The Mueller Hut Route New Zealand

#Muller_Hut_Trail_NewZealand

Heading to Mount Cook Village on the South Island of New Zealand to take on this latest adventure
 There are seasonal restrictions from November to April and bookings are required

 For the Muller Hut
  There are only 28 bunks in two separate rooms, large communal kitchen plus a huge outdoor deck at a cost of $36.00 per night PP or $15 PP to camp near the facility
 With that fee it gives you access to the building plus you will need to bring your own food, sleeping bags, flashlight and toilet paper

KeyTip;
At no cost i did the hike as far as Sealy Tarns ( 500 meters of elevation left to the Mueller Hut)
  plus i added Hooker Valley Track to my itinerary
So i got all the views and experience of the trail without any overnight complications

Also VERY IMPORTANT;
You need to register what you intend on doing for the day at the Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park Visitor Centre.
So sign in then sign out..... or it may result in a formal search  

 

The Mueller Hut 1800 meter mark (5900 feet) at Sealy Range will provide you a 360 degree panorama view of glaciers, ice cliffs, vertical rock faces and of New Zealands highest peaks

The route starts at the White Horse Hill Campsite and a roundtrip is around 10 kms (6 miles) which should take you under 6 hours for an experienced adventurer.

The hike is considered highly challenging with all sorts of rugged terrain, steep inclines plus changing weather conditions to navigate.
  But a really rewarding alpine hike because of the views

As we start, the first 20 minutes are on flat wooden boardwalks through the grass plus tussocks then it starts inclining up the mountain which you will feel the change immediately

Weather can change quickly here so always bring extra warm clothes, rain jacket, hat, sunscreen, snacks, water and so on
You know, common sense stuff 😀

The route is marked with signs (plus poles with orange triangles) so look for that plus the path is worn so i good indicator until you get near the Mueller Hut , which is just straight up jajajaja

. Not sure how good the cell coverage is for GPS (alltrails wikiloc) but perhaps this will help for a backup plan

Your safety is YOUR responsibility so be prepared, especially going solo like myself
Choose the right route for your fitness level and maybe even bring a distress beacon for a level of comfort

Crossing this swing bridge into the Hooker Valley Track
This trail will give you much scenery of mountains, Mueller and Hooker Lakes (which if the winter months you might see icebergs) plus a vista of the valley.

It was a windy day and i now know why they call it a swing bridge 😁

Had a young lady in front of me "freeze up" on the span, so i calmly talked to her about not looking down but to the end of the structure
The gal made it to the other side but not sure how she was going to manage on the return

The river runs into a lake at the base of Hooker Valley
Footing is indeed slippery and time is needed so take those baby steps

KeyTip
The body of water here is a glacial lake, so extremely cold and dangerous
Needless to say do not swim in it plus be careful near the icebergs of Hooker Lake

The history of "Tramping" in New Zealand began with the Maori who traveled for trade plus survival, then the European settlers followed the trails for alpine climbing 
Then the popularity of these routes became recreational paths supported by clubs, which developed them into famous walks 

If your going into the mountains, be smart and check the New Zealand Avalanche Advisory plus the weather forecasts before heading out

Aoraki / Mount Cook 

Aoraki is the Maori name for "cloud piercer"
Sir Edmund Hillary used this area as a training ground before he came the first to conquer Mount Everest
The mountain actually has three summits; the Low, Middle and High Peaks
Finally it is considered New Zealands most dangerous peak, with many climbers having died attempting the challenging ascent

The original Mueller Hut was built in 1914 and was used as a shelter to explore the glacier that was nearby
Then between 1947-1953 two more Mueller Huts were destroyed by avalanches, so again we need to respect the elements of nature here

 To present times, new construction was completed in 2003 for what we see today

As i make my way back using the orange triangle markers, was having some photograph fun on the swing bridge and with the shadows on the rock face 

Mykonos Greece

#Mykonos_Greece_Island_Winds

According to Greek mythology the island was named after Mykonos, the grandson of Apollo
 Also the area is known as The Island of Winds, hence the windmills dating back to the 16th century as the Venetians built them to mill grain

KeyTip:
 They advertise walking tours at $45.00US / Per Person
Save your money and just stroll the narrow streets yourself as you will never get lost as the area is too small 
Then find the free attractions like some of the 60 Churches in Mykonos town , Rarity Gallery, Armenistis Lighthouse, Monastery of Tourliani, Folklore Museum and the Beaches

 Mykonos Town is called Chora (Greek for Town) 

 It is small plus a maze of narrow streets

 as the rumor has it was done so to confuse the pirates when they raided this area

  They were always nearby because of the islands location in the Aegean Sea so fortifications were built during the Byzantine era to fend off the intruders

Later on after the Turks took control of the island, Greek Pirates used the area as a hideout which then fought for Greek independence

 

Mykonos has a strict color code that requires all doors and windows to be painted blue, green or red.

