No, the other left!

Getting to Lake Taylor (the car park) is almost as much of an adventure as MTB from there to Lake Sumner.

While we all knew there was around 30k of shingle road, we didn’t know about the Fords, Falling Rocks … and there were two other things.

As Mark said, you just about had to stop the car to read the list (on a proper sign).

Anyway, those fords.  It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a ford.  I must get out and about more.

Lets say I was glad not to be driving.  Poor Mark had to negotiate them.  And Darren – from the back seat – was looking out the centre and say "go left", and Mark would go right, so Darren would say "no, the other left!".

Anyway, we got to the car park (camping ground) safely with just one crunch to the front.  Poor Deo with his low profile tyres probably had greater difficulty clearing them without causing his car to bottom out.

The camping ground is just $4.00 an adult and $2.00 a child per night.  In case you were wondering.

We all got organised, after everyone needing to stop to use the loo.

Finally we were on our way.  I say finally because I expected we’d have left by 10:30am at the latest and it was 11:10 when I started my watch.  It took longer to get through the shingle road than I’d imagined.

I’d hesitantly asked Richard if the ride would be technical.  I’d read about it and it didn’t sound like it would be difficulty like Hanmer had been.  He assured me it wasn’t technical.

Phew.

So off we went.

While it wasn’t technical, or necessarily difficult, there were the odd challenges here and there.  And I still managed to fall off my bike, not once, but twice.  I wasn’t the only one.  Deo came a cropper too, but in fairness, he was on his Cyclo Cross bike so perhaps was handicapped.

There were a good many farm gates which provided an opportunity for us to regroup along the way.

The weather heading out by car was pretty miserable and my thoughts were with those at Lake Hood, but we were fortunate in that it cleared a lot as we got closer to Lake Taylor and then as we were cycling it was a bit gloomy but it never was enough to make us wet.

At 1:10pm we decided we’d ride a further 20minutes and stop for lunch, hoping that we’d have reached the swing bridge by then.  I really wanted to see it, not so much go on it!

We timed it perfectly.  But how to get to the swing bridge was causing us some confusion (actually I never looked, I left it to Mark and Darren).

The sun had finally broken through all the cloud and the sandflies were out in force.  We thought we’d ride on and take refuge at the hut and eat lunch there.  Yet the hut was on the other side of the swing bridge and the guys couldn’t see how to get to the bridge.

So we walked our bikes up the *walking* track.  I mean UP.  And the track wasn’t some nicely paved out thing, it was through all the tree roots and not even that well marked out (because I went off the wrong way).

Sensibility took hold (finally) and Mark and Darren ditched there bikes and set out like the Famous Five (but 2 of them) to see where the track lead.  And it was decided it was a No-Go.  So we took our bikes back down the track.  Gosh. I can’t believe we even took them up!  Who on earth would have done something so crazy, yet well all just followed along without too many questions.

It was definitely time for lunch, so we stopped at a flat grassy bit and swotted the sandflies away while eating.

The ride back seemed to be more consistent.  People had left the farm gates open.  We closed a couple of them thinking they were closed on our way out, they should be closed.  But we left a few open, and that’s probably why it seemed our riding was in longer stints.

The wind had picked up too.  It was really quite strong and it was a tail wind!  Yippee.  We were tootling along the flat long sections (of which there were really only two).

There were a couple of climbs.  Nothing long or nasty but enough to get my HR to 187!  Though that might have been when I came a cropper and fell off my bike going up hill.  I’d just negotiated it wrong and ended up trying to ride over a rock that had a lip on it that I’d not seen.  And off I came.  Right on the same side as my other nasty fall from Hanmer.  This time I have more of a gash in my knee.

I dusted myself off and we continued.  But it did knock the stuffing out of me and another rocky section I walked, all 5 or so steps, because I was shaking a little and paying too much attention to what was immediately under foot than the direction in which I was travelling.

For all that, I really did feel like I let the bike do the biking.  The downhills (on the way out) I was looking for a line and it was pretty much all rocky the whole way down and I managed (coped) just fine.

Yes there were times were I thought I was losing it but it came right.  And a couple of times I had to hurriedly unclip (over flat stuff) because I hit a rock wrong.  Darren said I only needed another turn of the pedal and I’d have righted the bike and been able to carry on.

