Backwards in time to Queenstown. . .

Chronologically backwards in time from September 20 to September 24:

Quick catch-up

We've been anable to get near the internet for a few days - most often because we were just too exhausted to try staying up.

I'll post a few quick pics though - mostly of Queenstown - we'll try catch up on some cafes later in the week but there have been some great stops along the way and it is rare to see the same coffee roaster supplying more than one or two cafes in a town and I have not seen a large bulk roasted presence much at all.

And now for the snow Grendels!

(Click on images to enlarge!)















We've just done the Fox Glacer, Punakaiki and are passing through Murchison on our way to Blenheim before catching the first ferry tomorrow morning across to the North Island. It is blowing a gale today and I hope it quiets before the crossing tomorrow!

The Astro Cafe

Barista Fraser Gunn is also a superb photographer. We got to be impressed by both the photos and the Supreme Coffee he served from his perch high on Mt John at the University of Canterbury's Observatory.

Given that 2009 is the International Year of Astronomy and that both the Junior Grendels are proud owners of Galileoscopes, we could hardly pass up a visit to an observatory that also hosts a great cafe.

This cafe has to have one of the best views in the world and it was well worth the steep road trick up the mountain to drink in the view - along with a coffee.

Junior Grendel One and Two wasted no time at all in giving us both heart failure with their antics on the steep sides of the mountain.

Fraser had a small scope set up on a tripod with the view over the ski fields nearby - I managed to wedge the camera over the lens at just the right angle - and as soon as I can extract the images from my card I'll post them up - in the meantime the following spread of Grendel adventure pics should be satisfactory!

If you are passing Lake Tekapo ever in your life I highly recommend that you take the turnoff to Mount John and drive up the hill. Simply amazing. They also do night tours at the observatory, leaving on a minibus from the town below, and although I missed it (too tired!) it looks like a great night's viewing.

Final Expedition Prep

I wonder at times whether we are in fact attempting an assault on Mt Cook with the large logistical operation that seems to result from an attempted family holiday.

We did some final shopping today and we left the Junior Grendels with Grandma (Yay! Grandma!) and went off to Indooroopilly shopping town.

Indooroopilly is a vast complex - about 400 metres from end to end and 3 and a half levels of shops.

It makes most Perth shopping centres look pretty laughable in comparison and we were able to pick up most of the final items we needed before our flight tomorrow.

The Junior Grendels have both loved spending some time with Grandma, and Junior Grendel Number Two has lapped up the attention from his birthday party but also determinedly set about ensuring that his two-day grandma experience is as full as it can be - this means ensuring that the day commences with a cuddle in bed with grandma, followed by a grandma-prepared breakfast, an outing, cookie baking and the Pièce de résistance, lounging while grandma waits on you with watermelon and strawberries.

Junior Grendel Number Two is most particular about the forms being followed - this includes the proper procedure at parties, as in, there must be cake, a rendition of happy birthday and the distribution of party bags. Yesterday as he saw that I was indeed putting together party bags he said nothing, but just came over and gave me a big hug.

Today he was enjoying the leftovers - at one point he was inventing a new hymn of joy entitled "I'm a lucky boy" in which the title is repeated as both the verse and the chorus. The hymn is sung while you sit in a recliner with your feet up and a bowl of Freddos and Bertie Beetles at your side. At least until Dad realises what has inspired the song and removes the remaining few chocolates from your reach.

Suffice to say that so far the holiday is exceeding their expectations.

Tomorrow we fly again!

In not-so-good-news, today was warm and windy in Queenstown - not great for snow.

5-day forecast

3 Days of snow!

Yes, with only a few days before departure we are actively watching the snow reports - the Junior Grendels are concerned that the snow might be all gone before we get there and so I am naturally paranoid as well. It looks good though with some falls predeicted over the next week.

Hooray for snow!