tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68820605922581772432024-03-13T23:44:10.799-07:00Vespa Chick goes round the Worldvespa chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557924552715079239noreply@blogger.comBlogger130125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6882060592258177243.post-20125378868837685692016-02-27T00:09:00.003-08:002016-02-27T00:09:27.005-08:00Trans Am pair. latest update. Mini tour number three completed. What went well? I accomplished my goal of 1000 kms in 6 days in a range of conditions from non stop rain to very hot to strong headwind and cross winds. What didn't go so well was breaking in a new saddle that caused saddle sores, but that is one of the reasons for training - discovering potential problems and sorting them.<br />
I really enjoyed the Kiakora coastline, and the views of the mountains and lakes in the central high country. I also enjoyed the drive up the stunning west coast on my trip back home to Nelson. We live in such a lovely part of the world.<br />
After Niel met me at the 1000 km mark, we then we swapped - I drove home and Niel got on his bike. He didn't have a good time and as a consequence we have made the decision to enter the Trans Am as a pair. We ride well together - as we have been riding around the world together for 30 years, and know exactly each others strengths and weaknesses.<br />
Riding together as a pair has advantages and disadvantages but we still ride the whole distance each.<br />
The advantages is that we can take turns breaking the wind in the front and can share some of the load and consequently lighten our loads just a fraction.<br />
The disadvantages are that you don't get so much kudos for finishing, and there is the possibility that one or other of you may get frustrated with the other at some times.<br />
However it should be more enjoyable having someone to talk to and share the experience with.<br />
This will be my last blog post, I will be changing to a 'like page' on Facebook. It is much easier for me to use and to add photos to. I invite you to join my like page when I set it up. I know not everyone uses Facebook, but I had to make the decision for ease of use.<br />
I hope you will enjoy reading Vespa Chick - diary of a word cyclist.<br />
<br />vespa chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557924552715079239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6882060592258177243.post-8484446725938807452016-01-26T19:00:00.000-08:002016-01-26T19:00:53.684-08:00Resurrection of my blog and the TransAm. I was about to give up on writing my blog. I really want my life to be more private and less open to public scrutiny. Following a suggestion from a fellow TransAm buddly (thanks Jodi) - I have decided to make it only a diary of my cycling endeavors. If you are not interested in my cycling adventures then I sadly bid you farewell.<br />
To clear a few things up from my last post months ago - I am postponing my proposed trips to finish cycling the world, in favor of redoing the TransAm bike race. <br />
While riding the TransAm last year - I couldn't understand why anyone would do it a second time, so what bought this decision on? Mostly I hate not finishing something that I know I can finish, but I learned a lot and realized that I made a lot of mistakes. The TransAm takes a lot of training and dedication, I cannot frit away money on trips of fancy when I need to put in months of long rides and mini tours from home to get to the stage of riding 1,100kms or more with a load on my bike in a week and it being easy.<br />
<br />
There are a lot more women entered in this years event. Having had some experience last year is definitely an advantage as I know what to expect and how to cope with the things that caused me problems last year, especially as a woman and not just another rider. I have had my Carpel Tunnel in my hands repaired so I can hold the handle bars better although I still have a struggle squeezing on the brakes - however I am sure that will improve. I have reduced my load from last year by a third and have a wider saddle to control the saddle sores and bruising I suffered last year, and found other ways of coping with the pain and discomfort - Niel is even using these remedies too in anticipation of getting some chaffing. I am also training my mind to be happy riding at night instead of always during the day - if it is unbearably hot or windy during the day.<br />
Niel is also doing the TransAm this year, but we are not riding it together. I will be starting on the east coast, and he is starting on the west coast. We both have reasons for these choices. So we will see each other briefly somewhere near the middle.<br />
