The weekend with Wellington Spring Challenge Training

 Hi,

We had such a hectic weekend. I need a holiday to recover from my weekend. Hahah. Thursday saw us catch up for data brekkie and Shane came to chat to us. So good to see him.

Kris at Smith the Grocer with me

Hey Shane! Woot!

Cats lounging around

I made two sourdoughs Thursday night. One for Nic (she got the baby one) and one for Mike for his tramp. First time using wholemeal flour. Added wholegrains again. Mike said it was good.

Two sourdoughs. And wholemeal and wholegrains

Thursday evening Iona arrived on the ferry. Picked her up from the Interislander at 7.45pm and managed to collect Mike from work then too.

Up Friday to a gorgeous looking day. Nic arrived on her early flight and found Tom in town for brekkie. We had brekkie at home then Iona and I drove into town to pick Nic up from Victoria St. Well, Abel Smith St. That went smoothly.

Friday morning

We were parked at the Kapakapanui road end and away walking by 9:05am. This is the end of the road and a few farmhouse driveways head off in all directions. But you follow the signs and go through gates and over stiles.

We decided to do the loop anticlockwise. It means a steep grunt up for 3 hours or more. But a less steep descent on the other side.

You cross the river a few times to get to the junction. We hadn't had much rain so I was hopeful the river would be fine. It was. Clear and swift. Maybe 4 crossings to get to the junction before the huge climb up. The ascent is mighty. Steep. 

Kapakapanui starts

Steep going

I think it was 2 hours 25 to the overhanging tree that marked the unmarked route off to the left of the track to the hidden possum hut. We didn't have a look.

We saw one couple coming down as we got close to the top. Along the top we got no views. There was a chap walking on his own and was cheerfully telling us the mud would get better soon.

It didn't really. We were under DoC time to the trig, but the 1 hour from the trig to the hut took us over 1 hour. The mud. I lost my shoe several times. Managed to get my foot back in every time.

Trig

Mud

No views

Iona and Nic - and my thumb

The hut

We had our lunches at the hut. Didn't go in. Good to shove some carbs in - thank you for making them Iona.

The descent was brutal on our old knees. But we made good time. When you reach the river from this side you have more crossings to do before you reach the junction. So we were very wet again. But it did clean off a lot of mud. We were at the car by 4pm easily. And after a bit of cleaning and changing into warm dry socks and trousers, we were off.

Nic got into fancy clothes because she was meeting Tom for tea in town before her flight.

Down, down, down

It was not to be. Around 17:30 we came past the Porirua exit from Transmission Gully and ended up at the back of a very stationary queue. Brake lights as far as we could see. Probably about 100m from joining the old highway.

And - after a quick online check, it appears nothing would move for a long time. After 30 mins of going nowhere, Nic and Iona decided to walk off the motorway and up the on-ramp just behind us. They managed to catch the eye of a motorist at the roundabout and Fiona asked them if they wanted a lift. They then crawled through Tawa with her until Redwood station where they caught a train. Nic was so late she ended up Ubering to the airport from the train station in town. Awwww.

Meanwhile, my queue was not moving. I was in the fast lane - on the shoulder because we had to move over to let an emergency car through earlier on. Then I saw quite a few cars making u turns and driving back up the motorway the wrong way - and up the on-ramp. So I decided I should also do this. When else would I get the chance to drive on the motorway the wrong way?

I joined the slow queue of cars going back up the on-ramp the wrong way. When the car in front of me got to the roundabout, a car decided to drive down the on-ramp and onto the motorway. Why they thought this would be good is beyond me. A steady line of cars leaving the motorway the wrong way, and you decide to get on?

Anyway, we dribbled through Tawa. It wasn't until I got to Johnsonville that the traffic eased back to normal. I got home at 8pm. Iona caught the 14 bus to our place. And we relayed each other's exciting adventures. Nic got back to Blenheim fine. Phew. Just no dinner with Tom. :-(

Cats in direct line of the heat pump

Saturday was a bit yucky. Iona grabbed her mother's car and drove to Palmerston North to see her sick friend. I joined her. I read in the car park. And then we drove back home.

Kāpiti Island is invisible

Shannon - The Horseman cafe

Present from Col and Iona. They know me

Sunday we were up early to meet Maureen for coffee at the local petrol station. Maureen used her reward points to get us all coffees.

Coffee Sunday

I dropped Iona at the ferry and went back home to tidy. Then met Maureen at 8.45am to climb to the top of Mt Kaukau. She set a fierce pace. Phew! No views.

No views top of Mt Kaukau. But Blenheim is that way!

Chasing Maureen made me fast!

Maidstone Park in Upper Hutt.

Mike got home at 1pm and I dropped him back at 40WLW before I went to the rugby with Elly. She convinced me to talk to Krystal Murray (who was in a moon boot so I hope she gets better soon) and I got a selfie. So happy!

Poua lost to Matatū. But it was close. And the conditions were tricky. Good fun - ta Elly. Then to Sally and Andrew's place for dinner with Barry and Kath. So nice. They are well.

Wow! Krystal Murray.

Monday morning

Back home and straight to bed. Up for gym for Mike and treadmill run for me. Then back home for me.

What a lovely day out there.

Enjoy your week.

Love,

Angela

The weekend with renovations and rugby

 Hi,

What a big weekend of jobs. So many jobs. And really - renovations was the main thing happening. Dave finished the work on Epuni. Yippee. We should have the bill for that now. And he will hopefully come and finish the stairs at our place any day soon.

