First update from those left behind 29/11/2009

Thankyou Rion for the christmas cards which you sent from Queenstown airport on your arrival. The plane had been delayed so you had plenty of time to write them. I am pleased that the cards where actually cards not like the enclosed note which you wrote on on the sick bag (unused of course)

Bronwyn (Andy's Mum) and I (Marjet -Rions Mum) have a bit of an update.
The weather has not been very favourable for Rion and Andy so they had to skip the Olivine Ice Plateau which is a pity but it will be there for next time. Consequently the boys are actually ahead of schedule and tomorrow will be walking past the Aspiring hut. We hope they call in there as Andy's orthotics have managed to find their way to the hut.
On Saturday Bronwyn received a phone call from Andy, via the mountain radio, requesting his orthotics. His ankles were very sore and although he had walked lots without the orthotics and didnt think he needed them, his feet are telling him otherwise. Bronwyn has spent the last two days talking to Paul at mountain radio and the various guides and outdoor transport people to try and find a way to get the orthotics to Andy at Raspberry Flat. She left a message at mountain radio to say that they would be delivered to Raspberry Flat and left behind the toilets for them to collect but after the connection with mountain radio she was informed that the transport into Raspberry Flat was for the hut warden at Aspiring Hut so he will carry them up to Aspiring Hut for the boys. Given so many people out in the outdoors know about the need for the orthotics I am sure that Andy will connect with them tomorrow.

Andy and Rion are enjoying themselves, it is awesome they say, and are at Liverpool bivy tonight.
They are planning to climb Mt Tindell in a few days time, weather dependent.
Richard will be meeting them at the end of this section so they cant actually get ahead of themselves, they will need to take some other routes and do some climbs which they will both enjoy doing.

They both have plans to give letters to trampers who are exiting the areas which will be posted to either Bronwyn or myself and then we will update the blog on their behalf.

Marjet