The Youth of A Thousand Summers

A 13 hour flight had me arriving in Auckland at 6 AM local time.
Made my connecting flight with only five minutes to spare.
Landed at Queenstown airport at 9 AM, and stepped out into some brisk alpine air.
 Arrived at my hotel at 10 AM and was very lucky to be able to check right into my room. Took a break and then ambled out into town.

FYI, my original plan was to check into a hostel.
In doing so, I thought I might pick other travelers brains about what to do and see and get a little social interaction going. The place where I had planned to stay was recently rated the #1 hostel in New Zealand. At the last minute, however, I read the fine print which indicated the average age of their visitors is 27.
Further research yielded a review that said, "If you're over 30, staying here may make you feel ancient".

Now, I certainly may still think I'm 21 but thank (insert Deity here) I'm no longer quite as stupid as I was at that age. The last thing I need on this trip is to feel fossilized.
A quick change of plans and I'm now ensconced in a nice little place on the edge of town with a hot tub and kitchenette. Much better.

I may still wind up in a hostel when I'm out in a remote mountain pass for the night but my addiction to Wi-Fi may ultimately force me into motels/ hotels for the duration.

ANYWAY... A cloudy overcast Queenstown morning morphed into a clear, bright and sunny afternoon that was positively summerlike by 2 PM.

Since weather predictions are for rain over the next few days, I decided to strike while the weather was hot. Instead of lollygagging around my hotel I decided the best cure for jet lag would be a 16 mile mountain bike ride on a gravel trail around part of Lake Wakatipu. About 10 miles into the journey I realized I was in over my head. The elevation and dehydration threatened to knock me for a loop. Found a convenience store and replenished my precious bodily fluids which at least enabled me to limp back into town. But I'm beat!  Pretty certain that I will sleep deep and soundly tonight... which may indeed be the cure for jet lag.

Sat along the water's edge for sunset and listened to groups of merry hostelers whooping, hollering sharing drinks and laughs on the beach. Perhaps that's what I was somehow seeking with my notion to stay at a hostel. But those days are gone, old pal.  Oh, to be young, footloose and fancy-free again.
But then again...NOT.

ANYWAY... supposedly this area is also well-known for star-gazing. Since it is my fervent wish to have a peak star-gazing experience I sat by the lake until 10:30 PM, waiting for the last bit of light to die and the stars to emerge. However, it appears that is still hours away. if there's still no action by 11:30, I'm off to bed.

In closing, allow me to share a few nice images from today's walkabout.