Queenstown

Ok lets try this again. There's so much missing from this blog that it makes me not want to carry on, but for once I do have a good internet connection, so no excuses, I just need to get on with it and bring it up to date.

Ive been in Queenstown for about 5 days now I think, it was pretty cold here when I arrived and I signed up for a 3 day ski pass on Coronet Peak, the only open ski run at moment. In fact it only opened last week and they may have jumped the gun a bit. I got one days skiing in on somewhat icy slopes and then the temps went up and they havent been able to make any more snow since. So everyone in town is pissed off because we all bought the same pass and are sitting around waiting on the snow and complaining about how nice the weather is!

My first day back on a snow board since I learnt back in January in Utah. I have to say falling off in Utah didnt hurt anywhere near as much as it did here. My first run on the easy slope and I landed on my ass so hard I sat there for a minute seeing stars thinking, "to hell with this, im jacking this lark in now". but I soldiered on and did another run and wouldnt ya know it came off again even harder right down on the same cheek! ouch. Im still feeling that 4 days later.

Decided maybe I needed some refresher lessons and since they were included in the package I wondered over to the group after uncomfortably sitting on my poor ass for some lunch. The lessons were just what I needed and I had a great time for the rest of the day, carving it up with some great views.

Ive not been totally idle while waiting on the snow, since the weather is so nice, its made for some great mountain biking. the first day I rode the gravel road that climbs up behind the Gondola. From here its all serious downhill mountain biking. it took about 35 mins to climb the road and 10 mins to descend on the tracks. So i did it twice!

The next day I headed further out of town to ride at some man made mountain bike tracks. this is about 7 miles down the by edge of the lake, but even with the lake as a guide I got so very lost. Its so densely tree covered and the mountains are so step that your in shade most of the time. You cant see the sun, because at this latitude the sun is already low behind the mountains. I was getting cold and hungry and it was really getting dark. Just as I was cursing my frustration at the useless map from riding in a total circle for the last 30 mins, some guy shows up and shows me the way out. phew. The next day I went out there again and had an awesome ride. Ran into the same guy but this time he was chopping wood. Turns out he is Irish and he and his wife moved out here 10 years ago when they bought some land. They paid $140,000 for 2 lots which now with the house are worth 3.5 million. not bad! But again how can anyone afford to buy into the market now.

There that wasnt so bad, now I need to go back and add a few more posts from previous locations.