This dates back to the tradition where sailors painted their doors blue, farmers were green plus everyone else was red.
Also the reason why all the houses are painted white is to keep the homes cool during the hot summer

There has been many movies filmed here because of its picturesque landscapes, unique architecture plus beautiful beaches
Because of this exposure it has became popular destination for artists, celebrities and European royalty

 Some Box Office Examples
 Shirley Valentine, Bourne Identity, The Greek Tycoon, Greed and  The Kings of Mykonos

There are around 15,000 residents on the island which will increase to over 50,000 in the summer months with tourists and only 30 Taxis.

Sounds like a business opportunity 😃

Some street sketches i found and assuming its paying homage to the sea

Mykonos has a vibrant and flourishing art scene which is known for its numerous contemporary galleries, international exhibitions plus cultural events which attracts a high end cosmopolitan audience 

Throughout history Mykonos was considered a poor island because of the limited agricultural resources
.
That all changed as the rest of the world discovered the island  through exposure and soon followed the tourists
But at a price to pay as its a very expensive place to visit so before you get sticker shock

A) Beach Clubs; $150 US per chair plus a minimum spend for food or drinks
B) Fine Dining; single meal $200+
C) Designer Clothing and Jewelry; i do not want to know price 😂
D) Cocktails; will run your black Amex $45 US per drink 

Mykonos has over 800 churches but the most famous is Paraportiani  (1425-1600s to complete)
  It consists of five separate churches which are joined (four are at ground level with the fifth on top)

Over the years the church has been damaged by fires, earthquakes plus natural disasters but has survived and is one of the most photographed churches in the world 

Mykonos belongs to the Cyclades Complex which consists of 33 islands forming a circle (cyclos)
 and in the center is the sacred island of Delos

The cobblestone streets are made of rock with a crushed seashell powder which will reflect light for that "glow" look at night

The island produces water by reverse osmosis, a method that uses the sea water to create fresh aqua to supply the population and growing numbers of visitors each year

Now this process is safe to drink as its a highly effective purification method that removes up to 99% of contaminants
But ( yes there is always a but jajaja) it removes the beneficial natural minerals like calcium and magnesium
So what i am trying to say is bring your own bottled water

This area is known as Little Venice as the wealthy Venetian merchants constructed these buildings in typical Italian architecture style
But in its past this area was once a notorious pirates den and some say the buildings have secret entrances in their basements

As you can see most of Old Town is a pedestrian zone, so this is why owning a private vehicle here very limited 

Immigration

The Greek Golden Visa Program is a minimum 250,000 Euro investment in for example real estate to qualify for a five year residency permit
After seven years and a few other requirements it is possible to apply for Greek citizenship 

The waking ambassador of Mykonos is Petros (Peter) the Pelican, who roams around the narrow streets of Old Town

Tiger Moth Biplane in Australia

 #Tiger_Moth_Biplane_Australia

It was built in 1931, was mainly used as a trainer aircraft for pilots in the Second World War and was retired in 1959 with around 8,800 built. 

It was designed by de Havilland Aircraft Company of Canada
So (ironically) here i am in Australia with a chance to be a passenger/fly on this piece of aviation history

 My first clue that i was going to be in for an interesting flight was the plane has no electrical system so it was started by hand
 Then as we roll down the runway the pilot had to stick his head over the side to navigate the takeoff because of the upright position of this biplane

 

Here we are over Surfers Paradise on the Australian Gold Coast, that is when the pilot asks if i am ready

Ready for what i am thinking; well then the aerobatics start 
Controlled Stall , Death Spiral, Barrel Rolls plus Hammerhead Maneuvers
My first thought was (as i am hanging upside down in a open cockpit vintage plane) how old / new is this safety harness 😳

After we landed the pilot ask me why i thought we did those stunts over the ocean
Well if i messed up..... it would only be you and me 😂

The reason why these planes were called Tiger Moths the designer Geoffrey de Havilland had a interest in moths plus butterflies
So as simple as that and probably also the way those winged insects moved in the open skies for his inspiration for aircraft design

Besides the 4000 that were manufactured in Britain others were built in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Portugal and Sweden

The plane had a range of 486 km (300 miles) a ceiling of 4145 meters (13,600 feet)
 and a max speed 176km (110 mph) 

There are still approximately 300 Tiger Moths still in flying condition and as you can see i found one of them in Australia

There are a few places left in the world that you would get a chance to fly one, but mostly the Tiger Moths are in aviation museums or private collections
 So i feel very fortunate to have the experience to be a Ace Co-Pilot 😎

Fort Jefferson by Amphibious Plane

#Fort_Jefferson_Amphibious_Plane

Fort Jefferson is located 109 km (68 miles) west of Key West Florida in the Gulf of Mexico and is part of the Dry Tortugas National Park System

