In the beginning... There was an exercycle....
OK, so I've had a few days off the cycle. But I'm back on it again, and I picked a lovely warm, calm evening to continue along my way. Of course a breeze would have been nice, but I forgot to turn a fan on when I started, and I wasn't stopping once I had started!
Tonight I added a further 25.38 km to my total distance of 1800.70 km. I'm still alongside the Buller River, this time along the southern border of the Kahurangi National Park. I passed through Owen Junction tonight, but didn't make it as far as Kawatiri tonight. In fact, I've just passed where the Gowan River meets the mighty Buller.
I am also climbing in altitude. The climb is fairly steady through here, and I'm starting to track more north than east as I angle towards Motueka. My intention is to head to Motueka, through Nelson to Picton, then I will leave the South Island and cross the Cook Straight into the North Island. I think it's going to be quite some time before I see home again.....
Monday, 20 February 2012
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Day 73
In the Beginning.... there was an Exercycle.....
Today was just another day that I'm glad I'm not doing this in the real world. It's cold and wet outside today, and going by the traffic on our roads, certainly not cycling weather! Do you think that stopped me? In my warm, dry lounge? In front of the TV? HECK NO!! I got a cycle, got my shirt wet from the inside out, AND got caught up on some recorded telly.
I added 26.05 km to my journey today. There's something very satisfying knowing I've done more than 26 km in my 45 minutes. For so long it was a struggle to do 25 km, so to be able to break 26 km feels like success.
Tonight I travelled through Murchison further up the Buller River. It's getting much smaller now as I get closer to its source. I'm starting to get back into some steep country again, there's a lot more up-hill than there is down! My total distance of 1175.40 km puts me just over the Mangles River, a good sized tributary to the Buller. It won't be too much longer and I will leave the Buller River and cross the Main Divide. In the meantime, it's all up-hill from here!
Today was just another day that I'm glad I'm not doing this in the real world. It's cold and wet outside today, and going by the traffic on our roads, certainly not cycling weather! Do you think that stopped me? In my warm, dry lounge? In front of the TV? HECK NO!! I got a cycle, got my shirt wet from the inside out, AND got caught up on some recorded telly.
I added 26.05 km to my journey today. There's something very satisfying knowing I've done more than 26 km in my 45 minutes. For so long it was a struggle to do 25 km, so to be able to break 26 km feels like success.
Tonight I travelled through Murchison further up the Buller River. It's getting much smaller now as I get closer to its source. I'm starting to get back into some steep country again, there's a lot more up-hill than there is down! My total distance of 1175.40 km puts me just over the Mangles River, a good sized tributary to the Buller. It won't be too much longer and I will leave the Buller River and cross the Main Divide. In the meantime, it's all up-hill from here!
Saturday, 11 February 2012
Day 72
In the Beginning... There was an exercycle.
Whew!! It has been a busy, busy few days since I last cycled. I've been socialising, working, doing chores, walking and even managed an early night last night.
With the Coast to Coast race on, I was glad I was North of Karamea. Traffic would have been VERY heavy between there and Sumner over the last two days. Which reminded me of something on my Bucket List... To go to Sumner and be there when the last competitor finishes, just to congratulate the last person home. I figure that there are plenty of people there to congratulate the winners, but as the celebs head home, and the TV crews pack up and leave, the crowd thins too. Then its the real hard men and women that start arriving. They're the ones on a low budget, they may not be able to train as often as the professional athletes. They have toughed it out all the way. In my mind they are the true heroes. They've never given up.
While I'll never be brave enough to compete myself I can relate to the never say die attitude the last competitors have. I think it will be an awesome thing to do. Just once. So, in 2013 I'll do it.
In the meantime I'm still hauling along the Buller River. I passed through a wee place called Lyell, and am fervently hoping that I'll make it to Murchison tomorrow. Tonight I clocked on 25.72 km, bringing my total distance travelled to 1749.40 km. It won't be around the island in 80 days, maybe 80 years!
Whew!! It has been a busy, busy few days since I last cycled. I've been socialising, working, doing chores, walking and even managed an early night last night.
With the Coast to Coast race on, I was glad I was North of Karamea. Traffic would have been VERY heavy between there and Sumner over the last two days. Which reminded me of something on my Bucket List... To go to Sumner and be there when the last competitor finishes, just to congratulate the last person home. I figure that there are plenty of people there to congratulate the winners, but as the celebs head home, and the TV crews pack up and leave, the crowd thins too. Then its the real hard men and women that start arriving. They're the ones on a low budget, they may not be able to train as often as the professional athletes. They have toughed it out all the way. In my mind they are the true heroes. They've never given up.
While I'll never be brave enough to compete myself I can relate to the never say die attitude the last competitors have. I think it will be an awesome thing to do. Just once. So, in 2013 I'll do it.
