Porirua Grand Traverse 2009

I had been unable to preride the course as it is on private land and I had missed the one opportunity I had to ride it due to another race.

However, on Sunday morning Craig and I set out for Battle Hill – yes, Craig came too, it was exciting having him along as he’s never been to a race before.  He was chief bike holder while I gossiped with everyone.  I think he was overwhelmed with the elite looking riders and how skinny but strong they looked – it was funny.

3, 2, 1… and we were off, pedaling like snot trying to get a good place in the line of riders heading down the track over a river and straight up in to a long hill climb.  We had a few more of these hill climbs and gravel down hills as we headed West over the Belmont Hills surrounding the picturesque Patahanui Inlet towards Porirua.

2:26hrs later I rode in to the transition area for the 18km trail run.

This is a great little multisport event worth supporting in Wellington each year – check it out at Porirua Grand Traverse.

Grade Two White Water Kayak Course

$25 per night accommodation, unheard of in New Zealand.  But for anyone on Canoe & Kayak courses in Taupo you can stay at Bradshaw’s Lodge for $25 including cereal for breakfast.  They also have some cool looking apartments at the back that they look after on behalf of another company.  These apartments are new and would be great for anyone over the age of 30 years who wants to avoid the noise from the younger crowd at the Lodge.

Canoe & Kayak in Taupo are a great outfit, they definitely put the brand back on the map as far as I am concerned after my dealings with the Wellington store.

The first day we spent the morning drowning ourselves in the hot pools upside down in white water boats.  Then we took these boats to the river from the control bridge down to Reid’s Farm to learn further paddling and rescue techniques.

The next day and weekend were also spent in this section of the river, practising techniques and drowning ourselves.

Then we got to head to the Mokaha for our first taste of white water and rapids – it was fun, but freezing!

The third and final weekend was spent doing our assessment in the Mohaka for our swimming techniques and then in the Tongariro for some faster fuller rapids.  Now that was a fun day!

Needless to say the three of us passed – Phew!

Personalised Number Plates

Craig and I received a cool gift for Craig’s 40th birthday in January from his mum – personalised number plates for our cars!

Grant at Personalised Plates was fantastic to deal with, great sense of humour and ability to come up with plate options.

If you want to know what they are you will have to email me and ask

They actually take three weeks to be made, they are digitally printed in Australia and then made into plates back in New Zealand.  And as Grant says, ‘not by prison inmates’.

They look great on the cars.

Thanks Diane

xxx

Tineli Bikewear Rainbow Rage MTB Race 2009

It had to be done, even though it is considered a family ride, it really isn’t like that out there on the track, it is everyone for themselves!

Four of us ventured down to Blenheim on Friday for a early start on Saturday morning to ride 106km’s from St Arnaud to Hanmer Springs via private farm tracks.

The late arrival of portable toilets meant everyone was peeing and doing number twos in the trees.  The tree section was starting to smell like a toilet.  I wouldn’t want to be that farmer.  The toilets turned up 10minutes before the start of the race – pointless.

I had a gromet say I was a machine on the up hill to Iron Saddle as I bombed the hill passed everyone.  Pity I am not like that on the down hill!

I came 4th in my class, it should have been 3rd but I was such a girl on the down hill on the gravel and got passed near the end – Grr! There were about 650 entrants. Check out the Tineli Bikewear Rainbow Rage for results and information.

It was nice to have a plate full of food that had been prepared for riders after the event and a relaxing swim in the Hanmer Hot Springs.

Photo’s of us prior and after the race.  Then during the race.

Would I do it again?  I do not think so, too bumpy for this kid!   The experience was great but the butt ache from the continuous water ruts along the track are not worth a second look … or maybe they are from a 4WD as that is what you would need for a slightly more comfortable ride.

The scenery was beautiful, the dramatic hills lining the valley you rode up along side a fresh river that you could still drink from was worth the pain once.