New Year in the Mountains

Rather than rub it in back home with yet another Sydney New Year's eve fireworks party we decided to head to the mountains. Like the european alps, the Snowies are pretty popular across the summer months, with lots of outdoor sports up in them hills. A large group of friends had decided to venture up, booking a well-regarded local restaurant for new year's eve, 20 of us in all. We stayed in a small chalet close to town with Dave & Vic, friend's of R's from Canberra. Others were scattered around town in apts and chalets.

Having never been to the Aussie mountains in summer it was a fantastic experience, the scenery, air, weather, everything, reminded me of our trips as a family to France in the summer - mum & dad & sis walking, me being a psycho on my bike! Unfortunately (fortunately) as I've got older my bike antics have approached the mundane, however that didn't detract from a couple of great rides.

The second ride was up to a hut a fair ways in - a large group embarked on the trip. The mixed ability group made for a pretty pleasurable trip. The weather was warm, the up and down hills challenging and general banter motivating! See some of the pictures for the views... new year walking etc , breathtaking is the only description. The great thing, as you're off the beaten track, you hardly see a soul, adding to the remoteness and spectasity (word!?)

Amongst the biking, was tennis, walking, eatin' and drinkin'. Having been limited by my beloved other half to only 3 sports a day (spoilsport), it was a balancing act i can tell you! One of the best walks was up to Kosciuszko - the highest point in Australia. Even in summer, as the photos attest to, there is snow up there. So thats where we ventured on New Year's Day. We wimped out and got the chairlift up the first bit, but the walk the remainder of the way was about right considering our post NYE state, me also a little too heavy having attempted a cheesecake overdose ... see later.

The weather started to close in a little, so the views weren't as spectactular as they could have been, but we made it, fairly easily, across all the way to the top. Pretty cool really. Its quite weird seeing snow in summer in Australia (stop press: snowed in Victoria Feb 4th - bizarre!), only one snow ball though... and it was a bit more ice than snow. The wind chill was quite a shock, all glad we'd taken thermal type layers for sure!

All this though, was centered around an evening at a local restaurant that allowed us to obtain two tables for the large group we were, to enjoy a fantastic meal, some Origami, excessive wine and cheesecake... lots of cheesecake! The food was really good, apetizers, entrees the works - and pretty top notch. These courses were interspersed with Cookie's beau, Claudia, doing the most amazing things with paper, including how to blow a frog - miraculous!

Unfortunatley the evening deteriated post the "awards" led by "Led", who was making the most of the unfortunate trips taken on my most of the sailors present, most of whom had attempted this year's Sydney to Hobart race. Some how the delicious cheesecake desert had not been finshed by all, the result was the classic, late in the evening dare, with lots of left over food... it was I have to admit a rediculous notion that I thought I could consume the equivilant of 1 kg of cream cheese. However I might add, that the rules were changed mid way through, imposing a time limit as mid-night approached, which really made the whole thing a little rediculous... but I might add, there was over 100bucks in the pool at that point ... I did give it a good go! Midnight, regardless of my persuit of cheesecake overdose, was ushered in with the customary cheering, champaign toasting and group wide hugs 'n' kisses. They say a picture says a thousand words, some of these certainly do.... nye celebration

So it was with heavy heart that we departed on the Sunday, with a long drive back to Sydney, with a well needed mid-way stop in Canberra to catch up with Rochelle's parents (although only one in residence this time), dip in the pool, bit of a read, catch up on the boxing day cricket day test, and then homeward bound... back to the beach.