Fiordlands National Park and Milford Sound

We weren't QUITE prepared for three inches of snow and temperatures of less than 30 degrees this morning, but we rallied with 2 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of pants, and, in my case, both of my heavier jackets, a wool scarf, gloves and a wool hat. Thus reinforced, we're off to Milford Sound at 6:30 A.M. before anything in Te Anau has opened. It's snowing, sleeting and raining on our 2-hour trip, but the roads are clear and we meet virtually no one en route except a few snowplows. We don't stop becuse it's too misty to see much and because we want to arrive without rushing. Once there, we have breafast - brewed coffee - so happy - and stroll to the boat docks to check in for our short trip. We've seen so many waterfalls coming down the mountains during our drive and expect more once we cast off. When I spot a break in the clouds, I sing "Blue Skies, Smiling at Me", to which my hero listens stoically. Our boat is fine with a capable young guide. We freeze our asses off. It rains, then snows. We're almost through Milford Sound to the Tasman Sea when the sun comes out for awhile and it's so beautiful. We see some Fiordland Yellow Penguins indiginous to this small area and lots of seals. We go under 2 large wateraflls in our boat and one of the crew collects glasses of water for us to drink. The water has a bit of a brown tinge because of tannin from the leaves, but it's cold and wonderful. I stay on the bow and don't see Ron for an hour. He's inside the wheelhouse with the captain, all nice and warm. Grrr. The cruise was worth it. After 2 1/2 hours, I have a hot bowl of soup and we start back for Te Anau. We stop to walk across a swaying footbridge, drive to see a little store and museum that you can't believe that anyone else finds let alone patronizes, and check a few places for hikes that we simply cannot make ourselves do. Too cold and we are unwilling to be uncomfortable. Age, and all. At one of our stops, a Kea parrot picks us up. This is a large olive gray parrot with bright red under its wings. It immediately hops onto our side mirrors, hangs out, tries to steal Ron's keys, etc. Hilarious. Looking for a handout, to be sure. It follows us a few miles down to our next stop, flying first on one side of the vehicle and then the other. Crazy. It finally abandons us in a small car park where it spots 2 or 3 cars and potential prospects for treats. What is it with me and the birds? Gotta' be Ron. Back in Te Anau, we lay our plans for the rest of the trip plus we call sister Laura for election results. A big WOW on that one.