KeyTip;
 The ferry (state of the art catamaran ) will cost you $220.00US which includes breakfast snack, box lunch, snorkeling equipment, entrance fee to Dry Tortugas National Park / Fort Jefferson plus takes around 2 hours
For me and my adventurous soul 😂 i opt for the Amphibious Plane half day excursion $466.00 + $15 Fort fee plus you arrive in 40 minutes 

 

So this type of plane is called an amphibious aircraft as it can takeoff plus land both on runways or water
Seaplanes can only take off and land on water

Everyone gets a window seat plus headset with some interesting facts from the pilot

For one he talked about the Chugs (as in the noise some of these homemade boats / engines make)
 from the Cuban migrants
 They try and make the dangerous 160 km (100 miles) journey through the Florida Straits, then apparently if they make it to one of the US Islands they can request political asylum

We fly at such a low altitude 150 meters (500 feet) i captured our shadow on the water below.

Two of the 1700 islands that make up the Florida Keys, this archipelago extends from Soldier Keys to the Dry Tortugas

Odd Fact;
About 800 do not have names, talk about not feeling the love 😅

This area is home to the only living coral barrier in the continental United States, also because of its tropical climate it has never recorded any freezing temperature like other parts of America

Splashdown

 Wheels Up for landings as it could cause the plane to flip over
Also our pilot told us he preferred the water not to be glassy smooth, as without any "texture" you can lose your depth perception which then cannot judge the height above the landing surface

Finally he mentioned he had some oars, as there are no traditional brakes (so with the combination of wind and the lack of precise stopping means) we might have to manually assist the aircraft to the beach 

This picture says it all......way cool experience landing in/on the Gulf of Mexico

Pilot Training

To fly an amphibious plane you need to get a seaplane rating which requires ground and flight programs at an aviation school, plus of course pass the test
To operate these crafts involves different techniques than the land model, as its has a more complex water takeoff procedure where the plane needs to lift early to reduce drag
 

This military post of Fort Jefferson offered the ships patrolling the Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Straits protection from the weather, also a place to resupply and refit
 
It was also used as a Civil War Blockade as Union ships used the harbor to stop southern shipping during those times

Historical Fact
The USS Maine coaled up and left here for Havana Cuba which helped ignite the Spanish-America War

It took nearly 30 years to built this fortress (1846-1875)
but it was never fully finished or armed as originally planned

With improvements over the decades with artillery, it made the forts brick and masonry walls vulnerable thus it was no longer effective for its intended purpose
Also due to engineering challenges, as the structure was sinking into the sand

What started out as a 70 foot wide salt water moat to protect against an amphibious assault, ended up being an engineering folly
A faulty sewer design led to the area effectively serving as collection basin for the forts peak military years
This contributed to the harsh living conditions plus disease outbreaks

During the Civil War the fort was used as a prison for mainly Union deserters
Its most famous incarcerated person was Dr. Samuel Mudd who was the physician who treated John Wilkes Booth after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln
He was eventually pardoned by President Andrew Johnson for his efforts in fighting a yellow fever epidemic at the fort

Today the moat is a vibrant marine habitat plus when government funding allows, baby sea turtles are sometimes raised in the shallow water here for their first year of life

KeyTip
Snorkeling or swimming is not allowed within the moat, the exterior of the walls yes
You may see some cultural artifacts like old anchor chains, cement barrels plus of course marine life 

The nickname of Fort Jefferson was The Guardian of the Gulf
As it was a strategic location to protect one of North Americas most important deep water shipping channels, connecting the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean

The forts walls were built with wrought iron components, but over time with the saltwater elements it has caused it to expand thus pushing the brick apart
 This has caused structural damage with large sections collapsing into the moat
and now with the destruction from the latest hurricanes, the area will require significant repair and strengthening

I feel very fortunate to have been able to have walked on top of the moat, because for now it is closed to at least 2026

Fort Jefferson is the largest brick structure in the United States with over 16 million and was constructed this way to withstand cannon balls from hostile vessels
The construction of such a large project had many issues including transportation of workers and supplies

J.N.O. Nolan was a master bricklayer who etched his name into several bricks, but good luck with that search 😂

 Maze
The meaning; is of a complex with often a confusing network of passages, i agree 😀

Ponce de Leon called the area Dry Tortugas
He did as he knew there was no fresh water, but an innovative system of cisterns was built in the forts walls to collect rainwater
But then the fresh aqua supply was compromised as the crumbling collection tanks cracked under its on weight, thus allowing salty ocean water to enter

With a shortage of workers President Lincoln started to offer condemned men pardons for a years work here at Fort Jefferson, but the conditions were harsh
As for example in 1867 Yellow Fever killed 39 staff and workers  

One of the 450 cannons at the fort that were never needed or used

Some included the 15 inch Rodman which could fire a 180 kg (400 pound) projectile over 5km
(3 miles) which were mounted on center-pintle carriages that allowed them to rotate 360 degrees

Time to leave The Gibraltar of the Gulf with all its history