Stayed our first night off the tramp at a pleasant motel in Queenstown, complete with kitchen and bath, color t.v. (flopped in front of that for a while, reaquainting ourselves with civilization) checked out by 100:00 next morning and strolled around Queenstown - did laundry and finally bought a big fry pan at a cool attic-like 2nd hand store (also a couple of paperbacks and a spatula). Jim called Paul and we discovered that Seattle time is three hours ahead of us, but one day behind! I got to talk with him too, which was real nice. We stopped at the P.O. and picked up Reg. Papers for Henry (from Peter Rees), then did our banking. Finally left town.
We then drove to Arrowtown. Weather was warming up, and we found the hang glider simulator place. Wound up spending quite a lot of time there. The guy who owns it, Grahm is the top h.g. pilot in N.Z., and very likeable. A mountain-biking couple from Vancouver B.C. were there doing the simulator, and after some conversation Grahm told Jim to go ahead and try it (no charge). So Jim climbed the hill and came back down on the glider suspended from the wire!
Then Grahm turned to me and said, "you're next Deb!" and gestured to the hill. What could I say?! So I went down the simulator twice - it was quite entertaining - Grahm & his assistant (who was up on the hill), Matthew, were both great.
From there we drove in to Arrowtown, bought beer, and looked at leather clothing - Jim found a jacket he loved and I tried on a black leather dress(!) - all I needed was a pair of high heels!
From there to Cromwell, to the windsurfer (Paul, age 20) we'd meet at Glenorchy - Jim bought a complete board/sail/wetsuit/ect. From him - we had to hang out in Cromwell for a while til Paul got off work - then we wound up staying overnight with him and his folks, Tony and Margaret. That was very enjoyable - stayed up and talked with them for about four hours - had breakfast with them in the a.m. before heading to Te Anau on Friday.
Dinked around in Te Anau some, then found an excellent woodsy campsite north of town, right by Lake Te Anau - Jim got to do some windsurfing, tho the wind was just gusty. Broke in new fry pan for an excellent campfire meal.
