K's birthday treat in Ohakune

We were going to get up at 5.30 this morning to be driven up a mountain, then walk 19 km with the highest point 1900 m. Hopefully you are picked up at the other end and driven home. It was rained off today so K had to be happy with a new belt (he says he is losing weight) and a choice of cake from the cafe, the only shop having closed because of an electrical fault. Took a walk in the morning and a drive up to the ski slope in the afternoon. We could see nothing as we were driving through cloud. Fortunately we could see the warning signs for bends and we have worked out that a 65 can be taken at 85km, a 55 at 65, and a 15 is more or less a u turn which means slow. Driving down was worse, E was happy that it was not winter and icy. This place is a ski resort which means that the cost of our motell chalet is about 300kr and it is for 6 people. So far the cost of living in a hostel or motell has been less that what living at home costs. That is expected to change after christmas when most of N Z go on hliday.