Xmas-New Year Staycation stories

Firstly, would like to wish my avid readers and adoring fans a Happy New Year and all the best for 2014 ( Hi Mum!!!)

Joking aside, 2014 is going to GREAT as have a few cool things lined up and of course am part of Team Big Sexy racing ……..Yee Ha Y'all !!!

Given that the festive period down here in the Southern hemisphere coincides with summer holidays, most businesses close down for a couple of weeks thus I always end up with a break of ten to 14 days. No complaints however as I am ready for a reprieve from the daily grind by the end of the year, this gets replaced with a different type of routine comprising multiple bike, run and swim workouts - an especially good time to get some bike volume in.

I finished up work at lunchtime on Christmas Eve, breathing a huge sigh of relief that that was over for 2013 and no more panic-stricken-irregular attenders who think I can solve years worth of neglect in one appointment and guarantee no toothache over the holidays patients to see til the 6th of January. Also highly relieved that all the present shopping and distribution was done so all that remained was to eat, drink, be merry , swim, bike, run .

I won't bore you all with laborious detail of every day …..plus, don't want the other girls in my AG to know my training secrets….Ha! There is no secret of course….:)

The weather Xmas week was rather crap to say the least……rain, southerly, rain, grey etc etc. Boxing day was scheduled for a long ride but the weather was super pants so chose to head to Murchison on a road trip with Brett, who had a couple of kayaks to pick up both there and in Nelson. It's a lovely journey through the Lewis Pass ( I have cycled through there a couple of times and its one of my favourite rides) and the summit is right on the Main Divide so once you head down the other side to Springs junction ( 20 km of rip-snorting fun on a road bike; especially after the arduous toll on the legs fighting net ascents and prevailing headwinds tootling up the Lewis Pass) the weather and vegetation is a stark contrast - dense bush and greenery rather than the arid, bare plains of Canterbury.

So we were met with much warmer temperatures and sunshine - YAY! Arrived in Murchison and picked up the whitewater boat then were lucky enough to secure a cabin at the campground while I liberally coated myself in chemicals to avoid the scourge of the sandfly and to Bretts chagrin I opted to wear my toe socks with jandals to head into town for dinner. If you have ever had insect bites on your feet, you will understand why dear readers:)

hello little town of kayakers

After a fitful sleep on a double bed more suited to a couple of oompah-loompahs, I got up at 5.30am to get into my cycle gear and brew up some instant coffee ( …..desperate times 'n all that…) to wash down my banana then I was on the road headed for Nelson just after 6am. The first couple of hours are gradual climb which steepens a little before you reach Hope Saddle.By now the sun was out; I was having a thoroughly superb time, rejoicing in the morning birdsong and aroma of native beech forest  along with little traffic on the road = HEAVEN. Brett had passed me not long before so was waiting for me at the top of Hope Saddle but sadly didn't get a photo of me so I have nothing to post here on the blog…..I need to get into the habit of snapping pics more often, sorry!
He tailed me on the descent then I waved goodbye and enjoyed the rest of the descent then a pretty comfortable cruise through to Kohatu junction. I took the left turn for Motueka and 8kms up the road in Tapawera I was highly relieved to find a toilet, water refill and a delectable flat white. Braw.

Post 160km rehydration

It was pretty hot by the time I arrived on the outskirts of Motueka, 127km later and had run out of fluids but needed to keep going to get to Mapua where i was meeting Brett. Found a small garage partway along the Moutere highway and got some cold water and a bag of salted cashews- yummy - and checked Google maps to find the road I was to turn off. Arrived at Gardener's valley road and was greeted with a climb -gah!!!- once at the top I hit the main dual carriageway to Nelson but after a check of Google maps I managed to navigate my way up and across the correct road to Mapua which was a sharp descent then another climb and finally arrived at the Martin/Taylor residence where i was greeted with the offer of a shower and big glass of water. Much needed after 150km and 5h30 of riding with 930m ascent. Yo.  Brett and I enjoyed a tasty lunch outside and regrettably had to depart around 3ish to face the 5 hour drive back to grey and mizzly Christchurch.


The rest of the holidays were peppered with some swimming ( not as much as I would have liked…), bike rides and running along with coffee drinking, socialising and the odd afternoon snooze.

don't try this at home

Hogmanay was a pleasant affair, the weather gods had realised that yes, it was summer after all so the sun was out, the air was warm and a few drinks were consumed on the patio with our friends Iain and Zarnia before we headed for dinner to a local eatery, Buddha Stix, Thai-Vietnamese "asian-fusion" I think you call it. The food was lovely as were the surrounds and after such a tasty repast we retired to Iain and Zarnia's for a cup of tea and some of Zarnia's scrumptious Xmas cake+ belgian biscuits. However, the six hour Gorges ride done earlier that day began to tell on me so Brett and I left and were at home in bed by 11pm. Yes, I didn't see in the New year ( in New Zealand anyway) but I think I did pretty well keeping my eyes open until 11!!

Wine glow on

The rest of the holidays were peppered with some more training, a wee bit of shopping on my rest day, sunshine ( phew!) and a small bbq at ours to commiserate returning to work the next day and my step up to a new age group. So blessed to have such lovely friends!

Next race on the schedule is Asia-Pacific 70.3 champs in Auckland on 19th January. This is the 2nd year of the race; a new one for me and race central is right in the heart of the Viaduct basin - home to the America's cup in 2000. Looking forward to it, despite the fact it has a sea swim. Ugh. Salty.

Right, I need to go pack my bike for said race and write a list of items to pack. It's times like this I wish I just ran marathons- logistically a whole lot easier !