In the meantime I'm still hauling along the Buller River. I passed through a wee place called Lyell, and am fervently hoping that I'll make it to Murchison tomorrow. Tonight I clocked on 25.72 km, bringing my total distance travelled to 1749.40 km. It won't be around the island in 80 days, maybe 80 years!
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Day 71
In the Beginning... there was an Exercycle....
Today's ride is a bit of a bonus. I had programmed to have a rest day today and tomorrow as well. When I got home from work, some un-completed chores left me feeling somewhat grouchy.
In my "previous life" I would probably have had a rant, and sat down with a pie and a big bowl of ice-cream to drown my sorrows... NOT TONIGHT!
Tonight, I voiced my disappointment at not having things done around the house, then hopped on my exercycle and rode my grouchiness away. The chores will still get done, but I'm not angry now, and I haven't eaten anything that will put a road-block in my travels.
Tonight, my "bonus" ride got me 25.25 km further along the road, putting my total distance at 1723.70 km. I'm still beside the Buller River, tonight I passed through Inangahua heading east towards Murchison. I'm also starting to gain altitude as I make my way into the Main Divide.
So, tomorrow is most certainly a Rest Day. I hope to catch you all back again in a couple of days....
Today's ride is a bit of a bonus. I had programmed to have a rest day today and tomorrow as well. When I got home from work, some un-completed chores left me feeling somewhat grouchy.
In my "previous life" I would probably have had a rant, and sat down with a pie and a big bowl of ice-cream to drown my sorrows... NOT TONIGHT!
Tonight, I voiced my disappointment at not having things done around the house, then hopped on my exercycle and rode my grouchiness away. The chores will still get done, but I'm not angry now, and I haven't eaten anything that will put a road-block in my travels.
Tonight, my "bonus" ride got me 25.25 km further along the road, putting my total distance at 1723.70 km. I'm still beside the Buller River, tonight I passed through Inangahua heading east towards Murchison. I'm also starting to gain altitude as I make my way into the Main Divide.
So, tomorrow is most certainly a Rest Day. I hope to catch you all back again in a couple of days....
Monday, 6 February 2012
Day 70
In the Beginning.... There was an Exercycle.....
Well, the sun actually came out today, in the real world....
Public holiday here today, so I had a day of domesticity. Made some apricot jam... Just waiting for the jars to cool down enough for the jam to set. Looking forward to having fresh, home-made jam on my toast in the morning!
Also had time to leap on the bike and blat out a 45 minute session. Racked up 25.56 km to make my total distance 1698.50 km.
I left Westport and tonight am travelling east at the moment, back into the Main Divide alongside the Buller River. The terrain is starting to get a bit steep as I climb up into the mountains, but the air is clear, and there forest on one side of the road, and the river on the other side.
If I wasn't sweating it out so much, I might even enjoy the view.
Well, the sun actually came out today, in the real world....
Public holiday here today, so I had a day of domesticity. Made some apricot jam... Just waiting for the jars to cool down enough for the jam to set. Looking forward to having fresh, home-made jam on my toast in the morning!
Also had time to leap on the bike and blat out a 45 minute session. Racked up 25.56 km to make my total distance 1698.50 km.
I left Westport and tonight am travelling east at the moment, back into the Main Divide alongside the Buller River. The terrain is starting to get a bit steep as I climb up into the mountains, but the air is clear, and there forest on one side of the road, and the river on the other side.
If I wasn't sweating it out so much, I might even enjoy the view.
Sunday, 5 February 2012
Day 69
In the Beginning.... There was an Exercycle....
After yesterday's lack of interest in cycling that turned out successfully, today I was much more motivated to ride a lap of my living room.
The results didn't match my enthusiasm however, maybe that was caused in no small part by my 5.5 km hill walk previously today. I will confess to a hint of saddle soreness when I started this evening. Thank goodness that wore off pretty quickly.
Tonight's action saw me add a miserly 24.31 km to my total distance of 1673.00 km. I haven't done that short a distance in my 45 minutes in ten sessions.
I did however, make my goal for this week. I have reached Westport. I tripped by Cape Foulwind and past the seal colonies, and tonight I am camped in Westport. Tomorrow will see me starting an easterly turn so I can head towards Nelson and Picton.
Hopefully for some drier weather. So, until then....
After yesterday's lack of interest in cycling that turned out successfully, today I was much more motivated to ride a lap of my living room.
The results didn't match my enthusiasm however, maybe that was caused in no small part by my 5.5 km hill walk previously today. I will confess to a hint of saddle soreness when I started this evening. Thank goodness that wore off pretty quickly.
Tonight's action saw me add a miserly 24.31 km to my total distance of 1673.00 km. I haven't done that short a distance in my 45 minutes in ten sessions.
I did however, make my goal for this week. I have reached Westport. I tripped by Cape Foulwind and past the seal colonies, and tonight I am camped in Westport. Tomorrow will see me starting an easterly turn so I can head towards Nelson and Picton.
