Hitchhiking - Franz Josef -> Queenstown, NZ

We contemplated turning around. Due to torrential downpour our full-day glacier hike in Franz Josef was cancelled. Commercial transportation options had either departed or were booked for the day, so we rainproofed our packs with garbage bags, marked on some cardboard scraps, and began a thumb-campaign as we hiked toward the next town 26 km south, Fox Glacier. With about 20 km left to our next stop and a few hundred kilometers to our wet day's destination we started to feel a little run-down. Hundreds of drivers had passed. Our die-hard determination to move onward was unanswered until a small white Nissan slowed, pulled just in front of us, and popped the trunk... err 'the boot.' We stood in awe until a cheery looking middle-aged man rolled down the window and ask what we were waiting for. Two 12 year-old twins gleamed through the rear window as we crammed our bags, then they politely made space for us to sit. The boys' father, Ralph, welcomed us to his warm and dry vehicle and proceeded to explain his cause. His boys, Morgan and Blaise, had just finished primary school in Sydney, Australia and their dear ole' dad congratulated them with an introduction to international travel [the right way, imo]. Their journey consisted of experiencing New Zealand from the perspective of a backpacker, so they slept in hostels, hiked the local trails, conversed with travelers from all over the world, and picked up hitchhikers... of course. The five of us took turns laughing about our cultural differences and Brittany and I enjoyed great company on the 6-hour, breathtaking drive to Queenstown. At only twelve years in age, Blaise and Morgan have a leg-up as far as adventure travel. In case they ever read this, thanks again guys!