Yesterday we started our holiday proper from Christchurch. Jerry had picked up the campervan when he arrived on Wednesday and then picked me up at the airport when I arrived on Thursday. We had a relaxed evening in Christchurch then set off on our travels after breakfast on Friday. We had a lovely drive through the mountains and Arthurs Pass where we stopped for a coffee. Before crossing a viaduct just outside the pass we stopped at a viewpoint. Here we encountered 2 Kea (mountain parrots) who obliged for photos. 
Whilst taking their photos Jerry had one pecking at his boots - it has managed to rip the stitching and a bit of the fabric! Good job they aren't expensive or new! We arrived down in Greymouth in the middle of the afternoon and again stopped for a walk round then moved on down to Hokitika for the night so that we would have a good start down to Franz Josef Glacier this morning. Found ourselves an OK hotel (not ready to sleep in the campervan yet!) and a meal then made an early night of it. Jerry is still catching up the jet lag! This morning we woke to a crystal clear morning with some fabulous views of the mountains. At the hotel we had seen a plane flight advertised over the glaciers and mountains down to Milford Sound and thought we would try that but the person who runs it didn't seem to want the trip! He didn't answer my message last night and was not at his office at the airport this morning. So at 10am we set of down to Franz Josef. Before we got there we found someone doing helicopter flights (from Whataroa) so we had the chopper for just the 2 of us down over the mountains and glaciers and back - about 45 minutes. It was fantastic and I have taken some video and photos but can't download them at the moment.
Anwyay, after the flight we decided we would make our way down and try to get to Queenstown tonight but events conspired against us. Having filled the van with diesel in Whataroa we had only gone a few kilometres down the road when we encountered a Landcruiser taking a bend too fast and so we got sideswipped! Fortunately no-one was injured - honestly - we are both 100% OK!!! Unfortunately the campervan did not fare so well and we have had to have it recovered and are now spending the night in Franz Josef while we wait for a replacement to be delivered tomorrow. The other driver freely admitted it was his fault - he was rushing his dog to the vet and was distracted. There was a very nice old lady in the bungalow just by the bend where we had the accident and so she looked after us and helped us to get everything sorted out. Everyone had been so nice and really helpful. So the enforced stop here has enabled us to spend some time looking round the village - one big shop really - and an hour in a hot pool. Feel quite relaxed now. Hope to log again soon and will try for some photos then.
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