Skiing at Whakapapa

We finally managed to get up to the Whakapapa ski field to get some skiing and boarding. It has been a season of lots of snow (4 metres). Unfortunately there has been too much snow the last few weeks and the roads have been closed and the ski fields closed due to high avalanche risk. This weekend was the first with a great forecast and our friend Kathryn organised us accommodation in one of the mountain lodges.

The weather was spectacular and the three volcanoes looked quite different this year with so much more snow. The only problem was that everyone had looked at the forecast - so we spent a little bit of time waiting in lift queues. We usually got a few runs in between 8:30 and 10am before the crowds arrived. It wasn't too bad and sometimes it is nice to get a bit of a rest between runs!

After the first run of the weekend - Aaron pretty much picked up where he had left off last yearand definitely started to get a much better flow to his boarding. There is a movie below of him carving up the slopes!


Kathryn and Aaron


Lots of snow on Ngarahoe and Tongariro in the distance


Aaron carving up the empty slopes in the morning

Cone Hut tramp

We woke to a nice day on Saturday morning and Aaron decided he wanted to go tramping to see the snow in the Tararua's (the mountain range just to the north of Wellington). Well we didn't get up to the snow, but we had a nice walk through the temperate dense forests. It was pretty steep as we tried to avoid the flat stuff along the valley in order to avoid the boggy, muddy bits.
We headed up and over the hill to Cone Hut, unfortunately we didn't have time to go up Cone Peak. We had lunch at Cone Hut, built in 1946 and obviously each bit of wood had been shaped with axes. Then we returned back via Cone Saddle and down to and along the Waiohine Gorge to the newly built suspension bridge and the carpark. We did see some snow on the top of Mt Holdsworth in the distance.

We timed it perfectly as it was just starting to spit with rain when we got back to the car. It took us 6 hours of walking - which was bit more than we had anticipated. The tracks were pretty rough and slippy and we were pretty cautious descending some of the slippy, tree routed sections. We were walking with tramping poles - which helped a lot - especially with testing the depth of the muddy sections! Unfortunately we have spent a couple of days since in a little bit of pain as our tramping muscles are rather un-fit compared to our biking muscles. Need to get out and do some more tramping and get fit again.


The dense jungle


Cone Hut


Snow-capped Mount Holdsworth


Waiohine River

Sunday ride around the bays

We haven't had many sunny days this winter - so we have to make the most of the ones we get. This one was a very cold, but calm day so we headed out for a cruisy ride around the Miramar Pensinsular where we live. There is a relatively flat road that isn't too busy that goes all around the coast and you get some great views of the harbour and then across to the south island at the southern end of the peninsular.


Just getting started


Sailboat in the harbour


Snow-clad mountains of the South Island

Birthday flowers

My surprise birthday pink/purple flowers.... Our house now smells very flowery!
Thank you Laura and Gill.

Coffee table continues!

I am back in woodworking class and the coffe table has progressed. The legs and side now have holes drilled in them for dowells that will help hold it together. In the first picture there are just enough dowells inserted to hold it together so I could take a picture. the second picture shows the top and the drawer mostly assembled. I still need to attach it to the side piece that will form the front of the drawer. The drawer will be mounted to the frame under the top and the front will form the fourth side which isn't attached in the top picture.

Don't worry it will all make sense when it is all done.


Base and part of the drawer


Drawer and top

Mifi and Safi

Must be cold - as these two rarely tolerate each other - let alone cuddle up together.


Cuddling on the couch

Weekend in Christchurch

Helen was down in Christchurch for a conference and Aaron to came down for the weekend. We were going to head over to Akaroa - a small french town on the Banks Peninsular. However Aaron's flight was cancelled due to snow and by the time he made it to Christchurch the forecast was threatening high winds and snow on the Banks Peninsular. So we stayed in Christchurch.

It was very cold and snowed for several hours on Saturday in Christchurch. So we spent most of the days in Museums. Then on Sunday it cleared up and we headed over to the port at Lyttleton (the road to Akaroa was still closed from snow). The old volcanic crater around Lyttleton was covered in snow and it was quite spectacular. I have to say I really enjoy cold, sunny days - Very invigorating!


Lyttleton Harbour


Crater rim


Godley Head trig