Spotted a nice van

Went to the gym Thursday lunch time with Juliet. Spotted a nice van on the way there. Did deads with her. 60kg 6 reps x 4 sets.

Found these two on a break from their planning day on my way back. Awww.

Hey there you two!

Caught up with Barb, Jill and Fiona H (she used to work with us) at Astoria after work. Good to hear all her news. She is doing well after a scary fall on her flight back to NZ recently. Fainted in the airplane bathroom! Wow.

Fiona then dropped me at Aubergine for date night. And Mike rode a Flamingo eBike to the restaurant to meet me. Had a lovely date night. We were the only patrons the entire night.

Waiting for Mike at Aubergine

There we are!

Up early Friday to go to a local petrol station to support the rollout of our big programme. But as I was about 10 days after launch, most people were using it or knew about it already. Good fun. Spoke to a chap at the site - Sonu - for a while.

Work iced latte at Johnsonville

Concentrating on my iced latte selfie at a wee cafe in Kilbirnie

Saturday saw me and Mike up for Park Run at Waitangi. And I got my PB in. Thank you Mike. Saw Becky and Simon (Becky is recovering from surgery and Simon from an illness - hope they both recover well soon). Saw Fiona B from work too.

Mike then ran to Kilbirnie PacknSav where I was trying to charge the car up. But it was on scheduled charging. So Mike sorted that and we went to a wee cafe around the corner. Very pleasant. Cheap as!

My harvest

Good day for some rugby - Poua v Manawa

Then headed out at 3pm to pick up Maureen and Elly to watch Poua v Manawa at Upper Hutt NZCIS ground.

Yeah - Poua were not really in it at all. But lovely evening for it. $10 each to get in. And enjoyed watching the rugby.

Selfie

Maureen taking the selfie - hahahah. Elly and I look good! Maureen can't see the screen.

Action

Dropped Maureen and Elly off and then home to find Mike had prepped and done a lot of the car door work.

Door renovation

Sunday saw us finishing the laundry doors and Mike getting the car door even closer to perfection.

Other door renovations

Looking at the work

Treat time

Then watching You Tube and chilling with DeliverEasy (Lucky burger). Off to bed. Up for a big week for Mike.

Hope your Monday is awesomeness.

Love,

Angela

The weekend in Wellington

 Hi,

What a busy weekend - packed a lot in. Let's see...

Friday saw me busy on my day off. The groceries arrived at 11am or so. They got packed away. Then I was off on my bike into town for many things. Parked my bike at work which is so handy for a safe, central place for my bike when I am in town.

First - off to the school strike for climate change. Big group of high school students in civic square supported by a lot of older people. All concerned about climate change and the damage the current government looks set to inflict on us all with their backwards views on climate change.

Civic square

Let's go!

Hey Michelle!

Bumped into two people I knew - Richard from work and Michelle from the Hutt. :-)  Started marching with them, but pulled out as we went into Lambton Quay to go meet Andrew for lunch at Machete.

Iced latte goodness at Machete

Got my haircut after that. Very nice it was too. Chatted to the person that shampooed my hair about her ADHD. And Jolene sorted out my unruly locks.

Off to the gym. Bench for a bit. Then a run for 3km. Then ride back home.

Saturday saw us not get up for park run for me and volunteering for Mike. We stayed in bed for a bit. Then up to start our day. Mike was on a mission to reassemble the Subaru dashboard. And I was heading off to Levin with Elly for a Poua v Blue rugby game.

Elly picked me up at 12.25pm and off we went, up through Transmission Gully and into Levin. Tried to get some chicken feed for her chooks, but they were shut. Then a quick grab of lunch in New World and we were settling into the game. $10 entry. Nice wee crowd. Blues were in complete control and looked amazing. Manawa will have to be on their game to beat them.

Rugby in Levin

This was good!

Anne from work had mentioned this canned iced coffee so I grabbed it from New World. And it was really very good. Best canned coffee I have tried. Woot!

After the game, we visited Elly's friend Brian and his daughter in Levin. We were fed delicious cooked chips fresh from the oven. Mmmm.

Car dashboard all assembled

Elly and I headed to Mana to get some fuel for the car - and Mike came to collect me there. From Mana, Mike and I headed to Saly and Andrew's for a wonderful tea. And watched some TV. Then home.

Up Sunday for gym fun. We drove to meet Quentin at the Willis St gym and got the trap bar off him. I was surprised to discover it weighed 40kg on its own. Got it outside and Mike came around with the car. It is now in the garage, ready for some workout sessions. Then off to Lower Hutt gym. Run for me and Mike - his calf was ok for 5k on the treadmill. I did bench with Sally after my run. Andrew joined us for brekkie afterwards.  Then back to their place to shower before going to see Dune part 2.

Convention centre cafe Sunday

Mike - what are you doing?

Selfie!

Here we are!

Before the movie - relaxing

So ready for this - again

Dune 2 was just as good the second time. I think it really is a top 5 for me now. Maybe. Well - part 1 and 2 together.

Headed home and found Tom and Elly had left us some feijoas from their friends up north. And I got stuck into a lot of them for my dinner. Mmmmm.

Feijuba Eats! Yes - 5 stars!

First of the season - delicious

I continue to ravage the bag of feijoas

Off to bed. Good sleep. Mike up for gym and work. I am working from home. Lovely Monday here in Wellington.

Awesome but busy weekend. :-)

Have a great week.

Love,

Angela