There has been slow, but steady progress on the mini.

Oil went into the engine today.

We cranked it over to check that there was oil pressure (there was).

Quite exciting!

David invited me to repeat the Gertrude Saddle trip today.

The forecast was perfect, and the avalanche forecast OK too, so I managed to rearrange work a bit and agreed to go. Jim Spencer (avalanche forecaster) said he would follow us as he had to get kids off to school before leaving town.

We headed out of the carpark in beautiful weather - shirtsleeves with layers in the rucsac.

For a 60th Birthday expotition, Douglas and Gethin joined me for a weekend trip into the Livingstone mountains - between Te Anau and Mavora Lakes.

There is a ridge I've been eyeing up for years - Rob and I recce'd the descent when he was over here.

The difficulty has always been the logistics; the only sensible way to start is to boat over North Mavora Lake to West Burn Hut. Going in the canoe would have been possible, but that would have left the canoe at the hut. Not what we wanted to do.

Jim kindly agreed to take us in his motor boat.

Not often you can do a bit of avalanche training without leaving home.

I haven't had a migraine for a long time.

A very long time. I don't remember when I last had one in fact.

So this one caught me off guard. I knew it was a migraine, but it was different - all the symptoms except the pain. I was reluctant to take my migraine meds for some reason (brain not functioning probably) and finally caved about 14 hours in. That was yesterday. The pain went and I was left with the familiar feeling of suddenly losing about 80 points of IQ. Brain wouldn't function. And v tired.

We had a fantastic day at the 2019 Te Anau Medieval Tournament and Banquet

Sadly Pealing's lost their Archery trophy to the Shaw's.

There are more photo's at /blogs/roo/images-medieval-tournament-2019

Had a visit to the wildlife park in Christchurch

A couple of weeks ago, the forecast for Thursday was great. Thursday is "adventure day" for local GP David & anyone who can join him.

We decided to go up Gertrude Saddle. David ski's with skins and ski crampons. I just crampon up & down.

We took Dilys - she is allowed in the National Park for SAR training & becoming comfortable in the mountains is essential.

We had stunning weather. 

The summer route heads around the east side of Black Lake. In winter straight across the lake is quicker.

For Douglas's 21st birthday, we bought him a drive in a Radical SR3.

He got 7 laps with a professional driver alongside him to coach him a little.

He thoroughly enjoyed it.

After that, Douglas, Gethin and Roo had a go in the rental karts. Gethin was (predicably) the quickest, and Roo was (predictably) slowest, but it was a lot of fun. Nicky and Papi watched !

Then we all went for lunch - Nicky's choice as it was Mother's day here in NZ.