Te Anau

Hello all of you stuffed post thanksgiving folks,
The rain passed and this morning was sunny with a slight cool breeze--like a perfect spring day. We set out on foot from Te Anau and hiked around the lake to the beginning of the Kepler Track (at the Control Gates) we hiked for a few hours (5! and now I know my limit) with a stop to eat our PBJ sandwiches on a sandy beach next to the pure waters of the lake. I felt practically crippled when we got back in town and found a pharmacy with tiger balm and more arnica (which has saved me on these long hike days). We decided to start making our dinner early because all the Asian travelers that we have encountered in these hostels virtually commandeer the kitchens and prepare these amazing 7 course dinners. We made ourselves a spectacular stirfry and drank a bottle of wine and did we stop? No! We walked (I felt like crawling) to the local cinema to watch Ata Whenua, a film taken from helicopter of NZ. We are now back and ready to shower and leave early in the morning to begin the drive (with several hikes along the way) up to Milford Sound. We will stay at the lodge up there for three nights and then make our way back down to Garston to fish for several days. We are hoping not to have a problem getting a fishing license--evidently we need to go to a "cleaning station", have our equipment inspected and if we pass, obtain a certificate that we must show in order to receive a license. If you are caught fishing without the cleaning certificate and a license, they will fine you 7000 dollars and take away all your equipment, including your car! They are some serious folks--but ya know, it works--the country is pristine and the lakes and rivers have water that you can drink. Hope you are all well and enjoying life. Talk to you soon, L and J