My training is going well. I have only been able to ride distances of over 150km in the last month since recovering from the surgery on my hands. But in that time I have ridden at least one 200km ride every week and added other rides to try and increase my distance to 1100kms a week. It is not my body stopping me achieving this, but rather boredom with riding the same roads all the time, that is why I need to get away on mini tours. The next one is the length of the South Island( 1,000kms) in 6 days sometime in February.<br />
I will let you know how it goes.vespa chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557924552715079239noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6882060592258177243.post-5644669224371859072015-09-23T02:20:00.000-07:002015-09-23T02:20:06.117-07:00Temperature issues.A lot has been happening lately, but nothing I can really tell you about. It seems there is so many people around me that seem to be suffering in one way or another. If it's not illness, frailty, stress or just plain home sickness. Sometimes you feel quilty for your health and fitness even though I have been sick at times. Perhaps it's the age I am, I don't know, but having just had another birthday - it makes you look at your life and those around you. I know I have made the right decision in my quest to travel the world, before I can't for whatever reason. I have to follow my dream.<br />
<br />
I said in my last post that I was about to buy my ticket to HongKong, but the day before payment was due, I had the offer of company for the SE Asia part of the trip, if I could change the date.<br />
I definitely wanted the company but it was a blow losing that special airfare. The only way the change in dates worked for me was to do my trip in reverse - and that means cycling Australia in the heat of autumn. It is just too hot then for the route I had planned, so I am trying to work out a new route that will still finish up at Darwin, but not crossing the outback in the high temperatures. At the moment I am considering starting in Brisbane and riding through the Mt Isa road to Tennant Creek and then north to Darwin. I don't know much about that area or the possible temperatures in late March early April. If someone is reading this and can advise me then I would appreciate it. I've searched wind currents and temperatures for that time of year, but nothing is mentioned of that particular area.<br />
<br />
Niel is still cycling in Scandinavia and has crossed into Denmark now.He has had a great deal of rain to contend with. He is well ahead of his schedule so he has had to slow down. He needs to have some days off and be a tourist for a while. I am looking forward to his returning home and I think that he is looking forward to coming home too. 9 weeks is a long time on your own.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1UOXfiu6ONmt3Zv_mv-wUx4t7qN0IAkKdAJxSmiTzlfsFg53OuKoIxy-aSuEvGOUx5gsu0yZ1c_Am7KDp9wKFCWLDIt4RgfRXZukjNDJ_7QQSqY0hfhfrFOr5_gXR3NlSxPuQnZjtgNas/s1600/Cycling-Rain-Picture-Illustration-F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1UOXfiu6ONmt3Zv_mv-wUx4t7qN0IAkKdAJxSmiTzlfsFg53OuKoIxy-aSuEvGOUx5gsu0yZ1c_Am7KDp9wKFCWLDIt4RgfRXZukjNDJ_7QQSqY0hfhfrFOr5_gXR3NlSxPuQnZjtgNas/s640/Cycling-Rain-Picture-Illustration-F.jpg" width="592" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wish the spring rain would turn into sunshine.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Well I am enjoying the warm spring days when we get them, It has been a very wet spring so far. But the warm days have been interspersed with the odd winter day just so that we don't get too comfortable. I even got a hint of sunburn on my lily white legs. The awkward thing about starting out early on a long ride, is where to put all your warm layers when the temperature rises. It's a juggling act of stuffing pockets with small items from the handle bar bag to make room for tights and vest and rolling your wool gloves into a ball and stuffing them into the spare drink bottle cage. Only to reverse the process at the end of the day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxFXWRSmzdtGftNTX748MDvANHyx_8VadYlAPQw5JIx-09LgKulA8Y-zbRaAhpMtlscV4j0KZUbG6Y1nFUquq190HLJBPU33nlMSl3EHlg965R2OJe52AnosSaolJDqwLZqNoc31hKATf/s1600/DSC00812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxFXWRSmzdtGftNTX748MDvANHyx_8VadYlAPQw5JIx-09LgKulA8Y-zbRaAhpMtlscV4j0KZUbG6Y1nFUquq190HLJBPU33nlMSl3EHlg965R2OJe52AnosSaolJDqwLZqNoc31hKATf/s640/DSC00812.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Longest picket fence in the world? what you don't see is the bit that turns the corner and carries on.</td></tr>
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While Niel has been away, I set myself the task of getting our picket fence painted. It may not be the longest picket fence in the world, but it feels like it is. It has taken 5 weeks to get the first coat on - It's only 3 weeks until Niel gets home and I've got to get the 2nd coat finished by then. I think I'll just do it, if it would just stop raining.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />vespa chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557924552715079239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6882060592258177243.post-62453756211717975222015-08-28T21:32:00.001-07:002015-08-28T21:32:34.793-07:00Happy non Father's Day Niel.<div class="MsoNormal">
