Middle Earth crossed! (Tongariro Crossing!)

Well we did it...tongariro crossing...today.....but i still couldn't tell you what it looks like.....not only did we do 8 hrs hiking around the mouth of a volcano....we did it in the driving rain and cloud, soaked to the skin (even with our gortex and 20 layers!) and with visibility of about an arms length!!!!!! ah well, we made it, was actually quite magical and mysterious being in that terrain and not being able to see anything....it was like being in lord of the rings with Frodo......the swamp of ghosts, the ash littered climbs, the cooled lava rocks, the sulphuric hot springs!!! we did see the emerald lake, and the sun came out after about 5 hours...which cheered the spirit no end! but, we still haven't seen into the mouth of a volcano!!! but never fear....we haven't left new zealand yet!!!!! Ahhhhhhh a warm bath! xxxx