To Franz Josef

Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Thu 28 Aug 2014 22:57
To Franz Josef Township
 
 
 
 
 
IMG_6508  IMG_6509
 
We jumped up, abluted and set off to cover the eighteen miles to Franz Josef. The road and bridges have become the norm for us as we pootle along in Mabel.
 
 
IMG_6516  IMG_6512
 
This tiny stream had a great name, no it didn’t smell at all but Bear did the ‘tourist’ pose.
 
 
IMG_6524
 
Our ‘haze spotting’ continued with a good one this morning – a tiny patch rising from the road, joining the cloud that looked like it was waiting for it.
 
 
IMG_6522  IMG_6527  IMG_6526
 
The road took us further toward the coast away from the peaks, at one point the Wicked Witch said “turn left”, just as well, given that there was no right for the next ten miles. Bear started You........... and stopped himself, cheeks billowed, their relationship is far too fragile for any more outbursts from either one of them.
 
 
IMG_6525
 
Closer to the peaks but less snow as height lowering as we neared Franz Josef.
 
 
IMG_6532  IMG_6548
 
A little further on the scenery opened up with us beside a humungous riverbed. Looking downriver and upriver.
 
 
IMG_6528  IMG_6529
 
A flood sign just before our turnoff to go over the bridge.
 
 
IMG_6545  waiho
 
We crossed the Waiho River Bailey Bridge. This is how the scene has looked with the river at flood.
 
 
IMG_6534
 
Once over the bridge we were on the High Street of this tiny township of three hundred and thirty residents.
 
 
Franz_Joseph_1898
 

The town was named after the Franz Josef Glacier - itself named by Julius von Haast in honour of the Emperor Franz Josef I of Austria, him with the wonderful facial hair who ruled for sixty eight years. The glacier's terminal face is close to the town and its accessibility makes it a major tourist attraction and the reason many people visit Franz Josef.

 
 
IMG_6537  IMG_6541
 
On our right was the chocolate-box and tiny Our Lady of the Alps Catholic Church, sadly locked. We always get so saddened to find any House of God locked. The alps just in sight.
 
 
IMG_6542  IMG_6543
 
We stopped by these handsome chaps half way down the high street.
 
 
IMG_6544
 
People rave on Tripadvisor about this shop – The Te Koha Gallery. We went in for a mooch and found some lovely jade carvings. We were invited to make our own jewellery but stood and chatted for a while. The local repellent for sandflies was retold to us. Half Dettol, half Baby Oil – anything to stick the little ladies feet together...........now to camp, windows and doors firmly closed as we can see the little monsters clinging to all the glass, wiggling in the wind - persistent or what. But we have been warned we are in their capital city.........
 
 
IMG_6535  IMG_6536
 
The view over the right shoulder of Mabel and over the left. Wonderful. Now to play backgammon over a libation. WELL. We got to four all. Bear had one man on the three and one on the five. After my last-but-one throw I had one on the three. As Bear tossed his die I wished hard for him to throw a one. He did. I won, well the language I heard I had thought was only for the ears of the Wicked Witch.............He got his revenge in Sequence when I was four two up and lost four five. Heavy money compensation at Rummikub methinks. Huh. Don’t you Huh me or you’ll be cooking supper. Oh the pained discipline on his face as not to remark to that one...............
 
 
 
 
 
ALL IN ALL A PRETTY JOURNEY
                     RUGGED VIEWS AND FLAT RIVER PLAIN