It is almost Father’s Day. Niel and my Fathers’ have both unfortunately
died. Niel may not be a Father, although
he is a surrogate father to our cats, but he is the most important male in my
life. And with him being on the other side of the world at the moment, I have
noticed a few things related to his absence.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X4kFgqf5x4U/TvvRNDOFA5I/AAAAAAAAA_w/xnKw85cmeHg/s1600/IMG_0545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X4kFgqf5x4U/TvvRNDOFA5I/AAAAAAAAA_w/xnKw85cmeHg/s640/IMG_0545.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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First of all is that the house is so quiet. I have never realised
how much noise he made, and the house seems so big without him. How can the
lack of one person’s presence make such a difference to the feel of the house?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Secondly – the bathroom stays remarkably clean, especially
the mirror. What do men do in the bathroom to make it so dirty? Especially as I'm
sure women spend more time in there than men do.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thirdly – I keep forgetting to do things that he normally
does, like cleaning out the ash from the fire, shifting the furniture when vacuuming
the floor, and sweeping the decks. Hmm – come to think of it – he was
remarkably useful around the house. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fourth – one bonus of Niel being away is that I don’t have
to cook a meal every night. That is such a treat, I don’t know if men who don’t
cook, realise how much we get sick of cooking for them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fifth – I can save more money than when he is at home, even
though I go to the doctor more than him. Actually everyone goes to the doctor
more than him, as he hates them and refuses to ever go to one. He is pretty good
at not spending needlessly, but there are those little things that keep coming
home from the bike shop – like pressure gauges, and colour coordinated tidbits for
his beloved bike (drink bottles, valve caps and cable outers that match his
transfers on his bike etc.) – No they are not free to the staff. Then there is
his favourite bike shop of E-Bay, where he gets all those ‘essentials’ like
caps, how many caps does a man need?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEuqwzmdrC7v2DAzk9rvL3CkzBfElMklw3-G9GcrozhRvL7P3Nik4I-ORsQgXgicjXwP-5BIwuq9uyD6-y17B2zAb_uX3STxd7fQertuWIg-WpC6gkj2ND3Aguayq9MLq5jS2nu0bFfjLj/s1600/DSC00805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEuqwzmdrC7v2DAzk9rvL3CkzBfElMklw3-G9GcrozhRvL7P3Nik4I-ORsQgXgicjXwP-5BIwuq9uyD6-y17B2zAb_uX3STxd7fQertuWIg-WpC6gkj2ND3Aguayq9MLq5jS2nu0bFfjLj/s640/DSC00805.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just some of Niel's Caps.</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
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Sixth – even though I am the gardening enthusiast, I do miss
his muscles when trying to prune trees, or do things that the ‘Carpel Tunnel
syndrome’ in my wrists find hard to do. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have had to limit my cycling in the last few weeks due to
injury and sickness – the first and hopefully last winter ill I will get. I am
jealous of the amount of cycling Niel is doing right now, but it is finally
Spring time, and I am over the tummy bug that laid me low last week, I’m still
hindered by my injury, but it should come right too.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not exactly lonely, but with my birthday coming up, I
have decided that I’m not going to sit it out and do nothing, so I’ve decided
to do something special and buy my flights to Hong Kong. Tickets to Hong Kong
are on special at the moment, and why not make the most of that as a birthday treat.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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In the meantime – Happy Father’s Day from the cats Niel.<o:p></o:p></div>
vespa chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557924552715079239noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6882060592258177243.post-2652862280911105632015-08-12T20:59:00.002-07:002015-08-12T20:59:17.749-07:00Is it Spring yet?<div class="MsoNormal">
Well Niel has left on his big cycling adventure of
Scandinavia. As per usual the airlines have left his bike behind. He must be
absolutely sick of this happening. Every single international flight he has
taken in the last 3 years - the airlines have lost his bike. Don’t the airlines
realize that a cyclist deprived of his bike is like a bird unable to fly?
