This was a long day, A very long day. Alan was trying his best to get the better of me, but I wasn't letting him in.
Drive Christchurch to Ohau
Up at 5:30am, in Rosie and on the road. Compulsory Maccas stop on the long dull boring road to Ashburton and beyond. Once you turn off there though and get past Geraldine, this is one of the most scenic roads in the country. Rolling green hills, lambs running around and all backed by snow-covered mountains. Oh, and perfect blue skies. Check this lot out:
On past Fairlie, Lake Tekapo, Lake Pukaki (bright turquoise and views of Mt Cook) then past Twizel and finally to the turn off for Ohau. Got up to Ohau before 11 then on with the day...
Straight in, no kissing
Sarah (The Canadian) and Ramsey had already got up to Ohau, having driven up from Queenstown. Got myself ready and straight up the lift. Warm-up run? With all that powder sitting up there waiting? Nothing like a 10 min hike to warm you up then - didn't actually see anybody who wasn't hiking it! Dropped off the ridge and into barely-tracked, dry, light pow-pow. That's the schnitzel. Back up the lift and hit it again, filming the others from the bottom. Hmm, and this is where it went a bit wrong. Sarah didn't know/had forgotten about the rock minefield hidden under 10cm or so at the bottom of the freshies. Bang, crash, somersault, elbows vs. rocks, rocks win. And it's all on video. Down to Ski Patrol for some fixing up, gas and bleeding. Looking like both will need some stitches. Gutted cos that was only her 3rd run, but was a great one anyway! 
As last time, Ohau just doesn't get busy - only around 40 people there. Myself and Ramsey kept farming it out for the rest of the avo - so much terrain to play around on. So many rocks for me to hit though, my poor old Rome is done right in - seems to have some sort of very efficient rock-finding device. Managed to hit an unidentified block of stuff going off mini-hit, landed on tete and shoulder. Shoulder not good, but wasn't letting that finish me. Rode the day out then back in the car and on the road.
Ohau to Queenstown
Stopped in Omarama for plenty caffeine and stuff, then over Lindis Pass and on forever and ever. Damn this road is remote and long. So, so gutted when I got over all that to see another 91km to go 
. Arse. And a very very dark night. This is not the time to drive down Kawarau Gorge Road. Never again. Finally got to Queenstown before 8pm, followed by beers and pizza. Alan tried but not hard enough.
Ohau is so, so good. Up there with Sainte Foy on my list. All the photos are here.