Hopefully for some drier weather. So, until then....
Saturday, 4 February 2012
Day 68
In the beginning... There was an exercycle....
I didn't want to cycle tonight.... I really didn't want to cycle tonight.... I had had a long day, trying to focus on something I really didn't want to be focused on. And we all know how difficult that is. Well, when I got home, all I wanted to do was blob out in front of the TV and veg out....
Then I got a text from a very good friend "you on the bike yet?"
Damn!! "I don't wanna, please don't make meee" was my immediate response. If I had been in bed, I think I'd have pulled the blankets over my head and hidden.
It was James that clinched it for me when he said "if you don't bike tonight, you'll only beat yourself up about it for not going tomorrow"
So, with that kind of peer pressure going on, how could I not? I donned my gear, and got on the cycle....
And cranked out a very tidy 25.60 km!! The worst thing was, when I was done, I felt GREAT! Sure, I was hot and sweaty. I was also really glad I'd done it.
25.60 km added to my total brings me to 1648.79 km. I'm almost at Westport, on the recommendation of a friend, I am taking a wee detour to a place called Cape Foulwind. There's a concrete manufacturing plant there, and I'm told a great seal colony. So, while tonight, I only made it to the turn-off, by my next ride I should be able to tell you all about it.
Is there a lesson to be learned from tonight's ride? Well, I guess there is. With all the negative connotations we have for peer pressure in our lives, there are also some positives to be taken from it. If used in the right way, peer pressure can be a great motivator, and, make us all a bit healthier.
Huge thanks to James and Kirsten for being my Buddies along the way. xox
I didn't want to cycle tonight.... I really didn't want to cycle tonight.... I had had a long day, trying to focus on something I really didn't want to be focused on. And we all know how difficult that is. Well, when I got home, all I wanted to do was blob out in front of the TV and veg out....
Then I got a text from a very good friend "you on the bike yet?"
Damn!! "I don't wanna, please don't make meee" was my immediate response. If I had been in bed, I think I'd have pulled the blankets over my head and hidden.
It was James that clinched it for me when he said "if you don't bike tonight, you'll only beat yourself up about it for not going tomorrow"
So, with that kind of peer pressure going on, how could I not? I donned my gear, and got on the cycle....
And cranked out a very tidy 25.60 km!! The worst thing was, when I was done, I felt GREAT! Sure, I was hot and sweaty. I was also really glad I'd done it.
25.60 km added to my total brings me to 1648.79 km. I'm almost at Westport, on the recommendation of a friend, I am taking a wee detour to a place called Cape Foulwind. There's a concrete manufacturing plant there, and I'm told a great seal colony. So, while tonight, I only made it to the turn-off, by my next ride I should be able to tell you all about it.
Is there a lesson to be learned from tonight's ride? Well, I guess there is. With all the negative connotations we have for peer pressure in our lives, there are also some positives to be taken from it. If used in the right way, peer pressure can be a great motivator, and, make us all a bit healthier.
Huge thanks to James and Kirsten for being my Buddies along the way. xox
Friday, 3 February 2012
Day 68
In the Beginning.... There was an Exercycle.....
Well, did you miss me? Hehehe, I didn't think so. I've had a couple of rest days, but tonight was back "in the saddle" so to speak.
As seems to be the way with me, my first one back from a couple of days off I seem to be able to post a really good distance. Today was no different, I turned out a respectable (for me anyway), 25.41 km. I've by-passed Punakaiki, gone past the pretty Woodpecker Bay and am heading to Charleston.
It really is a very scenic area I'm in, especially in the Papaora National Park. It's a bit wet, and the sandflies are still pretty large over here, but I am really enjoying spending time on my bike again.
I've also been doing some walking, early mornings, out in the real world.
We have a long weekend this weekend in New Zealand. We're celebrating our national day, so rest assured, I'll be being active all weekend.
Goodnight from me tonight. I will leave you all with my total distance covered so far.... 1623.19 km.
Well, did you miss me? Hehehe, I didn't think so. I've had a couple of rest days, but tonight was back "in the saddle" so to speak.
As seems to be the way with me, my first one back from a couple of days off I seem to be able to post a really good distance. Today was no different, I turned out a respectable (for me anyway), 25.41 km. I've by-passed Punakaiki, gone past the pretty Woodpecker Bay and am heading to Charleston.
It really is a very scenic area I'm in, especially in the Papaora National Park. It's a bit wet, and the sandflies are still pretty large over here, but I am really enjoying spending time on my bike again.
I've also been doing some walking, early mornings, out in the real world.
We have a long weekend this weekend in New Zealand. We're celebrating our national day, so rest assured, I'll be being active all weekend.
Goodnight from me tonight. I will leave you all with my total distance covered so far.... 1623.19 km.
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