The weekend with training in Blenheim

 Hi,

Another mighty weekend training in the southern motu with Iona and Nicola. I flew in Thursday and Mike took me to the airport. As he left me at the gate, Nic pinged me to say she was at the airport. So I grabbed Mike (he was slowly walking back to the car trying to check the fire damage in the domestic wing) and we chatted to Nic for 30 mins before my flight.

My flight was a little bumpy out of Wellington but it was better than it might be given how many cancellations followed into the next day in Wellington.  Iona picked me up and fed me. Then we picked up Robyn and went to quiz. Met Phillip and he showed me pics of his Lego (a lot of Star Wars) collection. Ben was there too.

We came 3rd. I think. But won the fast cash. It was a bit tough.

Off home and to bed. Then up at a leisurely time to head off with Nicola on bikes in the icy rain. When we parked the bikes at the bottom of the goat track, it did stop raining. Did the goat track - and the mandate was given that we should not stop on the way up. I achieved that despite the dribbly nose and the fierce wind. I had to walk up with my legs braced against the southerly.

Up in the Wither Hills

It was so windy

Orchid at Iona and Col's house

Post parkrun selfie

Saturday saw us up for parkrun. The weather wasn't too bad. Iona ran with me and I did my best time of 2026 with her help. Woot!

Then off to watch Col's great nephews play rugby. The 5 year old played Ripper Rugby in Spring Creek. What a hoot. Great idea. And then we drove to Seddon to watch the 7 year old play pretty full-on rugby. I loved it. Met Brogan for the first time.

Watching ripper rugby

We headed home and watched a bit of rugby on the TV. Poua and Matatu and Blues and Chiefs all played. Great games. Watched the netball final too. Mystics came out on top.

Sunday was the orienteering event day. Iona and I left at 8:20am to head to the Aschworth farm on Brancott Road. There were already heaps of punters there. Slightly overcast but no wind. We got the map and looked at a route. The aim was to challenge our navigation and our physical effort. We did that.

At the orienteering debrief meeting

We're off

Great terrain

Climbing up hills

Waiting for our lunch afterwards

The terrain was great. Got 810 points in the end. Had to pivot when our original route was taking longer than planned. Got back 15 mins before the deadline. But that was good because we didn't have to queue very long for the lunch. I got my veg burger in no time. In fact I finished mine before Iona and Nic even got theirs. And the queue by then was really long and not moving very fast at all.

Nic headed home to work in the vineyard and we went home to get warm and clean. Chilled out. Had dinner and I got dropped off at the airport for my flight at 19:00.

Perfect flight home. Mike was there waiting for me. He whisked me home and into bed. 

What a great weekend. I do think I am catching Mike's cold. I am still in denial. He seems to have come right though.

Up this morning to stay in the house today. Mike went into town for his gym.

I hope you have a great week ahead.

Love,

Angela

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 spring challenge training in Wellington

 Hi,

What a busy weekend. Long weekend here in Aotearoa with the King's Birthday weekend. Friday saw my haircut cancelled so I ended up walking into town to meet Maureen for lunch to plan the weekend fun.

Sourdough last week

Walk in on Friday

Mike joined us as we got a vague plan together. I rode home (I had left my bike in the bike shed at work on Thursday) and blitzed my way up the hill. 2 seconds slower than my PB. Woot!

Tidied the house. Then picked up Mike and Callan from Foxglove on my way to the airport for a 8.30pm pick up for Iona. She had a smooth flight and we were quickly into the car for our drive home. Mike and Callan decided to go out on the town and meet Quentin at Rogue and Vagabond. So we dropped them on Dixon and continued home. We had a nice cuppa and then off to bed.

I did get woken at 12:30am with Mike trying to find a sleeping bag for Callan. Despite the copious amounts of alcohol they did decide a night on our couch was wise. So good on them. But my broken sleep meant when the alarm went off at 6am, I was not ready to get up for parkrun.

So we slept in a bit. And then I made lots of scrambled eggs. Callan headed home before he could eat some though. We all ate eggs then got ready for our day.

Margies lunch

Iona and I rode our bikes down the hill to Ngauranga Gorge to meet Maureen. And then we proceeded through the new pathway to Eastbourne. At Eastbourne we stopped for coffee and grabbed some lunch. I went to Hive cafe and it was very good.

 

Saturday bike ride

Views

Continued down to the lighthouse and had lunch looking out to the southern ocean. Then we started back and realised just how strong the tailwind had been. It was a hard slog back.

Lunch spot

Bikes in a pile

Originally we were going to ferry back from Eastbourne but the ferry bike passage was full. So we had to continue right around the harbour back to town. We said goodbye to Maureen at Ngauranga and Iona and I got to Spotlight where Mike came to pick us up. Thank you Mike.

We managed 65km all up. Phew. That bike path was so busy at both ends of the day. So good.

And done.

A quick shower and out to town to meet the Forbes family at Great India. It was a good reminder about how good that restaurant is. Yum.

We caught up on all their news. Ellen was in town for a Shakespeare competition, so everyone was up to support her. I absolutely loved the conversation. So good to see them all.

Great India for dinner

New bridge

Sunday saw Mike drop me and Iona at Khandallah pool where we met Maureen. We headed up to the summit then along the Skyline track. It was pretty windy. I needed to hold my cap a lot. I saw Maureen get blown off the track a bit at one point.

Mt Kaukau

Selfie

View of Wellington

Walking on the Skyline

Such a good walk. 3.5 hours later and 13 km later we walked across Karori Park to meet Mike. And he whisked us to the pool car park where we enjoyed lunch at the cafe there. Cafe du Parc. Maureen headed home after that and we got home to get ready for the next social event.

Cafe du Parc

Sally arrived at our place and we got in the car with the ladder and water blaster and went to visit Quentin and Courtney. What a gorgeous house they have. Wow.

We got a tour of their house and a cup of tea. Quentin's mother came home just as we finished chatting so we got to meet her too. We heard about Joel's wedding to Rachelle the day before which sounded really good fun.

Out to Sally and Andrew's place for a chat and Sally cooked dinner. Roast vegetables with haloumi. Mmmmmm.

Home to bed.

Monday morning saw me drop Iona at her mother's place. I got a cup of tea with Helen and heard about her latest news.

Monday morning cats

Monday project

At home Mike got stuck into the plywood project. We want to extend the floor of the loft in the garage. Phase 1 is now complete. Ply measured and cut. Next phase is ready.

Skilsaw work

Sourdough #2

Brekkie Tuesday

I made more bread. And then off to bed where I slept like I was in a coma. The alarm at 5.25am was really tough.

Quentin was sick so my PT session was cancelled. Poor Quentin. Hope he is ok soon. I did garage gym instead. Bench 37.5kg 4 x 4.

Mike and I bussed in at 7.30am. It was nice to have a 3 day weekend. I so enjoyed the adventures. I have so much work to do to get fitter.

Enjoy your week.

Love,

Angela