My second tumble (onto the same side) was just stupidity.  I might have needed something to eat I think. It had been a long day and we weren’t far from the camping ground and I’d not had anything other than a couple of lollies on the trip back.  We were going so slow and it wasn’t really difficult (energy-wise) at all. I hardly felt it was necessary to have electrolytes or anything of that nature.  Perhaps I down played it too much.

So after watching Darren take his course I decided I didn’t like it, and opted for the grassy edge instead.  But what I realised all too late was the water that was travelling across the road had made a channel in the grass.  The gap was about 40cm and it dropped about 30cm and there’s no way you’re getting your wheel over to the other side without jumping it.

But as I say, I was too slow to compute.  So I came off my bike a second time.  And it hurt almost as much, only because I was sore from the first one.

The day was a long one.  We were away longer than I had expected but we’d had a really great time.  It’s a ride I’d do again.  The only thing putting me off is the long ride out there over that shingle stretch.

Oh, and the cleaning of the bikes – yet to be done.

We reached Amberley around 6:40pm and stopped for dinner at the NW Cafe.  Lovely food.

The other thing that I realised, after getting home, was the sunburn I’d copped.  I had no idea, and despite having taken sun block with me, I still didn’t twig that the sun had come out with such force.  The backs of my legs are a shade of pink, as are the tops of my legs.

Darren seems keen to go back out for another ride, but next time with a tent and a chilly bin with a few beers!  I think it would be great to go again and reach the hut, stay the night (in Summer of course) and then bike back out the next day.

Would I recommend it?  Absolutely.  It doesn’t have the thrills and spills of a single track, but it’s a really enjoyable ride and if you see the photos, there’s plenty of adventure to be had.

Another successful Tiddlers Multisport event

Some of you will know Vivien McCaskey.  She organises the Tiddlers Multisport events.

I went down to help this morning.  Each time I got some sort of communication from Viv the start time to turn up got earlier and earlier!  I was to be there at 7am today.

It’s a really great event and it’s such a lot of fun to be involved.

These are the types of things that really make it all worthwhile

• Parents coming up to you saying how much fun their child had, and how well run the even is
• A dad telling his daughter at the finish line "daddy is so proud of you"
• Little kids cheering on friends, encouraging them along the way
• Nana and Granddad who turn up to watch their grandchildren
• Dad telling his daughter that she might want to take her top off in case she gets too hot during her event (they last 2-3 minutes)

It really is quite delightful to watch all the little stories going on around you. It’s pretty hard not to smile as you witness some special moment between a child and his/her family.

The flipside is that there’s the occasional child that doesn’t really fancy participating.  Viv is really good with them.  Often encouraging them to start after all, or making them part of the event they were registered for by following her around the course as she takes photos.

Every child gets a certificate and a little medal.  The faster boy and girl of each wave has their times recorded, then the fastest boy and girl across all waves for their age gets a prize.

And as you’d expect, there are spot prizes too!

Gosh, what are we teaching our children about sporting events

So well done Viv.  Great job.

Now if you could just somehow get enough money to at least pay for your petrol costs.

I love alliteration

We’re the Pill Popping Palings.

We headed out to McLean’s Island for a two hour ride.  Upfront I’ll say I’m glad I swapped my 5 hour hilly ride that was set for Sunday, to Saturday.  I’ve got such sore legs today after the MTB ride.

My hat goes off to Ruth who did the 6 hour challenge having no real MTB experience.  After 2 hours I was stuffed.  And that’s only a 1/3 of the time.

Ok, I probably could do the 6 hours but not after 5hrs 20min of riding the day before.  I’d pace myself differently (naturally).

Anyway, the ride went well.  I was starting to get into the groove of some of those tighter windy bits.  Some times it felt darn smooth.  And then it wouldn’t.

I did noticed the last lap (the 10k) I did (on my own) was harder concentration wise.

At this stage I’d had 1.5 gummy worms and 2 electrolyte capsules when I started out some 1.5hours earlier.  I think I probably needed a bit more – possibly a bit of caffeine even!

After our first lap (15k) we stopped at the beginning to take a drink. I don’t think Mark’s drinking during the ride, rather if we stop.

We got our computers on the bike last week so it was fun (challenging) to compare our average speeds and maximum speeds.  I don’t mind that our average speed was 21km/hr.  It’s nice knowing just how far through the track you are – how much more you’ve still got to come.

