Southern Turnaround

Took the ferry to Picton last Tuesday. I had in mind a wee trip to a mates who lives in Refton on the west coast. The weather report wasn't too good on the morning i left but hay if you stay at home due to forecasts you guarantee fine weather don't you?. The afternoon was a steady ride to the Wairau Valley tavern for the night. What a place open fire, empty bar, great meal and tucked up in bed by nine. (hard living hard parting traveller oh yes).


It rained hard all night and was still at it in the morning. I rugged up and pushed on into a building southerly ,it will blow out by lunch time i told my self. I made slow progress uphill and into a southerly wind , did I mention the hail I had to stop each time a hail shower hit as it was too painful to ride into it.
By eleven I was nearing Tophouse cold to the core. I stopped to shelter again when a road worker pulled up, he gave me a drink of Milo but I spilt most of it from shacking to hard. I couldn't stop from shaking, so I started looking for shelter but there is nothing there. The rain and hail was getting heaver and the water was flowing across the road in small steams. The hail would cover the road in a instant making it very icy to ride on, so I pushed on . Just around the next corner was a ford the water was too high to cross so I stopped and shook in the middle of the road dumbfounded and not wanting to admit defeat. Finally i turned around and retraced my journey back home. Lesson, "sometimes the weather reports are right"!!!

Wood Pigeon

After waiting for a service guy to come and fix our stove, and have him not arrive. I kitted up for the Knob loop. The day was cold real cold still and no rain first day since who knows when.
Climbed the same double track as Sunday, at least it was kind of dry. Up past the old cattle stop I watched a wood pigeon try and balance on a half metre high broom bush. It didn't work so It hopped about a metre up the road to the next broom bush and tried to land then perch. i almost stopped riding from laughing at the crazy birds antis. Just when it couldn't get any funner a second pigeon appeared and tried the same some times in the same bush. They were not worried about me as this was all unfolding track side. a native wood pigeon is the size of a large hen. I think they had been feeding on Miro berries in the bush across the gully this makes them appear intoxicated. the choice of a spindly broom bush as a perch for two full grown wood pigeons is and intoxicated choice.
The ride was a great 42 kms, very cold and the road return was in heavy ran yes the one day drought has broken.!!!!!!!!!

Wet Tuesday

woke this morning to heavy rain and its here for the next seven days. Fed the dogs and then had a large coffee to kick start the day. Looking south out my back door it was misty and heavy rain so coated up and load the van.
I drove to the track start and let the hounds out Henrick and lizzie two pointers one Hungarian H and one English l.
I normally mountain bike this track but after the 6hr my free hub bearings are not well, so decided to hike it.
The rain didn't stop small rivets were rushing down the edges of the path all the way to the summit. The rain was cold and wind driven most of the way.

The dogs worked their way up the track disappearing from time to time into the bush and reappearing further on. The rain had no effect on them. I walked steadily all the way to the summit , no view just perpetual rain and wind. It was stark and real the cold biting into my hands and making my nose run.
I feel alive at these times the weather humbles me and gives me greater incite into my life.
When I got home it was colder and the wind had got stronger, by the time I had dried myself and got a fire going both dogs were snoring on the mat by the hearth, some life a dogs life is.

Wainui 6hr

Entered the Wainiui 6hr last week after seeing a blog by Mike from The Bike Hutt http://www.thebikehutt.co.nz/,
Talked Richard into entering so we both entered solo. All week the weather was bad rain most days and southerly wind, Friday being wet and cold. Going to bed Friday night I wasn't hopeful for a good days riding. To my surprise and pleasure Saturday dawned warm and windless.
Picked up Richard and Wendy at 7 and we were the third car at the race, We had heaps of time to set up and sign on.
The 6hr started at 10 and was due to run until four in the afternoon. The site was wet and muddy thanks to a shitty Wellington week but the majority of the trails were great.
This was my first trip to Wainuiomata tracks but it wont be my last what a fantastic set of tracks set into the bush hills. Check out the web site for info and pics. http://www24hr.blogspot.com/ .
Had a good ride considering the short time from entering ( 10 Days). The mud was fun and this was a cool small event hope it stays this way and doesn't become a commercial crowd fest like Rotorua or Taupo.

