Alex Michael Pringle!

Congratulations to Simone and Gareth for the late 2007 arrival of wee Alex! I talked with Gareth just before I flew out of Auckland and he told me Simone had gone into labor but to keep quiet because he wanted to call Mum and Dad only later on.

What a little cutie! We're really looking forward to seeing little Alex this December. Although it was a pity to not be around when he arrived, it was really great to see Gareth and Simone a week before hand. Probably nicer then than afterwards, as we know they would have wanted some time to themselves, just the three of them. Well.. and some very happy Grandparents!

Skiing at 40 below

Yousers, that's cold! 40 below is the point where the Celcius and Fahrenfeit scales give you the same thing. Which for most people is 'stay inside, are you kidding me?'



But it was Heike's birthday and I needed some fresh air and a blow out, so I tagged along with Heike and Ben. it was the coldest any of us had skied in I think. But we were well rugged-up and Heike's new reliable Subie got us out and back no problems. (Apart from when she nearly drive it into the bridge leaving the hot springs...)

We skied up the N. Fork of the Chena River only a mile from Chena Hotsprings. We had a soak out there when we were done, meeting up with Pat Cotter who'd been out checking his Beaver traps (nada).

A totally different kind of outing to last weekend, that's for sure. Crazy temperature swings up here in the winter. At 20 F (-5 C), its really comfortable, and you can stop and chat, enjoying the views, sun and company. At -40 C we really dressed warm, fired up the chemical hand and foot warmers, and kept moving except for stops to swings feet and hands to force the blood back into them, and the occasional photo and a few quick words. I've never worn so much, moved for two hours and not sweated.

It was an exceptionally clear, crisp day. The hint of a breeze took out breath away down valley on the way back out - for some of which we had the sun on our faces, and boy was that nice! Pretty neat to be out on the Yukon Quest dog trail too. We could follow the trail markers, although they'll need to do some work in a few stream crossings. We had to navigate some open water at one point - crazy give the temperature. It was only a few inches deep too, so we weren't in any danger although you'd not want your dogs getting cold wet feet out there.

Warm White Mountains mission

Thi weekend was an Alaska all-time high at around 32 F (0 C) at the airport. Out in the White Mountains, Fairbanksans nearby outdoor playground, it was a little colder but still a great and very welcome respite from 'normal' January weather.

A crew of us skied out and back to Lee's cabin as a day trip, and others carried on through to Eleazhar's Cabin to make a night of it. The clear skies and sunny afternoon saw the parking lot full - of skiers' Subarus, dog mushers' trucks with kennel trailers, and snow machiners' huge RVs with trailers for parking lot parties between days of powder-hounding petrol burning.



Ted's video of a dog team passing us on the trail. Turns out the musher is one of the shuttle bus drivers on campus. Bit of a novelty that his team is jingle-jangling bells. Very Christmas-like but at least you aren't surprised by them.

Kiwi Christmas

It was so wonderful to catch up with so many people and so much sunshine over our flying trip home. We were pretty slack with photos this time - it was busy enough as it was! - but there are a few snaps below.



For the most part we were based with Lisa's parents, Jan and Butch, who were marvellous hosts, as usual, despite the chaos of running heir supermarket over the silly season. With trips to Christchurch, New Plymouth, Kapiti Coast, Masterton and the Waikato, we did get around a bit, and managed to catch up with a lot of special people and places.

It was really nice that I got to see Dad's side of the family in Christchurch the week before Christmas (thanks Alister and Sue!), and Mum's side of the family on Chirstmas Day (thanks John and Kerry!). Big thanks too to Sam and Emily for letting us use their car.

The quick rundown of other highlights for me: Nick and Larissa pick-me-up and swimming in Oriental Bay within an hour of touching down; backyard cricket at Sawyer Park and retaining the Tui Cup (sweet); a few fabulous days up the Kapiti Coast at Simone's Dad's beach house catching up with Gareth, Simone, Mum, Mike and whanau (thanks so much Mike!) and our one night away together for fish'n'chips on the beach and a morning stroll and swim; hanging out and climbing with Chris at Baring Head, Whanganui Bay and Wharepapa; catching up with Marcos and Serge; the fabulous hospitality of the Phelan, Pringle, Roseveare and Banks families as well as all our friends - thank you all!

Already, it really does seem like the half a world away that it is. A fabulous trip though, and a wonderful reminder of New Zealand life and outlook, and so great to se so many friends and family. Even if all the contrasts are a bit hard to get used to right now back up in Fairbanks.

Our 'big news' is that we settled on a wedding venue for the end of December, Lisa found a dress she really likes. See a later post for Gareth and Simone's big news - little Alex arrived the day I flew out!