Friday special: since Angela doesn't blog on Fridays, I'm going to use that gap to publish some archive blogs that were started but never finished. Here's the first one - our 2023 snow fest in Wānaka with Elly, Tom and Andrew.
Friday 18 Aug 2023 - Early morning Wellington to Christchurch
Up early for a 4am uber to the airport. Our Christchurch flight had gorgeous views on the way down Te Wai Pounamu.
Mike had to work, I hung out with Toby and Tessa. That was much more fun.
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Moxley helps with the packing |
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Haere ra, Poneke |
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Kia ora, Kaikoura |
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There is BBQ lunch and darts at the Christchurch office on a Friday |
Saturday 19 Aug 2023 - Christchurch
We were up and about to get a few messages done in Christchurch. But first, coffee at Coffee Culture Bush Inn, near Toby's old flat.
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Are you taking my photo, Mike? |
We hit the little ghetto of outdoor shops on Clarence St. Put my skis in for a wax and edge at Torpedo7 - and they gave Mike, for free, the missing mounting parts from his new snowboard bindings. Mike bought some second-hand skis just for peak to pub in September.
We headed back to Ilam to collect Toby and Tessa. Mike's mission was to sell off some old snow chains that came from Wānaka ages ago and had been kicking about in Toby and Tessa's garage. He got them photographed and listed on Trademe, then we were off to to Little Merchants, Tessa's second favourite cafe.
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We didn't sell these chains from 'Parsons Chain Co Ltd, Stourport, England' - they were old, and small, and hard to fit. Mike didn't actually want to lumber anyone with them! |
Over to cafe. They were short staffed and let us know up front we might be in for a wait. No problem! It was lovely to sit and chill. The owner came over to chat. She recognized Mike from past visits. So we all said hello. She asked our names. And as we left, she came out to wave goodbye and said goodbye to each of us by name.
There was an Open Home at the Town houses across the road which distracted us. Barnaby the salesman showed us around. 3 bedroom. Garage. Three stories. $850k - or $640 rent a week. If we were in the market, that seemed pretty good. And the cafe just across the road is amazing!
Went to some op shops to find a denim jacket for Mike for his Ken outfit. Went to three in Sydenham but no luck. Found one at paper Princess in town.
Then Tessa went to get changed for her work. We met her at Coffee club at Northlands mall. Enjoyed a drink then headed to King of Snake for dinner with Toby and Mike while Tessa went to work.
King of snake was so good. Small plates. Larger plates. I ordered a vegetarian main. The boys ordered chicken kung pao. Hot.
When the first (sharing) course came, she gave me mine separately and said it was a vegetarian one with no fish sauce, and gave the boys two others with fish sauce. That was customer service right there because I never said I was vegetarian. And all our food was so good.
Back to drop Toby off and the first snow chains customer appeared. Home to the Coachman Motel to watch Sweden v Australia on play off for third in the football.
Sunday 20 Aug 2023 - Christchurch to Wānaka
Slept well. Packed up and into the van, got to the airport well in time to collect Andrew off his 9.30am flight.
Drove down SH1 and inland south of Raikaia. We stopped at the famous Fairlie bakehouse for pies. My Vegetable pie was good but they used too much Carrot for my liking. Mike and Andrew were similarly unimpressed - pies were good but not 'let's drive for hours across the motu and stand in a long queue for pies' good. We listened to the Royal Navy band outside the bakery for a tune or two.
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Will it be worth the wait?? (not really) |
We drove through Lindis pass on gorgeous weather. A detour down to Cromwell, to fill at at Z. Then to Wānaka. I reckon the detour only added 50 minutes.
We went to get our ski passes sorted, and some rental ski boots for Andrew.
My goggles are not long for my face. The lens is crazed and the foam is deteriorating. I looked about for new ones but didn't quite commit.
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Are you taking my photo AGAIN? |
Off to meet Elly and Tom who had driven all the way down from Wellington. Elly had booked our accommodation at 23 Makomako Rd. It's a beautiful house - new, well appointed, warm and spacious. We cooked the pies from west coast pies for tea. I prepped the slow cooker with Andrew and then stayed up to watch the football final - England v Spain. Spain totally owned England. Totally. They won 1-0 and England were lucky to get away with that scoreline. Midnight saw me finally off to bed and reading for a bit.
Monday 21 Aug 2023 - Treble Cone
Up at 6, scrambled eggs for breakfast courtesy Andrew, and lunches made courtesy me.
We left at 7.39am but got to the main road and Mike realised we'd left the van chains behind in our house. So back to get those. Finally away by 7.55am. Up on the car park at treble by 8.30.
Gorgeous weather. Sunny. Slight cold wind. I lost all the ski buddies immediately but was happy skiing Triple treat all day. 18 runs. 2 on main St. I'm getting my ski mojo back!
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Tom surveys the view |
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Elly hits the face opposite Saddle. Wonderful. |
Finished just before 4pm. The drive home was easy. The house was so hot after the all day sun. Slow cooker seemed to work. I cooked up potatoes to with it and we ate it all down.
Elly made bread and muffins. She's amazing. Made it look effortless.
Off to bed early (now the football has finished!) and had a great sleep.
Tuesday 22 Aug 2023 - Treble Cone again
Rinse and repeat. Mike made eggs. Andrew made the lunches. We ate Elly's bread under the eggs. Delicious.