Anyway, at the end of the first lap I asked Mark if he’d like a worm and he said he’d try the "pills".  Haha, didn’t take long before I converted him to getting some electrolytes on board.  I’m not sure if he found them helpful or not.

After completing the 2nd lap Mark decided that was enough for him, he even had 1.5 gummy worms which is the first for him too.  I ask and ask and he always turns it down.

I was on my own for the last 30 minutes of our 2hour ride.  Well actually it’s really *my* ride.

Gosh my quads are hammered.  I need to go do some stretching.  But after Cameron’s remark about the state of our chains I decided I best clean the bikes, chains and lube before tending to my own needs.

I hear voices in my head

That’s you Rachel, and you Zarnia!!

Yesterday’s ride of 5 hours (or as long as it took do to SB and LB) wasn’t all that much fun.

Once I made it to the bottom of Gebbies Pass things fell apart pretty quickly.  The wind was VERY strong, and gusty.  It was the gusts that made it scary.

And Zarnia and Rachel’s words were in my head "what if it’s going to be like that in Wanaka?"  And then there were Richard’s comments in my programme "think positive thoughts".

Arrrgh.

I gripped my handlebars for dear life, and thankfully I wasn’t the only person unimpressed with the wind.  So I decided I wasn’t a sook after all.

All the way along into Lyttelton the gusts would just drag you across the road.  And even heading up Evans Pass there were occassions were you were whipped about.

I wasn’t out of harms way on the descent into Sumner either.  My bike had the wobbles big time.  Though other riders who passed me seemed to be travelling without the same sort of drama I had going on.  Which begs the question, does braking (thinking you’re making it safer) actually put you at risk when the wind does whip up? 

If nothing else, letting go of the brakes would get me to the bottom quicker!  Hopefully in one piece

When I got to Sumner though, it was fine.  No more gusts. 

Just as well, becuase I’d been trying to figure out what I’d do to make up another 2 hours if I chickened out of doing Short Bays.

Relieved that the wind was calmer through the city I started out again for SB.  I’d asked another cyclist who’d just gotten to Governors Bay what the wind was like up to the Kiwi.  He said it was only the last 10 minutes that were windy.

I expected the wind then to hit between SOT and SOK but it didn’t really, not until the very top.

It wasn’t even too bad going down to Governors Bay, a little stronger than usual but not scary.

I was feeling OK until the first big gust got me.  Then it was all on again.  I hate the unpredictability of it.

So I managed 5hrs 20min for the ride. A little more than was in my programme but Richard said not to worry about the time, just do the ride.

I guess given the wind making things a little less comfortable on the bike I’m ok with that time becuase my average was a little higher than my usual SB ride, still I did get a pretty decent ride out to Gebbies (taking the back roads).

I need to put my Bento box on my bike.  I haven’t yet becuase I’m being precious about it.  Having something else rubbing against my bike frame.  And it’s only becuase I’ve been too lazy to put the 3M stuff on the bike.

I’ve been trialling the Electrolyte capsuls that Rachel had used in the past.  So the last few weeks I’ve been taking them.  But I didn’t really know if they were working or not working.  A two hour ride is pretty hard to judge.

I’ve also only taken 2 an hour when I could take 2-3 an hour.  Again I don’t know what the difference is between 2 and 3.

Anyway, they seemed to work just fine.  Except me finding somewhere to get off my bike each hour to grab them out of my pocket.

I had 2 bottle (680ml) of Perpetuem as well.  But I kept one in the car to swap over after completing LB.  I also had 2 bottles (750ml) of water.  Again taking just one with me, and then swapping bottles after completing LB.

I didn’t quite get to finish the 2nd water bottle.  My throat was feeling parched on the way out to Gebbies Pass but after then I think I was 100% focused on the wind that I forgot all else.  I didn’t feel thirsty but I was sweating which I don’t usually realise.

Rachel was saying it got really hot yesterday. It didn’t feel that hot on the bike.

I keep getting a sore left foot on the outside.  I’m not sure what it’s about.  I keep having to pull my foot up to ensure there’s no pressure on my pedal.

Between the sore back, sore foot, sore butt I did down two Panadol at the 3hr mark.

My longest ride prior to this (within my training for Wanaka) had been 3hrs 40min.  I had reflected on what jumping to 5 hours meant.

