Remarkably...

New Zealand's dodgy ski season saw us back to the Remarkables again yesterday for a telemark rogaine. For those who you don't know what the sports of telemarking or rogaining are, you could try Google - sheesh, do you want everything on a platter?.

For those of you who do know what they are, New Zealand telemarker and rogainer Taz Dawson has started to run a series of telemark races around the South Island and has included two short rogaine style events - the first was at Cardrona 2 weeks ago (Kieran came 3rd) and yesterday's at the Remarkables was the main event - a 5 hour telemark rogaine with controls set inside and outside the resort, most of which required some cross-country skiing or hiking to get to. We didn't do so well in this one, but we did well in the spot prizes and had a good day out in the sun and snow - complete with a bbq and beers provided at lunchtime and the finish (what a hash house!). Thanks to Taz, Aaron and the amazing sponsors Marmot, R and R sports, Black Diamond, Smith, Buff and G3...

Not many photos (too busy rogaining), but some of our exploring did take us up to the crest of the Remarkables Range, with its attendant iconic views back over Lake Wakatipu and Queenstown.





Rounded off the day last night with dinner with Christian and Alice at their local pub in Queenstown and watching the All Blacks squeak home in the dying minutes of the rugby test against South Africa from the Carisbrook Stadium here in Dunedin. Fun night before the long and late drive home.


Just trying to remember what else we've been up to in the last month....

On Kieran's birthday weekend we were up at the Remarkables (again) for the second weekend of the NZAC's basic mountaineering course - unfortunately we were both struck down with an incredibly nasty flu, so we ended up missing the second day of the course. After that we were in Wellington for a few days while Rochelle was on course. Aside from Rochelle going to the course and Kieran taking some short excursions to Te Papa (the NZ national museum) and the botanical gardens, most of the week was spent recuperating from that damned virus.

Since then we've been pottering around a bit - Kieran has picked up some temp work doing accounts for a local hospital. The tedious and awful work is reminding him how much he needs a real job, so if anyone needs a writer/researcher/translator/policy analyst/project manager, just ask for a copy of his CV. Rochelle is now working in Christchurch three days a week managing the transition of her work project to operational status and we're taking Spanish lessons in our copious spare time.

Got all that? There'll be a quiz later.

As always, if you're reading this, take 30 seconds to drop us a line (in the comments down below) and let us know how you're doing.