Thursday is the day for walking
This was to  be our second day in Fox glacier , where you might remember no one ever spends two nights. We were up relatively early and off on the walk up to Fox glacier by 10.00.The walk was entirely different to the Franz Joseph walk, steep sided cliffs lined the route and the walk was probably half the length. The outcome was pretty much the same though, stand there open mouthed in front of several thousand tons of ice. Another major difference was that we could hear this glacier creaking and groaning as it moved and we watched minor ice falls. We were really pleased we had been able to see both glaciers in such excellent weather , in fact it was so hot at Fox glacier we both took off our sweatshirts.
I have to say that the final gradient up to see the Fox Glacier was very steep and that it took a little effort to get there. We were there fairly early but there were still hundreds of people walking up and when we arrived there were already three or four guided groups out on the glacier itself. You are not allowed out on the glacier unless you are with a guide.
On our downward journey we stopped at the old suspension bridge cross the river, no more than five adults allowed on the bridge at one time and the expedition photographer got some good shots of the mountains.
It was then off to Mathieson Lake where there were supposed to be magnificent reflections of the mountains. The very pleasant walk around the lake took us about two hours but no one had told the wind or the water that they needed a few minutes peace, when we reached Reflection island, as you have no doubt guessed there were no reflections. However it was an excellent walk through native NZ foliage and whilst you might imagine it was a flat walk around the shores of a lake, it certainly was not going up hill and down dale all the way around often a hundred feet or so from the lake.
We went back to the campsite for lunch which was I have to say very late, and did mundane things like our washing and going shopping at the convenience store in Fox Glacier as well as filling up with diesel. Emptying the van's waste water took so long that I almost lost the will to live.
The rest of the afternoon was spent in the sun. Now travellers be aware there are some very nasty biting insects in NZ called sand flies, these have a bite like a horsefly and can draw blood.
This particular species of cruel insects seem to have regarded me as a gourmet delight. Whilst they ite Rosemarie and there is no affect on her their bites on me swell and become mottled. These are not creatures to be messed around with. I have now taken to applying liberally a coat of anti insect lotion in a bid to quell their enthusiasm. I have to put it on my feet particularly as this is an area of my body they seem to enjoy with some relish, well when they bite it does rather feel as though someone has stuck a needle in you.
We managed to have our tea outside of the van and were really pleased that we managed to cook a Spanish omelette whilst camping, it almost tasted like something we might do at home. The day o Re we retired to be tired but content, not really looking forward to the long drive ahead tomorrow.