Haast Pass, Franz Joseph, Lake Hawea...pics for now

Franz Joseph Glacier - exploring the intricacies of crevaces and the art of pin-stepping through gaps that are too small for those who eat chicken sausage lollies.

The team taking a well-earned rest after acting as pathfinders in "GROUP ONE". Thanks to us the lesser groups were given an easier route (The mountain guide may have learnt early that endorsing us as experts would go down well).

Lake Hawea - run by "Mike". More on him and the missing German canoeist later.

Glove in his new "ironic" (definitely not ironic), game-day T-shirt eating a "taste of New Zealand" chicken sausaage lolly.

#SINZ11

Dunedin to Wanaka... not like the M1

Sooo... Following the jet-lag-infused tour of Dunedin we boarded The Ego with vigour to head to Wanaka. The team of Joe, Lauren, Glove, Henry and Billy discussed the merits of simply grinding out a win, regardless of what it looks like, as opposed to destroying the opposition in the manner the All Blacks and Australia are doing (Glove is a real "win is a win" man). Our campsite Wanaka nestled in the shadow of Mount Aspiring at the end of a rather spectacular driving route. The journey took four-ish hours, but London to Manchester via the various grey UK motorways it was not... in Lord of the Rings-ville the time flew past with enormous crystal-clear lakes to the left and vast rocky mountains to the right (and in front).

Some slept, some drank booze, some went for a refreshing run along Lake Wanaka and took stunning pictures.

Coming soon... news from Haast Pass, Franz Joseph Glacier, Lake Hawea (and a potential serial killer), golf en route to Wanaka and lashingtons in Wanaka after the All Blacks smashed Japan (not just going for a grubby small-margin win).

Squirrels have landed in NZ

A few technical hitches thus far but stay tuned for full coverage from the touchline/road of the Rugby World Cup. In a nutshell up to now: 40-ish-hour travelling through sky and overland in a plane and "the ego" campervan. Arrived in Dunedin, borrowed a Christian's car. Parked it at wrong house. Posted keys through wrong door. Sprinted to Dunedin stadium - rubbish run, excellent stadium. Argentinian fans were incredible, our view of the pitch was epic. The match was garbage. Jonny had a shocker with the boot. Thompson should not have started. Anyway... we won. next day, tour of Speights Brewery... time is running out. We had fun.. More soon...

UK support for SCC