Jamie Abela reporting for duty. Hello Martha you beautiful young thing. So today was all about big scenery. BIG SCENERY. The Stage 6 crew awoke after a special night of celebration to a wonderfully glorious blazing blue sky day and Lake Tekapo was there for the taking. Thanks to the outstanding generosity of Richard Rayward and the awesome gang at Tekapo Air Safaris the crew were able to take to the sky for a scenic flight over New Zealand’s Southern Alps with magnificent views over Lake Tekapo, Lake Pukaki, the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers and the big monster that is Mount Cook (12,316 feet). The scenery made our eyeballs explode and Steve and I needed a dip in the lake to cool off our excitement levels.
After chatting and snapping with the local reporter, we eagerly jumped back on board Martha for the next adventure on Stage 6. Domination Queenstown was almost complete. We’d jumped, fallen, propelled, jet boated, and sweated. We stared death in the face, and survived. There was just one more bridge to hurl ourselves off…
The Kawarau Bridge became the world’s first commercial bungy site in 1988 and a trip to the adrenalin capital is not complete without ticking off the original. At 43 metres it doesn’t have the same fear factor as the Nevis, or the health risk of the Ferg, but what it does have is bus loads of photo hungry tourists and a need for style. Kate B was on official camera duty as the rest of Team Extreme harnessed up and got in line to put on a bungy domination workshop. A couple of perfect swan dives and crazy backwards pin drops later and we hit the road, FTFE – 1, Queenstown – 0.
Caveat: Although we are raising money for three fantastic charities: MacMillan Nurses, The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and the Fire Fighters Charity, we are also trying to make this loads of fun. Plus 100% of all money raised goes to the charities as this trip is self funded.
Fun: enjoyment, amusement, or light-hearted pleasure.
Fear: an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm.
If you wanted to pick somewhere for the extremes of both of the above emotions, the best place in world is Queenstown. My name is Chris Hallward, I have vertigo and this is my story.
Fact: New Zealand has a LOT of bridges. We thought we’d see how many there are between Franz Josef and Queenstown (it was a slow start to the day). Ladies and Gents – would you believe there are about 92. I say ‘about’ as I think I missed a couple when I was being shouted at to hurry up and play my go on risk (thanks Chris). Anyway… Read more →
Small world point : the friend of one of the guys in the Franz Josef Experience Centre was driving Martha, the ambulance the crew met on stage two in Mongolia
Franz Josef is famous for its glacier which is 12km long, it descends from the Southern Alps to less than 300m above sea level. We decided to do a full day trek to explore what this incredible mass of ice has to offer… when in Rome and all that. The walk promised an “experience of the most spectacular glacier environment available to the general public anywhere in the world.”
We’re settling into stage 6 now and rolling on down to Wellington today, 6+hrs on the road. Kate and I are quickly into the routine now, assuming our daily roles with with the enthusiasm of a new kid at school. Me navigation and Kate comms.
Fast fact about Taupo: Home to New Zealand’s largest lake which was formed in the Caldera of a Volcano which erupted 26,500 years ago. The lake covers 619 SqKm, has 32 rivers feeding it and is world famous for trout fishing with crystal clear waters. I like fishing.
High point: For Amy, a smacker of a kiss goodbye from the captain
Low point: For Steve and Amy, saying goodbye to their new friends on the Le Mans Express
No point: A one man moped escort out of Auckland (AKA Jamie Abela)
After 9 days at sea aboard the Le Mans Express it was time for Amy, Steve and Martha to get their land legs back on and kick off stage 6. Auckland has been swathed in sunshine for weeks now so we were all looking forward to some sunshine and incredible views on the first day back on the road….from early morning however, it was clear we were in for something a little more…er…British. Rain….a lot of it.
