The one that got away..... Al was going to propose, and then the weather kept getting worse and worse and finally turned us back...We were trying to climb Avalanche Peak, in Arthur's Pass (west of Christchurch).


Al looking a bit pooped...don't know if you can really tell how steep the track is...but suffice to say it is the steepest bloody track I've ever been on...you're bouldering half the time, it feels like...and coming down it feels like 3/4 of the time!


I think this one gives a bit better idea of the steepness...and a wonderful photo of Al looking completely stuffed (the tongue hanging out is the first clue)! See the handy orange trail marker on the tree?


A picture of the Bealey River from treeline, where we ate lunch. A long way down, I'd like to point out. We've come up basically from the same level as the river in just over an hour...


This is a view from treeline as well, just looking a different direction. Avalanche Peak is off to the right, out of the picture, hidden in clouds and gale force winds...

The Big Day...February 6th, 2003 (Waitangi Day) We went for a lovely walk up the Rapaki Track in the Port Hills, southeast of Christchurch city. Couldn't have been finer weather, absolutely boiling...shade was a welcome thing, though we lost any tree cover within about 20 minutes of the start of the track. Dry as, too...you can see why fire is such a hazard in these parts!


Al on the big day...note the nicer weather and happier demeanor?!


Me on the big day, looking sexy, I know...I had no choice, I was bloody roasting, wasn't going to be wearing any more sweaty clothes than I had to! No roses and candlelight for us...grimy, sweaty, and sunburned, in old clothes and some very stinky feet.


I realise some of you haven't seen the ring yet, so here it is! Isn't it gorgeous!?




The view of Lyttelton Harbour from where we were standing. Pretty, eh? The island in the middle/right of the picture is called Quail Island, was used as a leper colony back in the day.


A view on the way down, looking back up at where we were standing. Castle Rock, it's called, in the Port Hills (the one to the left - the little one on the right was being heavily used for NZ Army abseiling training).

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