Monday 10th March - A day at Mount Cook

We have booked the accomodation at Twizel for another night so that we can take a side trip to Mount Cook. There was low cloud this morning and as we turned into the valley we gradually reached the cloud level. We got to Mount Cook village and the cloud was just hovering around us.

We visited the hotel and the the information centre both of which were well worth a visit.  When we left the information centre the cloud had burnt off and wow what a difference! We went for a walk that headed to the glacier. It was a three hour return walk and we only have light shoes due to weight considerations when cycling. There were great views however which spurred us on, although we stopped about halfway as we thought we had seen most of what the walk could offer. The mountains, snow clad, looked beautiful. The lakes and rivers however where like wet concrete as they had fine bits of rock in them. It gave the lakes and the area around them a bit of a concrete works look about them!

Statue dedicated to Edmand Hillary

Grey waters and grey lake but the sediment drops later down the valley and the water is then the startling torquise that we have seen so often in the rivers and lakes

The walk had three suspension bridges to walk over but we only did two off them before turning back

Mount Cook in all her glory