Work hard, Play harder….

It's been a few weeks now since our last blog.. So we thought we do just do a little update and let everyone know what we have been up too.

We are both settling in nicely into work and we are busying up now as we go into our summer months here in New Zealand. I have had a very nice surprise with moving up the ranks to manager of the store now! So it will be a nice challenge to take on a new managerial role in a different country.. Something for me to get my teeth into over the next 12 months.

Routburn Track profile. 

Gem enjoying the trek!

Since our last blog we have been exploring a bit more in the mountains and trails. We planned to take on the world famous 'Routeburn Track' 32km in distance, most people take 3-4 days to complete the route each way. We were attempting to complete it in one day then the following day do the return leg of 32km.. Little did we know 3 days before we had some heavy down pore of snow in the mountains and unfortunately this stopped us at Lake Harries (Half way on the route) due to high risk of avalanches, the DOC office here in New Zealand had closed the track down that morning over the saddle path for every ones safety. Full of disappointment we decided to take out out stoves and had a break in the snow next to the lake with Ian and Izzy who had joined us on our trek… After a small break we decided to hike back to the 'Flats Huts' and find a camp spot for our tents and settle down for the night. The following day the weather was amazing and a total change to the previous days therefore we decided to hike to the summit of 'Mt Alfred' what was a nice steep trek through the tree line before heading onto a scree scramble followed by a track to the final summit where we was rewarded with amazing 360degrees views..

Not a bad view at all… 

Recently we have been really getting into our MTB on the lower trails around town and decided to buy some bikes, saves on renting them each week. And are going to use them as strength training and hopefully stay injury free for a year! In previous years I have over raced or trained to much and upset my bad hamstring and really want a year of full running! Not missing 2-3 months with injury.. (Fingers crossed)

Mixing the training up on the local trails.

Last week was the week where Gem had decided to try and kill me off and get me to bungy off a bridge into the river between a canyon. Sounds simple? no not for us, the day final arrived after trying to jump 3 times previously but was un able due to weather and the fast flowing water in the river we were 4th time lucky! Neither was as nervous this time round until we actually saw the bridge, once we had both set our eyes on the bridge you could tell neither of us wanted to be there anymore! But we had committed to jumping and had to now.. There was only us two jumping that morning so everyone who was about was looking at us eagerly to see how we got on. I decided to go first and get it over and done with, not sure it was the right choice but off I went. I was ok getting tide up ready and fine when I stood on the platform but as soon as I shuffled out to the end of the platform my heart went in my mouth and froze for a second… But after a little hesitation and thinking I've paid good money for this I found the courage to dive off into the river below. What was a huge shock as I had a full body dunk in this cold river, luckily it was a nice warm day to help matters. The jump lasted longer than I thought it would, but I way laying in the boat at the bottom thinking thank god its over! I won't be rushing into another one put it that way but I'm glad I did it. It pushed me way outside my comfort zone and was really challenging but it's good to see sometime what you really can make yourself do.

Putting on a show for the crowd… 

Gem was up next and again only really felt it when we shuffled out to the end of the platform ready to jump. Same as me after a little hesitation managed to throw her self off into the water and it was over.. Well after screaming a few times!

All smiles before the jump.

That about covers everything for now.. We are going to have a lot more adventures to share next time with the summer fast approaching! And the weather getting better.

Thanks for reading..

Paul and Gem x