford Sound. The preceding cold night with cloudless sky after a wet evening setting up camp meant we woke today with ice on the tent and a necessary defrosting (even the car wouldn’t open). We drove to this vast valley carved by glaciers with walls that rise 1200m from sea level and mountain peaks over a mile high. It feels far away and remote and is south of the 45 degree parallel. Too much to take in and the pics don’t do it justice. Like Scotland but amplified. Similar trees and plants but with some exotic tropical looking plants thrown in, with alpine flowers and shrubs, and mossy woods, where the trees take on a mystical feel (very Entish). We met a strange wingless chicken, which is called a Weka (a flightless bird). Also encountered a lovely man called Geoff. A fellow seasoned cycle tourer from Aberdeenshire who has travelled all over, and is most inspiring gent (74 years young). Now, how to dry a wet tent? Hmmm…..Read more