Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 12/25/2007 - 23:38
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Antarctic Weather Stations

Hope you had a good hike. We had a good Christmas visiting with all the family, but missed you.  But, glad you are seeing the sites in NZ. Hope you get your lap top up and running soon.

D

Wed, 12/26/2007 - 09:23

Kirk Beckendorf

Glad you had a good Christmas. It was an amazing hike. The first night was spent in a "hut" way up the side of a moutain, overlooking Akaroa Harbor(Bay). I slept outside on the porch to so I could watch the moon rise over the mountains. Christmas morning I was awoken by the most incredible symphony of bird songs I have every heard. I spent the day hiking to the next hut traveling hiking over a high ridge and then along the rugged clifts rimming the island's coast looking out over the blue waters of the Pacific, sparkling in the sunshine. Through fern laced forest , past a blue penguin rookery, finally arriving at the next hut. 
Spent the evening playing scrabble and Trivial Pursuit with Lisa another hiker. The next day started off raining and then continued raining. Lisa and I both were headed back to the town of Akaroa so we headed out in the rain together. Hiking along the jagged clifts was a different experience than yesterday, with the wind howling whipping the rain horizontally and sometimes even from below when we were along the cliff edge. Soaking wet and cold hands numb. I enjoyed the cold assuming I had better get used to it.
Soon we turned away from the coast and hiked up through a rained drenched ancient forest. Water dripping from the fern trees and other glistening leaves. About 8 hours later we arrived back in the village of Akaroa soaking wet and cold. Definitely one of the best hikes I have ever taken, and I have been on some amazing hikes.