Christmas in June ???

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CHRISTMAS INJUNE ??? Damian Kells ne way or another we all got there. Some of us drove up from Wellington, some of us drove down from Auckland, most of us came up in the Duchess. Three clowns even cycled up in the middle of the night!! But like I said, one way or another we all got there in the end Interested? Well, "we" were a bunch of punters looking forward to: a most excellent weekend, and "there" was the club lodge on Mount Ruapehu, and this is a review oftheweekend that wasthe' "Mid Winter Christmas Dinner". For Allan, Tod, and myself it all started with a bizarre journey from Taihape to Ohakune in the middle of the night on Friday. We bivvied out at Ohakune for a few hours, then continued on to the Tee Off, Summit Plateau, Mt Ruapehu Harry Smith Lodge on Friday. As the evening went by, the rest of the The second (awesome) group of moun- certainly the highlight of my evening, it team started to turn up two by two until tain bikers was led by Steve Patience on never ceases to amaze me how old F.C. eventually Lyndsay phoned in to say the his shiny new Specialised. Our mission knew thatIwantedi four AA batteries and Duchess would be there shortly. Then at was to complete the popular Tongariro a box ofSmarties - the toilet paper was last, everyone was there and unpacked. Crossing which is one ofthel best rides 1 an added surprise. Anyway, true to his have ever done. Outstanding moments reputation, everyone got just what they Saturday dawned, there were cups oft tea included; Steve's first crash on the new wanted, except for Harry, whol had mysall round, breakfast was served, and it bike, lunch, Shane'ssubmarine-styleriver teriously disappeared not unlike the was time to go. Harry was out first with crossing, my hell crash, the final down- way Clark Kent disappears whenever a bunch of keen punters heading up to hill at the end of the ride, and the Supermani isaround! There wasno time the summit. Along with crampons and Owhango Pub. to consider this further though, as F.C. ice-axe, essential equipment included was soon racing out to his reindeer for golfclubs. Yes, don't read that sentence Meanwhile, back at the Lodge, a dedi- the return trip to the North Pole. again, golf clubs were carried to the top cated team was preparing the dinner for of Mt Ruapehu where the foundation that night'sfestivities. Decorations were Festivities continued well into the night. members of the Wellington Tramping, going up, we had a Christmas tree and These included a "friendly" game of Mountaineering, and Golf Club tee'doff evena Christmas Snowman. Bythetime Spoons and plenty of convivial beverand played back to the Lodge. Woody we all arrived back at the Lodge, the agesofdifferent shapes, sizes, andt tastes, picked up the "Men's Longest Drive", scene was set for an excellent night. excellent company, good music, and llots Tod wasawarded "thebiggests tswingand of Christmas spirit. miss", and. Josephreturneds witht thepres- As predictedther meal was superbandall tigious "nearest to the skier trophy". the credit must go to Cathy, Angela, and Sunday started slowly for most of the Francis for the best roast turkey I have punters, me included. For some reason Meanwhile, in other parts ofthe greater ever eaten. Needless to say, the grum- we had all contracted a peculiar allergy Tongariro region other Tongue & Meats bling stomachs were silencedin no time to bright light, loud noise, and rapid were on the loose. The Higgins-led at all and the only thing left to do was to movement. All too soon it was time to group of mountain bikers spent the retire to the lounge for the next surprise. clean up and head back to the city. greater partoftheday: ferreting about the back blocks of the plateau which in- Christmas just isn't Christmas without Reflecting back on the weekend, I can cluded a visit to some groovy glow- that special visitor from the North Pole see that the enjoyment everyone got out worm caves. BJ accompanied them on and we certainly weren't going to miss ofiti far outweighedthet timeande effort of the acclaimed fully-suspended Extreme out. So by special request, we were organising it. Thanks to all thej punters which replaces the Ridge Rider as the honoured by the presence of jolly old for making it the "most excellent midnew-fangled BJ-mobile. Father Christmas himself. This was winter Christmas" yet.