I never once doubted I could do it though.  I’ve ridden more than 5 hours before so I know I can do it.

And I did

I wont lie, I was a bit tired after it and when Cameron saw me in the afternoon he said I looked like I needed sugar.  Awww, really?  Where’s the lollies then!!!

I thought I’d done well nutritionally.  I’d had 4 Golden Fruit biscuits, a cold sausage, the Perpetuem and the capsules

When I finished I had 2 Natural Confectionary snakes (I know Richard has said to have a handful after your last big effort, but this was a steady ride – you all know I’m literal right??).  I also had a Cliff bar.  When I got home after showering and heading to Cameron’s I had a banana.

Ok, so it was 2:30 and I’d not eaten lunch, but I felt like I’d been eating constantly.

With Cameron’s worrying voice in my head I had 1/2 a Boston bun when we got home close to 4pm.  That really did seem to pick me up.  All that icing!

I’m glad that next week doesn’t contain another long ride like that.  I might yet have my Vitesse saddle back on before then.

Time waits for no man

Yesterday marked a 10 year anniversary of having returned from Melbourne back “home”.

Wow, where did the time go?

I’d moved to Melbourne in September 1998 to be with a man I met on the Internet and thought I’d fallen in love with.

(pause …. wait for the gasps of shock and horror – 1, 2, 3 – move on)

I’d “met” him online during a low point in my marriage (2nd shock – yes I was still married).

It wasn’t a happy time for me and I was tired of being a “mother” to my then husband.  Every day I had to bolster him up just to face the next day of work.

Ok, so marriage is for better and for worse, it’s what I’d signed up for.  Bad bad me for not having what it took to stick it out and be a good wife.

So I left, after having already agreed to move to Melbourne to live with a man – who had already asked me to marry him – while I was still married (3rd shock?).

Off I went, eager and excited about my new life.

If I thought I was in a low patch in my life with my marriage having gone south, things were only about to take another dip.

Of course while you’re in the midst of the chapter in your life it’s not always as clear cut as it is when you reflect back.

The man I’d moved to be with – yes I moved in with him having only met him once a couple of months earlier for a week – had a 4 year old daughter.  I’m sure he thought he was doing his best to raise her, but let me tell you, it was not a great home and there’s a whole lot more he could have done to be a “father”.

He was a very selfish man who thought very highly of himself.  He’d been in a gang for many years, he’d abused his wife and he was so absorbed in himself that he neglected his daughter.  Of course this is just my view of the world.

So how could I expect him to really “love” me, someone coming into his life when he didn’t have time for his own daughter.

It was a very lonely time.  I thought he loved me, I wanted to believe he loved me.  But he wasn’t interested in anything but his computer and the friends he’s made online.

I took better care of his daughter than he did, and really when I think about it, I took care of her reluctantly some days.  Another low when I look back on it.

Eventually (all too slowly) I decided it was time to leave, this was 15 months after suffering though a very lonely time in my life where my self worth seemed to fall each day I was with him.

However it wasn’t allowed, well certainly when I was going to take refuge, until I could afford to get myself on my feet financially, with mutual friends.

Things got ugly.  I sat through an hour of having my head held between his hands (and he was a very big burly guy) while he yelled at me and belittled me.

I had to get out.  We were already sleeping in separate rooms and I’d said many times I was leaving and that I needed the break.  But going to stay with friends was what broke the camels back.  He’d thought I was just talking, that it was a game. I guess the penny had finally dropped.

So after my life had been threatened, and my supervisor had listened into the call (made during work) we were off to the court house to file an order against him.

It took 5 police men to go with me to get what I could from the house.  And during that time it took four of them to hold him down – flat on the ground.  It was another low and scary point in my life.

I piled what I could take and fit into my supervisors car and off I went to stay with her a few days while Mum mad some frantic calls to find me somewhere safe to stay until I could fly home.

Before then I had to try and get my gear packed up, which meant having to shop looking over my shoulder all the way.  One of the threats was for all his gang mates to come looking for me and kill me.  I never felt safe.  I didn’t know who they all were.

Anyway, after having to wait for the court appearance I could finally leave Australia.  Somewhere I’d expected to live forever.

And here I am.  Ten years on.  Happily married and pretty darn pleased with where I am in my life.  Most importantly, I actually like myself now – have done for almost 10 years