The Book of Ashes

First day skiing for the year... 3:09AM

And it was. We awoke nice and early, all excited for the possible skiing adventure. I had my first shower of the trip and so nice and refreshed we ate breakfast. The others took a little longer to get up but eventually we got the report that the conditions were excellent and everything was open. We set off for petrol, gear and then up the hill. Now having a season pass all I had to pay for was $20 for ski's, boots and poles. Pretty sweet. It was good gear too. I had brand new boots, never before wore.

Ohakune is so close to the ski field. After a short drive up the road through trees and snow all along the side of the road we reached a queue. The cars had been stopped while they put grit on the road. I was too excited and could see the mountain off in the distance, beckonning for me. It had sooo much snow on it. I kept getting hungry and had to eat another musalie (spelling?) bar and open my packet of lollies. Finally we got going again and after putting chains on the car reached the ski field.

It was a perfect day. Not a cloud in the sky to start with, virtually no wind and not that many people there compared to what it could be. I was stoked. The snow was good with lots of good powdery stuff higher up. I started off on the lower chair lifts but eventually progressed right up to the top ones. I quickly regained my old skills and was hooning down the slopes with all the elegance I could muster. I had the best day. The Aussies spent the day on the learners slopes, picking up snowboarding for the first time. Kiwi Kate & Meads came skiing with me but I left them behind half the time, opting for the bigger slopes instead. I didn't crash much but managed to get a ski caught in the ground while hopping on a chair lift and it fell off. They sent it up soon after tho. So eventually the day was over and we came down. I wasn't sore at all, nor that tired but the others were pretty worn. I was to discover what that was like the next day. We heard tell though of a heated pool at the PowderKeg so we went there. For $6 we swam lazily in warm steaming waters with a bridge over top and plants around the edges. There were bar stools in the pool and a buzzer from which you could order beers. It was very relaxing and just what we needed. After that we went to the local fish & chip shop for a feed then back to the hostel to socialise then time for bed. The next day I planned to try snow boarding

The luge on Ashes birthday. 11:36AM

The sky seems larger out here in the country. Of course it is not, or maybe it is. Probably it is so because there are not so many hills around and you can see further.

Ok so now I hurt. There are a hundred tiny muscles in my body aching where before I thought none existed. Well I'm not that bad but it hurts to laugh. My abs have been given an intense work out and lots of little muscles on my legs and shoulders are also feeling it. Today is a beaut day in Palmy but I think I should return to my story...

Our trip to Rotorua continued on. We stopped in Taupo to check out Huka falls which was quite high then on again to Rotorua. Eventually we arrived there and stopped at the Pig & Whistle for lunch. The girls told the bar guy it was my birthday and Kate shouted me a meal. I got a chicken burger and cool pig tail chips which are all curled up and really yummy. Then every one sang happy birthday to me and the bar guy brought round a tray of shots for us which he said were bore water. They tasted like a nicer version of chartruse. So after that we headed off to the gondolas and the luge.

The gondolas where not as impressive as the ones in Queenstown (spectacular views and very steep) but the luge was awesome. We each brought 5 rides (except Aussie Kate) and started off on the easy tracks. It rocked. They were long and cool. But then on our 4th turn we went on the difficult track. It was steep and had sharp corners and then going round one, all of a sudden you were launched down a steep hill, then over a bumb and into space. It was freaky and we had to do it again but faster. Adriene came a cropper with a few scratches and bruises to show for it but the rest of us were pretty much alright.

After the luge we came back down to find that Meads car had been broken into. They had only taken a few things but that which was most important to her, her camera and bag containing personal items. She was pretty bummed as she needed the camera for her course. So after talking to security at the luge then going to the police station we headed back to Taupo. I was thankful that they hadn't broken into Kate's car, right next to Meads car which had my digital camera in the boot.

At Taupo it was now quite late so we picked up some booze and decided to flag the hot pools. I took over the driving home and we headed off. On the way both cars reached empty and we only just made it back. Kates car didn't like the cold too much either and almost conked out. We got home pretty wasted from a big day and sat around talking with the other hostel people and drinking. Tomorrow we hoped would be a better day for skiing..