MasterCyl

Lazed around the hotel for the afternoon before heading out the Coronet Peak for some night skiing. It was great, absolutley great, breifly met up with Mim and her crew before hitting the slopes with James and Emma. Unfortunately they were pretty sore and headed back on the 7pm bus. Unable to find the others I bean running the mountain on my own and it was great. Did some basic work on the learner slope, and then managed decided to try a short blue run. Coupla stacks later I made it to the bottom, once I got a taste for a steeper better run there was no going back.

Once comfortable with the little blue run, I went to the top of the mountain… alone. It was a tough run a realy long intermediate blue run. I did it slowly carefully avoiding the open edge running into the unlit black runs. Made it down with only a few issues and one massive slide over an icy section where I could get any grip. Otherwise a very rewarding run and am very happy I managed to give it ago.

As my bus left after the others I caught them at the bottom and saw them off the mountain. Had a chat to the outdoor DJ before finishing with a few more runs and as my last bus was due, jumped on and headed home, felt very tired at this point.

Got back and found Franger to be unwell, watched a few movies, ate a massive tub of strawberry yogurt then went to bed.

Hit up the the Shotover for some wild fun and wasn’t dissapointed.

We started the day on the Shotover Jet, I didn’t bring a beanie or sunnies and my cheeks froze as the icy wind rushed pasted us racing through the Shotover Canyon Narrowly missing  rocks, trees, and debris in the river, all while spinning 360′s and sliding all over the place.

Afterwards grabbed a "Big Al" Fergberger for lunch and needless to say I didn’t need dinner, the thing was a big as my head.

Will update this with a pics during the next post session to indicate the szie of the Big Al.

Another 6:30AM start, for Josh, James and myself, but much rejoicing was had with more familiar faces.

Lucky for us as our groups were being sorted I found a short young blonde lady, by pure chance I saw Mim (a very good friend of my girlfriend) in the other group a few requests later and she was able to join us for the days lessons. The early morning lesson really let us capitalise on the previous days efforts we were now turning and really making headway down the mountain. It was also great to chat to Mim and catch up.

During lunch I managed to catch up with Mim’s crew, Kirsten, Helena, Jo, and a few other’s I didn’t really know. Was a good time of laughter and fun. But as time marched on our next lesson beckoned. This became my undoing.

The previous instructor after examining my style recommended I change to "Goofy" footing on the snow board, meaning the lead foot down the mountain would now change from my left to my right. I really strugled with the change and managed a fair few decent stacks leaving my ass sore and my hand a little tender from a complete forward rolling stack. Licking my wounds I left the mountain on the last bus, but not before arranging to meet with Mim/Kirsten and crew at Winnies Gourmet Pizza place.

We had MANY drinks and the pizza was fantastic, the other notable thing about Winnies is periodically the roof opens up to reveal the night sky and cool the place down, it’s a hot bar. As Mim and crew walked in I grabbed Mim randomly and pulled her to one side worrying her friends until they realised it was me. So we partied on through the night with Mim and Kirsten as their other friends were tired and left shortly after arriving. Kirsten let me send two SMS’s to Vikki, the first contact I had made since I left. Shortly after this a number of inappropriate messages were sent to Kirsten’s new suitor finshing with a laugh and a much needed save of face on her part. Thats brings me to now, a little tipsy and alot tired. Peace Out.

Woke up early, and as Franger has pointed out 6:30AM is NOT a holiday wake up time especially in 4 degrees weather. Grabbed a Snowboard and sucked up some humbleness.

Snowboarding while simple in nature hurts a bit, specifically the buttocks. We had a quick ride before our first lesson and managed to stumble to the bottom of the beginners slope. Our instructor Phil was good and we progressed well. It seems the basics are the key, but getting them right requires a mix of confidence and skill/practice. Franger… well… Franer sucked at snowboarding, seems the whole fixed feet thing jst threw him. At the end of the day he declined his second lesson and went home early and hs regrets regarding his decision, oh well. The rest of progress steadily to the point where we could turn poorly but could end up roughly where we wanted to be. This was a trying but good day.

Finshed with a Ski Express night where whilst there were many prizes to be won we lacked the luck to win any of them. Capping the night with some indian and another round of poker, we went to bed all groaning with each injury we had earned during the day.

We have officially landed been greeted by our Ski Tour Representative and checked into our hotel. Franger and I are sharing a room and have settled in nicely.

Weather is a bit dodgy, by dodgy I mean overcast, windy and slightly rainy, but have been told there’s a real chance of this turning into snow overnight. Hopefully I will be able to update this with pics of snow outside our room tommorow night. About to head into town and do some shopping to grab some breaky for tomorrow and something to mix with the duty free we accquired.

Manged to get a few pics will append to this post as soon as I get them. Can’t wait to hit the slopes tomorrow.

Edit: We had Fergburger it was great. At this point I’d like to highlight the other people over hear with me. Franger (Ben), Snuffy (Adam), James, Josh and Emma. We played poker til about midnight I was lucky enough to win both games.

…and all through the house not a creature was stirring, except me. I’m still frantically packing it’s 3am!!!!

Actually, I’m nearly done but having trouble finding the final piece of paper to complete my travel insurance requirements should I come unstuck or worse yet stuck. Other than that my passport was where I left it last year, in a nondescript box under the bench, and is safely in my bag. Well with around 6 hours till we fly I might pack the laptop away and wish you all adios until we land in the NZ.

Veteran’s day commemorates the soldiers who served in Vietnam. As Vikki has become the local Sandgate RSL Sub Branch’s point of call on all things religious, she was asked to do a bible reading and prayer. Aptly she read from Psalm 33 and did so very well, I am so proud of her. 

After the service we joined the Veterans for a BBQ, I took grabbed a beer and while standing beside Vikki was told "at least one of you is able to have a bloody beer, even if the padre can’t". From there on out it seemed to stick, from High School Chaplain to Padre in one moment. We chatted with the Vet’s and some even showed us through the memorabilia, highlighing a photo of a strapping young soldier in service overseas during the Vietnam war, this soldier was then pointed out to us being across the crowded room chatting to his mates. We had a good time talking with them and it seems padre Vikki has a few more events lined up already.

I snapped a few pics of the event, Vikki, the Vets and this neat cannon.

Well it’s happening again, I plan to throw my self down a few mountains in the pristine wilderness that is New Zealand. It’s a few days before I leave and there’s lots to do. Mainly find my passport, it always seems to be about now that I think of these things. Similarly late on my list of objectives is to spend time exercising and prepare for the physical battering my body is about to receive. Oh well, why worry about what you can’t change.

I leave in 5 sleeps, on the 8:30am Tuesday flight to NZ and I can’t wait.