Day 6: Fan-bloody-tastic

Great weather - sunny, light breezes, mild temperatures. Just perfect.

The boys did a run with us first thing in the morning (Jos and I managed to squeeze a second one in) before they had their two hour lesson, starting at 10:20. JD and I went off and did our thing, and then met the boys after their lesson, and had some lunch.

Turns out Ky had managed to miss his turnoff, and went down to the bottom of Whitestar, albeit with the assistance of one or more members of staff. I haven't quite got the details straight, but he seemed to do okay.

After lunch, I took Jos across to Captains, and then down the Whitestar lift runs. I think I've found my new ski partner. He did really well, and after each section of the run, he had a goofy grin on his face, and declared it "exciting" or "exhilarating" or just plain "fun". JD and Ky trundled up and down the McDougall lift and runs, Ky proving that he's better than he thinks he is.


We came off the snow around 3pm (JD did one extra run, while the boys did a loo run), and then we trudged back down to the car. We left only ten minutes later that yesterday, but our car spot was 150+ cars worse - a long trudge up, and later back down, the hill. (The kids took the shortcut back to the car.)

We watched, but didn't follow - we had to carry the skis back around.

We got back to Wanaka around 4:30ish, and had cuppas/hot chocolates/coffees as appropriate, and then got changed into our togs for a soak in the spa. It was a chilly dash there and back (100m), but the soak itself was lovely and helped loosen up some tight calves and thighs and hips. A quick warm shower after the nippy walk back, and another cuppa.

We have now just returned from dinner at The Landing. A pleasant enough bar/restaurant on the first floor of the building overlooking the corner of the two main lakeside streets. I haven't had three courses in a long time, but the roasted cauliflower and blue cheese soup was too good to pass up. For mains, I had the slow-roasted lamb with kumara pie, served with "crushed peas" (leek, fresh peas, garlic, roughly chopped and warmed). I really didn't need dessert after that, but was talked into having their tiramisu, which was indeed very good (with much more coffee and alcohol than mine). But I am now very full.

The warm restaurant after the full day's skiing and early start had the kids almost asleep on our shoulders, and they're now in bed. If they're not asleep already, they very soon will be. As will I - I'm knackered.

A sleep-in tomorrow, then pack up and hit the road around 10am. Lindis Pass is open so we'll take the inland route via Lake Tekapo and the Mt John observatory. Dinner with my aunt and uncle in Christchurch tomorrow night, and then catch up with my cousin and her family on Wednesday morning. We fly out mid-arvo, arriving back in Melbourne around 5:15pm, if everything goes to schedule.