Day 36: Soggy Birthday

Today has been a total downtime day as, although the rain stopped briefly, activities at Franz Josef were all cancelled which meant Tony's booked heli-hike was off.  We had a leisurely morning doing the laundry and going for lunch at 'Full O Beans' but then the rain returned with a vengeance and we decided against our planned walk up the valley as the views would have been non existent and enjoyment value nil.  Tony has come down with a heavy cold and didn't get much sleep last night so it was better for him to take it easy in preparation for the drive tomorrow.

One of those amazing coincidences - a camper van arrived yesterday evening and parked up opposite us.  It is a Wilderness van the same as Oscar and just one digit difference on the licence plate.  We had a chat with holiday-makers David and Linda from the UK and I took this photo as they left this morning.

We did go to see the West Coast Wildlife Centre and managed to spot a young rowi kiwi in the gloom which had been reared from an egg.  When he is old enough he will be released on to a predator free island (stoats are their worst enemy) until strong enough to be returned to the area where they were first removed from, to fend for themselves.  In the gift shop I treated myself to some gorgeous greenstone earrings with the money which Verity had given me for my birthday.

Sixty years old.   I can't say it means a great deal to me. I had several cards to open today and we have just returned from a tasty dinner at Alice May's restaurant so life is good.  I've heard from Becky and Jenny and all is well with them, that is all we can really ask for.  Meanwhile, we still have ten days of adventuring left to do here in New Zealand!  Tomorrow we are on the move north again to Greymouth.  The long range weather forecast is not good but perhaps we will find some sunshine before we fly out to Singapore!