The weekend with spring challenge training in Blenheim

 Hi,

What a mighty weekend down in Blenheim for our first team training of 2026 for the Spring Challenge. The weather was amazing - 28 and 29C while I was there. Super nice. Mike was also down in Marlborough with his friends doing a 4wD trip down the Molesworth and up the Rainbow. I hope he tells you about that too.

I flew really early Thursday morning to Blenheim - Mike kindly dropped me at the airport at 6am for my early flight. Iona picked me up at the other end and after a quick supermarket stop, I was set up in their back room for my working day. I met Suzie from California who was visiting with some friends of Iona and Col's from Ireland - Lou and Sarah. They were packing up to leave after staying a day or two. And I was taking over their space.

Yes, busy times in Blenheim.

I did get out for a run at lunch time with Nicola. She came and got me and took me to the mountain bike track at the foot of the Wither Hills. We did 3km and it was mostly in shade, so a good option from Nic. 

Lunch run with Nic

Got back to work and finished my long day with meetings. Then got ready for the real event - our Friday spring challenge training day.

Packed and ready Iona and I went out to quiz night. We picked up Victoria on the way. They have a new quiz now - out in Renwick. We came square in the middle (we briefly peaked at #1 during the rounds).

Back for a good sleep. Then up for the training day. Iona and I took her bike with us in the ute to Onamalutu and waited all of 2 minutes for Nicola to arrive. In a brainwave from her, we had her pedal bike and her eBike. 

We left the cars at about 8.50am and headed up the gravel road to the top of a saddle. It was still a little cool especially in the shade. But after the first gate, it got warmer. We lifted the pedal bikes over the gates, but the eBike had to go through the middle. Worked ok.

Friday training day

There was a fair bit of height gained in this part of our day. The road only went up. We surprised a herd of about 15 - 20 goats at one point. Iona and I were shepherding them up the road until they decided to veer off to avoid us. The billy was stinky!

A lot of up

A few gates to negotiate

Last gate before the top

At the top we went up a last wee steep bit to the start of the walk. We tackled the Wakamarina track and it was a beautiful walk. The bush was lovely and the elevation was a gentle sloping ridge for about 6 or 7 km. So nice. Well graded path too. I did lose my sunglasses off my cap at one point, and couldn't see them on the ground behind me. Asked Iona to check behind my on my backpack. Nothing. Then she said we did pass an overhanging branch. So I looked up - and my sunglasses were hanging on this really slender branch over the track at head height. Funny.

Top of our bike ride

Locked the bikes up for the walking part

Discussion at the start of the walk

I also got a  face full of bush lawyer on the way up. Iona took it off carefully and I only bled a little from the bridge of my nose. I also collected some on my arm near the top and got a more spectacular looking blood display there.

Drink pause

Bush was stunning

At Fosters Clearing

Decent climb

We stopped at Fosters Clearing at the top saddle and had some food. Then headed back down to our bikes. The ride down to the cars was amazing. 1 hour 48 to get up. 32 mins to get back. Wheeeeee.

Saturday saw Iona up with me to do Park Run. #31 in the bag. I did a combo of run/walk. Bit slow.

Park run

I look silly when I run

Col's peach tree

Big crop this season

We wandered over to Pollard Park to enjoy the Marlborough multicultural festival. Lots of good food and music. I got a boba tea and veg Indian food. Panipuri. Mmmm. Well - Iona and Col had to pay. it was all cash only.

Multi cultural event in Pollard Park

Boba tea for me

At Barb's quince tree

Then it was time to head to the Bat BBQ in Rai Valley. We picked up Malcolm and Marion too. And stopped at Barb's place to see if there was any fruit or veg to harvest (she had told us to do so).

At the Bat BBQ

The Bat BBQ was great. This is the trapline that Iona and Col do at Pelorus. Lucie from F&B runs the programme. So it was a chance to meet others and chat about the future work.

Back home and a big tea for Col and her sister Jack and her partner Kim that were visiting in their campervan. So nice to meet them. Iona cooked a great dinner after her huge day. Thank you.

Up for brekkie Sunday - oaty pancakes. And watched the Rugby Sevens in Vancouver. Jack and Kim arrived too.

At lunch time they headed off to a winery to meet a friend for lunch and Iona and I went to Whites Bay to meet Claire, John, Jacob and Ashley (and their friend George and wee Jean) and have a go in the kayak and SUP. Good to see Claire again. They had been camping for a few days.

Carrying the yellow kayak to the beach from the ute was hard work. My arms are now 2cm longer than they were.

Had fun lounging around in the water on the SUP and kayak. I managed to stand up and tootle around a bit.

Going home after SUP fun

Then back home to shower and order food. And then off to the airport. Nicola met us there and gave me some venison from Tony's successful hunt over the weekend. Thank you.  Nice flight home - we left early. It was full. 13 of us all up.

Got an uber from the airport for $45 and threw myself into bed. I was fast asleep when Mike got home at 11.45pm. I barely woke up.

And this morning he was off to town for gym and work. So I need to hear all about his adventures tonight.

Have a great week. I will not. It is Shane's last week and I am sad.

Love,

Angela