Tag 31 - Costal Highway (Part II)

The day started off very relaxed. After a cozy breakfast, we headed to Franz Josef. I was really disappointed with this place, it's as touristy as the circumstances allow. Helicopters fly over every minute, we could already see this from a distance. The day was significantly cooler and cloudier than the last two days. The almost 60 kilometers were supposed to be a highlight because you drive uphill from sea level to about 250 without the view of Mount Cook and Tasman ever fading away. Unfortunately, all we saw was gray because more rain was forecast for the afternoon, so we went straight to the glacier. As an introduction, I have to say that I had never been on or near a glacier before. After the disappointment in the city itself, the tour to the glacier was really special. We drove deeper and deeper into the mountain until we reached the large parking lot. There we parked our bikes and walked for about an hour. I had imagined the glacier itself to be more spectacular. But the rubble and the deep gorge it left behind impressed me. Not far from the parking lot, in the middle of the forest, there is a sign indicating the glacier's original size when it was first climbed by Julius von Haast. Since then, it has lost about 4 kilometers in length. Even though it is considered one of the glaciers least affected by melting worldwide, it is still a staggering figure for me!

Back in town, I looked for accommodation for the night, while Sophia continued driving. She is here for a year and has much more time. The only campsite in town cost me over 30 dollars, which is a negative record so far. They wanted an extra 5 dollars for the use of the kitchen. I was not willing to pay this on principle and cooked a simpler version of my meal on my camping stove. Tomorrow we're taking the bus towards Wanaka.