Veronica's blog: Birthday Celebrations

Here we go! I have grown up, officially. I am meant to have a glorious career, two kids and seen the entire world by now, but things take a bit longer than what you expected when you were half as old.

The start of the third decade was celebrated with a tramp up in Arthur's Pass to Sudden Valley from Hawdon Shelter by the road end. We brought lots of nice food for maximum gluttony.

The tramp was very nice and offered soaking wet feet after at least 50 river crossings! Snow melt from an earlier southerly storm made the water freezing. The track follows the Sudden Valley river and after 3 hrs we reached some beautiful water falls. At this point I was wondering how the heck we were expected to walk up the waterfalls. Charlie, who is the map and route planning master (when he wants to) realised that the track actually circumnavigated the big falls and that we had wondered 30 min too far up the river.

We were stoked to find ourselves completely alone in the two person Sudden Valley Biv (pappa, det betyder liten stuga:-). That was a great birthday gift in itself!

Birthday Celebrations in Craigeburn

I invited a bunch of friends to celebrate my birthday in Craigeburn the following weekend. I rented a large lodge from my old employer, Charlie's present. Landcare's research station is located in the beeach forest close to walking tracks, mountain biking , rock climbing and lots more.

I was impressed to see 18 people gathered to go mountain biking (2 people are out of the picture if you are counting). It was not the fastest ride, since we all waited for each other along the way, but it was absolutely the most social ride I have ever been on.

Patrick, the mad Irishman on fire

At the top of Helicopter Hill. From the left: me, Clare, Ruth, Maaike, Simone, Jo and Berit.

A few ambitious souls pushed/carried the bike to the top of Helicopter Hill to get a cool down hill ride to the Lyndon saddle.

A glorious day to feel on top of the world

Paul with a big smile

Ruth and Mark having fun

Back in the hut, we had yummie punch followed by a massive pot luck dinner with mussels (thanks Warwick), pickled herring (of course), salads, delicious bread, dips and spreads for Africa, and lots more.

Berit, the one of the dessert experts at the party, had made a unbeatable chocolate cake with candles for me to blow out. Apparently you are meant to blow out all candles except for the number of current boyfriends you have. Charlie looked a bit worried when I almost left two, and looked relieved when I finally was down to one.

It was great that Dennis was able to take a break from DIY work on his house an join us. Joe and Caspar got someone to compete with the following day on the bike. Joe is carbo loading on the picture below.

Paul and Warwick in good spirit

Earlier during the day,Charlie spotted a tiny door by the ceiling in the common area and pondered whether it was a door for a large cuckoo clock. Well, came quarter to midnight Caspar crawled up through the door and hid until it was time for the cuckoo clock dutie. Mikkel (not a small man) also somehow managed to squeeze himself next to Caspar. No enough desert, I think...