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Treble cone looking MINT as we set off |
Left at 7.38am. In the car park at treble at 8.20am. Less people today. Sunny and warm. I Skied triple treat them went to the saddle with the others. I slowed Raffle's run all day there. We didn't see much of Tom and Elly. Andrew skied a few things around the saddle. We had lunch at the top at 11.30.
At 2 pm Mike and I met up with Allyson and Elaine and rode the chair up. They went to climb up to the view. Mike and I went back to the home basin and I tried main street. But i got scared on the steep bit. So we had a hot chocolate then did a few runs on triple.
Back to the van at 2.50 pm to chill. We watched the two local kea fly around checking things out that caught their fancy.
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Snacks at the cafe on the mountain |
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Kea! |
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Back a bit... a bit further you're ok... STOP |
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Rowdy folks in the back |
Wednesday 23 Aug 2023 - Treble Cone #3
Another Treble cone day, I did my longest vertical metres of the week, 9500m. I also ventured over to the saddle for a few runs down Raffles. But after losing sight of the others, went back to home basin to continue there.
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The face behind the Saddle is still fantastic, but as it softens it's definitely snowboard heaven and ski purgatory |
After our day we headed to Cardrona pub to see Allyson and Elaine, then back home via supermarket for lasagne soup. [lasagne soup?! - ed]
Thursday 24 Aug 2023 - Cardrona
Cardrona day. $170 a pop for a day pass. Ouch. We bought them the night before as they've been maxing out lift passes and not selling more each day this week.
Away by 7.25am and on the Valley View car park just after 8am. The lift didn't open until 8.30 so we got coffee and slowly got ready.
Up for a run or two on Whitestar then Captain's opened so we headed over there. After a few runs, the others went to check out Willow and I stayed on Captain's.
I met Elaine and Allyson on the piste. Did s few runs with them then followed them back over via Queenstown return. They did Willow. I rode McDougalls back over to Captain's.
Mike and Andrew found me just after midday and we did a few runs together. Then had lunch along Queenstown return. We climbed a little up through deep soft snow to some schisty rocks and enjoyed delicious Wraps and a view over Queenstown.
I did a few runs on Willow with Mike and Andrew, then headed back to the main field - McDougall's, Whitestar, down Valley View. At the van at 3.10pm after a much needed toilet stop.
The others got back at 3.45 and we were soon down the hill. Got to Hunter Crescent at 4.30 on the dot for a property inspection. The house looks good. We met the Argentinian cousins as well as Heidi the new property manager.
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Apres ski boissons et hors d'oeuvres |
Friday 25 Aug 2023 - Back to Treble Cone
It's a Treble cone day - we were up the mountain early and on the chair by 8:30am. And back in the cafe by 9:00am as it was extremely 'firm conditions'.
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Mike got Wordle in ONE |
I Skied triple treat again as conditions slowly softened. Met Mike and Andrew for lunch at the little cafe at the top of main street.
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Lunch |
Wandered over to saddle chair and did cloud 9 but it was a little steep for my liking. Nice soft snow though. Found side saddle and did that a few times.
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Chatting away to my lift-mates, oblivious to the paparazzi |
I finished with a couple of runs down the top of Main Street and the bottom of Triple Treat and was done by about 3:45pm.
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Andrew in the classic Treble Cone view |
Back to Wānaka to drop rental boots off for Andrew then off to the Wānaka food carts. They were so busy. We ended up waiting for Noodles across the road from the main collection, which were delicious. Andrew bumped into a colleague there.
We wandered back using a much faster route courtesy of Google Maps, and early to bed again.
Saturday 26 Aug - Running and Biking in Wānaka
Non ski day. Mike did park run from that Wānaka tree with Elly and Tom too. Andrew and I walked into town to meet them.
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READY ... SET ... |
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GO |

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Tom is flying
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Mike checking his pace |
Went to Scroggin cafe for a delicious brekkie. Elly and Tom packed up and left, heading to the West Coast to stay with some friends. Bye Elly! Bye Tom! It was a great snow week and so much fun with your company.
We hired 3 pedal mountain bikes from Bike Lounge to entertain ourselves for the day. Headed out to outlet and down the start of the clutha just past Albert Town. Then back behind Mt Iron. Into Wānaka township and out to the point behind that Wānaka tree and back.
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Classic Wānaka view |
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Biking down the Clutha |
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That Wānaka tree |
We covered 30 km in 4 hours, at a cost of $30 each for a half day rental. Good value.
Drove down to b.effect brewery for free ride ski videos on their big screen, some very nice food, and some craft beers for Mike and Andrew. Good reports from them!
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Yep, my turn to drive |
Back home to continue watching more free ride ski videos on YouTube then off to bed.
Sunday 27 Aug 2023 - Wānaka to Christchurch to Wellington
A lazy start to our last day. Packed up, tidied house, off at 9am.
We stopped for coffee at Tarras at a really nice cafe and bought a book on farming in Lindis Pass - Snow on the Lindis.
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On the road |
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Hey what you doing? |
Made it to Christchurch by 2.30pm with one more stop at Geraldine for fuel. Went to Poms for early tea. Steph and Sam arrived. Enjoyed bar snacks then a meal.
Tessa dropped us at Christchurch airport, then Sally dropped us home from Wellington airport. Thank you Tessa and Sally! Cats were scared there were strange people coming in at 11pm but they quickly came for a head butt to say hello, here are my errant kittens back again from long ago.