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| Ski Bunny Frances |
After another huge breakfast we braved the drive back up the mountain to the
ski fields. This time it was a little less scary, but still uncomfortable. The
Nissan Tiida is not the best car or this sort of driving as it appears to have
a constant velocity auto gearbox that constantly hunts for the right gear
ratio, and with only 2 wheel drive is totally dependent on the front wheels for
grip and control.
The morning snow was a
little icy again and so we took it easy or the first hour. Frances
had a ski class at 11, but this time she shared it with a beginner
which was less helpful for her. Nonetheless, her skiing has improved and she's
more confident and relaxed on the skis. I'm about as average as usual. Our legs
were feeling the effects of the day before, and we agreed that skiing 2-3 days a
year isn't enough to keep our skills (or muscles) in tone.
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| At the carpark/cafe |
Around lunchtime we caught up with Mark and Lorraine
at the cafe and enjoyed a couple of the home-made soups (Mushroom and Walnut
& Pumpkin, Coconut and Ginger). The staff were really friendly and helpful,
quite a change from other ski fields we've been to, so whether it was hiring
equipment, riding the chair lit or ordering food, there was always the
opportunity of a chat. Also, the music being played was fantastic. Instead of
the 'Bali playlist' of popular hits (a la 2WS) it was a
mix of reggae, dub and chill or dance music. Sometimes it was hard to leave the
base station/cafe if a good track was playing.
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At the top of the Towers blue run,
just before the 'drop off'' |
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Enjoying a pre-dinner drink and chat
with Mark and Lorraine |
In the afternoon we just enjoyed skiing and exploring
different paths down the slope. We skied for a while with Mark who is quite a
good skier, picking up some tips and improving our skills. I took a couple of
big tumbles, but it was my own fault, getting either over-confident or losing
concentration. By around 3pm we were
getting pretty tired, and Frances
headed for the cafe. I did one more 'clean' run before calling it quits and
heading back down that mountain road for the last time. Back at the lodge, we
headed straight for the hot tub for some relief and relaxation (and writing)
before dinner.
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| Moonrise over the mountains |
The surrounds of the lodge and lake are quite spectacular.
This evening, after the hot tub and a short rest, we watched the moon rise over
the eastern mountains.
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| Moonrise detail |
Although it's a bit expensive staying at ski lodges, the
convenience of proximity to ski fields and full catering (dinners and
breakfast) plus the scenery make it worthwhile. A group of
extreme skiers were also staying at the lodge, leaving (noisily) each morning to be
helicoptered to remote ski fields to compete and be filmed. They could have
stayed anywhere within the vast ski fields, but the location and cuisine were a significant
attraction of Ohau Lodge.
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Smoked Beef Fillet with Pickled
Green Tomatoes |
The menu tonight (skip this part if you like) consisted of
an entree of Cauliflower and Parmesan Soup, mains of either Manuka Smoked
Chicken Breast
with Spring Onion Salsa
or Smoked Beef Fillet with pickled green tomatoes, each accompanied with Potato
Thyme Rosti, Spice Roasted Carrots, Celeraic Puree, Kale and a Red Wine Jus. Dessert
was a Pear and Almond Tart with Blueberry and Pear Coulis & Whipped Cream.
As you can see, some thought has gone into the menu and it is one of the
attractions of staying at this lodge.
Everyone on our table settled on the Beef (although
they did provide an un-smoked version for me) which was cooked to perfection. This
night we had a NZ Nelson Pinot Gris, which suited both the entrees and the main
- there was none left to sip with dessert.
