Ruapehu Ski Trip

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RUAPEHU SKI TRIP. 30th. June. Of course it was raining as we left Wellington on Friday night and it didn't improve as we went on either. At Mangaweka we picked up 3 bods whose car was over a bank - that area certainly is kind to motorists. Other than that our trip was uneventful and at 5a.m. we pulled in at the Motor Camp where the more natural types rolled over to sleep until a respectable hour while the four keen types in the party rushed off with ski to see what the prospects for the week-end were. (Stan's suggestion of course.) Unfortunately, as we soon discovered, there weren't any prospects, Walter had decided "No ski for hire" - dear old Walter I probably felt the need of a holiday. All > this time the weather was steadily groving wiorse and by the time we reached the Hutt Valley Hut where we were staying I was thinking that this was going to be a great weekend for our Poker fiends I that's how bad the outlook was. However, I was mistaken. The weather didn't daunt Stan, Hori and Old Rice (Vhat's the diff. between Old and othér Rice? - Sub. Ed.) who were just setting out with boards as we arrived to see what condition the Yankee Slalom was in. After a much sought for brew (the first for the day at 10.30 a.m.) bods dispersed in various directions some to look the Tararua Hut over, others to do a spot 1t climbing while the less enterprising remained indoors and played Table Tennis. We soon learnt that the Yankee Slalom was in quite a mess - this from Hori who wandered in with one board in two pieces. (My, old P.H. sure does get careless with his ski.) Saturday night there was the usual poker school while those of higher intellect (or lesser money) played 500. Sunday morning saw Stan skating around on his boards on a patch of ice with bods hanging around expecting him to break something. The time goes very quickly and so we all left Ruapehu secretly hoping that next time there really will be a ski trip. Just by way of variation we came home through Wanganui - "five miles shorter" = the driver tells us - anything for a quiet life. We dined at Wanganui and then Home-James making Wellington from Levin in an hour and a half, that was of course not stopping at Terry's. Thosebn the trip weres- Leader, Stan Kinder, Viv Clendon, Colleena Dalmer, Graeme Hall, Bill Rice, Dick Archer, M. Bruce, Tom Lawton, Denis Allison, Barrie O'Donnell, Max Martin, Jack Jessop, Rod Milne, Des Manning, Paul Philiips, M. Markam, Jack Whitsitt, Dick Noble, Mary Willett and Pam Skelton. P.S. (NOT a Postcript = Sub.Ed.)