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.

November off

Had my faulty foot operated on on the 3rd. A day in hospital to have the offending bone cut away from my big toe joint. Foot up and no work for a month. Hours of rehab so the foot doesn't seize up.

October Climb

Finally got away in October to the pinnacles and scored the best day ever. It was the last day of the ski season and i feared the worst but no, very few skiers. The hut was under booked with only four others whom we woke at 1am as we had walked up during the night. Plans of an early start were thwarted due to the sleep monster so we got away at about 8am.
A quick walk across the mountain and we set off on to the route that we think was 'The grand pinnacle" the snow was perfect and frozen as it is shaded until lat afternoon we made the top and the difference in snow conditions was amazing on the summit rocks it was melted mush, so we down climbed the same way we ascended.

Inspiration

How do you get it, what makes you tick, how do I get more out of myself when Im spent or feeling blocked.

Inspiration works for me.I get heaps from reading normally on the subject I'm feeling blocked on, For me it has to be direct.
I find myself inspired from watching others achieve in the same field, this gives me a tremendous boost.
Talking to someone who's achieved is also a god way to inspire yourself but again for me it has to be direct.

Inspiration will it work for you who knows but I'm willing to try anything to push myself onward. It doesn't have to be a advancement in achievement it often is a betterment in myself or my thinking at that point in time.
Inspiration hard to find harder to hold onto.

Back Home

Just returned from 6 days in Australia. My son Joel lives in Sydney so spent a few cool days with him catching up. Got to work in the kitchen of the restaurant he works at , if you get a chance check out BLANCO (photo), what a amazing experience the food was a real education. What I found is by listening and taking with the chefs you feel their passion for food. At BLANCO it is so evident in every dish they create.
Joels partner Kate, also a chef, took me , to dinner at her place of work,Billy Kwongs an other very special place and again well worth the time. Billy Kwongs is a total experience as the atmosphere was really me.

Back on to the project today and felt good very windy day with huge seas beating in. Managed to confirm progression just need more hand strenght or the confidence to move on!!!!

Time.

Keep meaning to post but Ive been so busy these past few months. Have posted photo of my last climb.
The best day ever. A few days later a fellow climber slipped 3 hundred metres. Broke his leg and had to be helicopter off.
Diffrent story for us one fantastic day.
Still getting days on the project but need some movement to get past my latest sticking point.