Mushrooms and Dogs

This time of year is one of my favorites. The temperature is coming down and the days are calm and cool. All we need is some rain and the mushroom season is upon us. Started out early-ish this morning walking the dogs made a be line for the cold eastern slopes and there they were. White circles of flavour still dew covered and fresh. Only the eastern faces are bearing results as its still to warm for the other areas to flourish.
Morning early up in the hills with my dogs is just the best part of a day no one around and very little sound. The world wakes up around you but for those few early hours life is simple and all thoughts are clearer.
The dogs run harder and are more alert than in the summer its just the same for them its an exciting time of the day and year.
Road the colonial knob loop yesterday it was warm but fine drizzle for most of the trip. Found the Ohariu road track and followed it out what a cool track through farm and pines.
The loop was 42 km long but heaps of evil climbs and a few down hill walks.I road great and loved the day. Coming back for more soon weight down an other kg fitness looking good.
Cheers

Dont look back

Today I set the ball rolling to finish my current job. Ive been unhappy for a long time now with my employers direction. Not my place to question the ethics of another but a moral hurdle if I stay and become a part of it.
We have been a loggerheads for sometime now and i don't know why I stuck it out for so long. There has been a restructure and the writing is on the wall for me or more to the point my ideals.
What amazed me why I took so long to realise I wasn't one of them any longer. I'm disappointed with myself more than anyone. I pride myself in reading what is going on but I became over time blind to stupidity.
This is my thoughts and how this has been for me. It is not a judgement on actions or morality for we have different motivations and reactions to life.
So I'm angry at myself for entering into this moral dilemma whereby I was asked to pit myself against my workmates and or friends.
This thinly veiled excuse for a downsize is morally corrupt where the company asks you to justify your position then judges you against your fellows for no better reason than reducing the work force.
I fort hard to make myself do this and am now ashamed that I entered into the folly. My one and dominating thought during the process was how to face the ones the company dreamed not worthy of continued employment. I was genuinely worried for my friends during the whole charade as many of them needed the job more than me some have young children some have mortgages and others have carrier plans hanging on the hope of continued employment. I nearly didn't compete but some thing stopped me I now wish with all my heart I had listened to my inner voice as it was right.

I look in the mirror and am happy with who I am warts and all for I now know my moral dignity was challenged for a real reason and I feel happy with who walked out the other side.
But I am still ashamed I let myself get drawn into the vicious game of proving my worth to fools.

To sum it up Im going to resign more to the point Ive asked for a leaving package and i will get this next week.
Im excited with the prospect of a new life and the challenges it brings the weight has been lifted and Im off. Yes Yes Yes.
No looking back now.

Firewood

No training to day as it was firewood day. Well one of the many wood days needed to heat the house for the winter. I'm lucky as the green keeper at the local golf course gives me all his trimmings and wind falls, being in the windy city we get plenty.
Six hours of chain saw and loading and Ive secured half a winters worth so am well proud of my efforts. There's something about cutting firewood that is really satisfying. It one of my favorite jobs beats vacuuming or painting by a mile.

Didn't get any training in today but I hope the wood work will count for some.

468 metres above sea level

Rode the five pines loop up and down Colonial Knob today. The Knob is 468 metres above sea level at its highest and rears up from sea level for about three ks to the summit. The picture is the view from the start of the climb. The road is gravel and then rock and finally grass. I was happy with my effort its so steep I had walk in two places and it was a welcome rest.

There are two radio masts on the summit, at the second mast I stopped and could see to the south island it was cold but very clear. I tried a new shot sally had mashed banana then mixed it with condensed milk and bagged it in a small zip lock bag. It had gone brown but tasted great and worked cause I needed it.

Its been some time since I rode the pines track and I was pleasantly surprised to see it had been up graded into a cool smooth fast down track , all be it broken with a set of new step carries. I made real fast time on the descent wishing it was longer as always after a long grovel to the summit the down ride is always to short.

Body going great bike workin good.

Martinborough Pave

Raced yesterday for my friends attempt to move up the points ladder. It worked he won. This race is the coolest race I've ridden in for ages. It has two kilometers of gravel road hence the name Martinborough Pave you get to ride it six times in the race.

For of us rode as a team to get the Win and it was just the greatest day sunny with little to no wind. To top it off the course was flat. We got a break on the second of six and held it ten riders working hard it was easy to hold a break but still hard work.

We had no crashes but others had a few offs in the gravel it was corrugated and there was a nasty centre ride just waiting to unbuckle you if you ventured into it.

I'm looking for diff rent challenges to keep my interest and this one was just the coolest. I think the lack of personal pressure to win was great and the fun of riding for someone else was just what I needed.

Martinboruough is a very nice town forty minutes drive from Upper Hutt and the coffee after was great lots of little cafes around a town square could not be better.

Whats new?

Its been some time since the last blog. Lots has happened the foot is nearly there. I went climbing(pulling plastic) last week and it was OK. Still some pain but plenty of power. I haven't worked on my project all summer just letting my foot heal. Ive walked down to the wall over the summer even re cut the track as it was getting over grown with gorse. This stuff is veil shit even hurts when it rubs against you when you walk by. I've been riding heaps lately working on my fitness and dropping weight . Somethings working as I unloaded 10kg since November.So look out wall the thinner older me is coming.