Saturday 1st December

We headed west and crossed the continental divide at the top of Arthur's Pass, skirting Lake Misery and safely negotiating Deaths Corner. We stopped in Hokitika so Lucinda could buy some jade. The beach there was black sand and deserted. By lunchtime we had reached Franz Joseph. We checked into our lodge before walking to the base of the glacier. At first it was obscured by cloud but then for about ten minutes the view cleared and we could see from the valley to the mountain top. We had time to go back to our room for a rest before heading out to eat.