New Zealand - 'Remarkable' Sunday

Yep it's Sunday morning, warmer than yesterday at 7 degrees. Spring seemed to have sprung in New Zealand and today was the day I was going up 'that' road again. Oh my goodness, how had I agreed that it would be fun to ski at the Remarks again. Red wine sure gets you into trouble sometimes. Never mind we'd got there & back once, I'm sure we could do it again. So with the car loaded up with gear & our picnic lunch for 5 we were waved off by Bett & BB (was that relief on his face) and headed off once again. It was a beautiful day with blue sky and sunshine. The valley was green again as last Mondays snow had melted during the week and with the road dry & dusty (who could have imagined this last Monday) it was a great drive up. The views are magnificent and the drive if you are brave just has too be done.

On arrival at Base Camp we organised ourselves, put the boots on - I really didn't want to give them back that night by now. (When had this change taken place?) Bill & I were the only ones with lessons left so we joined our classes and away we went. On meeting up for lunch, I was able to share my good news that I could now go up the chairlift for a go at the bigger slopes. Sounds great in theory but once on the chairlift I was wondering if it was such a good idea.

After lunch and before I could chicken out my mentors, Marg, Pete O & Bill took me up the chairlift to make my debut run on a 'big hill' Ha - Chairlifts & Ski's are not meant to go together I thought as I landed on my posterior instead of skiing off gracefully like the others. My next thought as I turned the corner to where this easy run started was ' Oh my God how do I get down from here'. Well as there was no other way than to ski that's what I did, very slowly & very carefully I thought, but still managed to tumble a couple of times- gracefully of course - NOT. Still I had done it and got down from this great height in one piece as well. So what did I do then, I went back and tried again. Does the term ' slow learner' spring to mind? Never - just the most amazing thrill to be able to do this. So this time I was going to master the dismount - well almost but not quite. Still back on my feet/ski's I approached the way down again with a tiny bit more confidence but still a huge serving of terror as well. Still down we went again, falling only once this time. I decided that this was enough adventure for one day and let the others off 'Babysitting Duty' so they could get back to the real slopes. I went & joined Peter M on the deck and enjoyed the sunshine.

As it was such a mgnificent day, clear blue skies & light winds, the photographers amongst us decided it would be a good day to ride the biggest chairlift to the highest point of the mountain to get some photo's. Once you get off the chairlift you walk up a bit further to the highest peak where there is a lookout of sorts. This was done without skis & after the photo session they all rode the chairlift down. Bill & Pete O went to the lookout while Marg & Peter M went to the top of the chairlift and turned the surrounding area into NZ's highest esky. Yes that's right, little bottles of G & T & Champagne keeping cool in the snow, while the contents were being consumed by 2 very happy adventurers. Thank goodness the ski's were at the bottom, I think. And yes the photo's from there were stunning. I stayed on the deck in the sun - not ready to attempt another chairlift that day.

Once back together it was time to hand in our ski's, poles & my wonderful boots - what was I thinking. Quite a sad moment as we had had a wonderful week with them and it felt quiet strange returning to car without them over my shoulder. Still back to the hire shop tomorrow morning for a new set, this time minus lessons.

The trip down the mountain was stunning, amazing how your perspective changes when you relax. The intrepid ski party arrived home safe & sound with more tales to tell that night. After a little rest we joined Bett & BB who had been touristing once more and had the best home made soup at Marg's place. Sorry guy's no more for lunch tomorrow. Home to bed and to dream of new adventures tomorrow.

So until next time..........