The weekend in Blenheim and Mike in Sydney

 Hi,

What a big weekend. Mike is now in Sydney. HE flew out super early Saturday morning and spent the weekend with Karen and Scott and the dogs.  :-)   Now he is at work in the Sydney office after spending last night in a very fancy looking hotel.

Meanwhile, I was up super early Friday morning to drive our car to the airport. It had a date with the overnight undercover car parking until I got back Sunday evening. 

Car parked at the airport

Waiting at the SoundsAir gate

On the 7am flight.  It left a little late as they needed extra fuel. The weather meant a low cloud ceiling in Blenheim so they wanted fuel to circle until it cleared, if needs be.

It did not need it.

I see my bag on the trolley

Iona picked me up and took me home to see Col, Twigg and have brekkie.  Brought over a sourdough that Mike made for us. Mmmmm.

My sourdough

Friday weather was a bit terrible. So we only went for a short walk with Twigg around the river.

Is it Spring?

Waterways back to close to normal

Spring water meets Taylor River water

Walking with Twigg

Iona and Col had messages.  Twigg to the vet (she might need some toes taken off - and she need s her teeth cleaned - all under general - but separately). The garage door people came to sort that out. The heat pump people came to sort that out. Col had to go to work.

Goodness. Frantic.

Watched some TV with Iona.  And then bed.

Up for some fun Saturday. We drove to Wither Hills car park and met Nicola there at 8.30am. But the wee footbridge was gone after the recent floods. The creek wasn't too high so we jumped over and hauled the bikes across.  A woman helped me first from the other side after we had said other people were crossing ok there. So she and her partner and dog went over.  Aww - people are nice.

The bridge is washed out at Wither Hills

Had to jump this and haul bikes over

From here we rode along Mapp Track a bit - then down Dry Hills road to Whale Trail. Then up to the top of Redwood pass - just to the south of Blenheim. Bit of a climb. The weather was ok.  Kept my jacket on with a merino layer. But - it was ok. Iona and Nicola were much better on the climb than me.

I have work to do.

Rode back the short way and said goodbye to Nicola and off home.

Finished

Warm and dry

Col had to work! Short notice on Friday night. And was she cross. There was so much rugby to watch. Waaaaah. But Iona and I made sure to watch as much as possible. I enjoyed the Back Ferns versus the Black Ferns XV team. Wow. Great game. Shows the depth in the country that we can field two teams and have a cracker of a game.

Then we watched Scotland v Māori All Blacks. Wow. Another amazing game. Go Scotland! They won! It was a thriller.

Then, we turned off the tablet casting the Sky rugby to the TV. And could not get it working. So we watched a movie until the delayed broadcast on free to air. The all Blacks v France in Dunedin. Also a great game. And the All Blacks were both lucky and unlucky. 3 tries disallowed. And really...?  Should they have been? You need to rewatched the replay on super slow motion to figure it out.  I am not sure that sort of thing was the reason TMO exists. But - guess  it is hard to draw the line.

Col got home to watch the last half with us.

Sunday training

Up more leisurely Sunday morning. Iona made oaty pancakes. Mmmmm. Then Nicola got there at 10am and we rode off to the Wither Hills Farm Park. Tackled a wee hill. Then locked up the bikes and did a rogaine course in the low hills above the MTB park.

Spring challenge account featured us from last year

Back home to do a few things around the house. The bed had arrived since the last time I was there and was "recovering" from its ordeal in the cardboard box.  I did try the shower out a few times. Very good.

Putting up the peg board

Cold Chisel

We put up the peg board in the garage. I held a cold chisel and sent non cryptic clues to Mike on the chat. Hahah.

The new bed

Then we relaxed in the house before my flight. Got Uber Eats delivered for tea - The Tamarind. Delicious food.

Peg flax weaving

Country Calendar

At the airport

Car wash time

Iona dropped me at the airport. I was very early for my 8.40pm flight home. But the flight was super fast. Got into the car at the airport and used our car wash voucher that was not far off expiry and had to be at the Z at the airport. Car is now clean.

Got home. Fed the cats. And went to bed!

Awesome weekend. So busy. Good fun. Thank you.

Missing Mike though.  I hope he has a great work week in Sydney.

Enjoy your week ahead.

Love,

Angela