A bike ride and reminder that Christmas is around the corner - 29th Nov

We got up and had a leisurely breakfast; our first fry up since leaving the UK, made by Susie (Susie and Alan own the B&B). We then published a blog and went for a drive.

We took a drive up to the ski-field, apparently the largest ski-field in not only New Zealand but the Southern hemisphere no less. It was obviously empty as it is way into Spring here, but it afforded great views of both the town of Ohakune and Mount Ruapehu. We then went part way down the road and went for a nice walk.

The trip's first citing of this type of sign, they are
less frequent than you think.

We had arranged to go on a bike ride in the afternoon, along the Old Coach Road from Horopito to Ohakune. Susie and Alan had arranged it and we seemed to be the first from their B&B to do it.

It was an undulating 2 ½ hour mountain bike ride that took in some great scenery, across a railway and over a disused train bridge that was the site of the first commercial bungy jump operation. The route itself had been opened by the NZ Prime Minister a short time ago and apparently despite this there is still contention on whether it is allowed to cross the railway or not.

Start of the Old Coach Road

No bungy jumps nowadays

We got back to Ohakune and went to the pub for a couple of pints and some food with Susie, Alan and the bike-rental owner Darren.

By the time we left the bar it was dark but still warm. As we travelled back to the B&B we got a reminder that Christmas was around the corner. Despite it not being December yet the owner of this house was busy getting the decorations out and simultaneously demonstrating that some Kiwi's are just as crazy when it comes to Christmas as people in Britain.

It left Emma and I contemplating how strange Christmas is going to be in the heat and away from our family and friends.