After scrutinizing the fog for so long last night, we finally found what we were looking for. The mountain! Mount Cook! While in our little cabin that night, the sky finally cleared.

Epic! A mountain you can see from miles and miles away. A mountain that has claimed many lives. On our way to breakfast that morning, we got a few more shots.

On our drive back out of the valley that morning, we got a few more.

And a few more.

Every time we made a turn on that windy road, we said goodbye to the mountain. Around the next turn, we found it yet again! Its persistence was formidable. We had another mountain to see, however, so eventually we left Cook behind.

We were determined to squeeze in one final Lord of the Rings sight on our journey. We drove a long way on a dirt road to find it. And it was worth it.

Do you recognize this hill? How about if you imagine the great city of Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld built upon its summit?

The roche moutonée is actually named Mount Sunday, but to us LOTR fans it was naught but the capital of Rohan. Although we could not see it, we also knew that the site used for Helm’s Deep was hidden somewhere in the mountains beyond.

Wow.

Today was one of the longest driving days we had–the giant detour really didn’t help–but we did see some incredible landscapes.

*****Written by Checkers*****

• New Zealand 2016-17