Apart from a refreshing drink the only other thought in my head was Wow!! Yes it really does justify the second exclamation mark. It was that good. A third exclamation mark is forever be reserved for Maccarone's last gasp winner against Staua Bucharest. But that's football and this isn't. Where was I? Oh yes 2006 and Boro's remarkable run in Europe. Ooh it takes me back....
So today has been one long series of 'Wow!!'s
The first 'Wow!!' moment came with a ride in a helicopter, albeit for only five minutes, up a valley to a glacier. I've never been in a helicopter before - sure I have often imagined myself in the pilot's seat of Airwolf on my way to another daring rescue mission but actually being in the real thing, despite it lacking twin cannons and a whisper mode, was much much better.
And then we landed on the Franz Josef Glacier. Wow!! I have walked on a huge slab of ice before but that was a long time ago and for nowhere near as long as today. Sarah and I, and eight other lucky people, followed a guide up, over, and in some cases through the glacier. The ice features that we saw today are only temporary as the whole thing is slowly moving down the mountain; twisting, turning, cracking and melting as it goes. You get a real sense that it is a living, breathing thing.
Even horrendous rain and cold wind did not dampen the experience - besides we had another helicopter ride to enjoy. Getting into the helicopter, sodden and cold from being out on the ice for three hours, was a relief.
'I'd like to say I bet your're glad to be out of the rain and in the dry', the pilot said before adding, 'but this thing leaks like a bugger!'
The second trip was even better as we swooped and banked over rivers and trees on our way back to town. Wow!!
We finished off the experience with a short film 'Flowing West' about the journey the ice makes from the mountains to the Tasman Sea. And and ice cream of course.
What a day. Oh, go on then.... Wow!!!
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