That's Cold As, eh?

Milford seems to be enjoying a drought of peculiar magnitude. It has been 8 days now without rain of any substantial amount. Lucky us! These lovely sunny days lead to stunning sunsets, normally setting far from our view, we witness the magnificent after glow of pink-red clouds and reflected fuschia mountain tops.

Yesterday however, I watched the sun setting over the Tasman Sea. Immediately after work Jackie and I ran to the ferry terminal to board the one of Mitre Peak's boats, taking lodge and cafe staff out for a sunset cruise with free beer and wine... just because. (ok, a little bribery never hurt anyone though... we are the ones sending customers their way...)Earlier in the day I decided not to go... work would not quite be finished and I was a bit tired and hungry and BLAH BLAH. I have learned my lesson. The cruise was AMAZING. There were only 15 of us on board, cruising amidst 600 meter high cliffs towards the sleepy orange glow of an open sea. We saw the setting sun reflecting off a 125 meter waterfall, spraying us in several wet rainbows. We got off on the edge of the sea to climb up to a lighthouse where "only 20 of the 5 million people who have passed through here since it was made have been to. " I saw penguins swimming, seals basking and a red deer bounding along the cliffs. The highlight was being the first to jump off the boat into the cold of the sea. I am one tough New Englander I think, because the shock of the temperature was actually not too shocking. Picture 15 of your coworkers stripping down to what was just barely appropriate to scream into the air from the top level of a cruise ship into the a fiord. Not a bad way to end a day. Afterwards we watched the sun slip beneath the fiery water, magnificent and colorful, calm and perfect.


I am on my days off now and plan to enjoy them completely... reading and tramping and camping and drawing and practicing my espagnol. My senses are awake here. Did I mention I am happy?