Anyway while Niel is gone I am starting to organize my first section of my ‘round
the world adventure’.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have sorted out an estimate of where I would like to get
to each day. I need to know this to apply for visas for China, Vietnam and
Laos. I don’t need visas for Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore or Australia.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have a friend in Darwin Australia, where I can send my
camping stuff that I won’t need in SE Asia, and where I can send my tropical
clothes home from. They have also invited me to stay, which will be awesome.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My brother has expressed interest in cycling some of SE Asia
with me, but hasn’t committed yet. My friends near Seattle in Washington State
of the US will join me for some of the Pacific Coastline in the US. Niel and I
will do a bit of the last stage from Russia to Hong Kong together. I am still
hoping some of my friends will be interested in accompanying me in Australia
even if it is by car and not bike. The invite is still out there if anyone
wants to join me. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Obviously I am saving every cent, although I have expenses
such as renewing my passport and paying for visas, when I have finally bought
my ticket to Hong Kong and have dates. I have even started to sell some of my
possessions to try and raise funds. It doesn’t help matters when My Vespa
scooter got a parking ticket for exceeding the time limit in a car park, when I
wasn’t parked in a car park (as if I would do such a thing); I was parked in
with the bicycles. $65 fine for depriving another car of my spot in the car
park – how ludicrous is that! I refuse to pay it – that is one over- zealous
parking warden. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Does it look like my Vespa is in a car park? No? why did a get a ticket then?</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While I have time to myself with Niel away, I have got a
Spanish CD and booklet out of the library in attempt to learn some Spanish. I
am a typical New Zealander in my lack of knowledge of another language. I know
phones have a translate app, but the more you actually understand – the better.
I will be in Spanish speaking Mexico and South America, so I thought it would
be worth at least getting a basic grasp of the language.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am almost desperate for this seemingly unending winter to
finish. It was winter before I left for the Trans Am and winter when I
returned, and it is STILL winter.it is officially Spring in 3 weeks’ time; I
wish it would hurry up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
vespa chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557924552715079239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6882060592258177243.post-52393321955194838602015-07-29T14:48:00.000-07:002015-07-29T14:48:25.411-07:00I have made the commitment - I am going around the world.<div class="MsoNormal">
As you all may have guessed from the title of my blog – I
have always wanted to go around the world. I have wanted to do it as a
whimsical dream since I began cycle touring when I met Niel in 1983. My desire
to achieve this goal became serious in 2007 when meeting someone in Ireland who
was about to embark on this challenge. But up until now the time hasn’t been
right, or I was constrained by lack of money or operations on my troublesome
feet and knees. I am now 55 year old and I have almost run out of time for this
dream to become a reality. I cannot wait for the perfect time anymore, and I
cannot wait for Niel to agree to do it with me. So I have finally bitten the
bullet and decided I am going to do it, on my own if need be.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know I said after the Trans Am that I wasn’t interested in
long tours anymore, but Niel is about to leave on his trip to Scandinavia and I
am jealous – yes I still have the touring bug. I can finally answer those
questions of When, Where, and How? Of course I have to work around Niel’s
commitment to 2016’s Trans Am race and the seasons around the world. Bearing
this in mind I have decided to break the trip around the world into 3 sections,
and if anyone wants to join me for some or all of it, then I would love some
company.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When: I intend to start stage 1 in early February 2016 in
Hong Kong, and riding down the coast of China into Northern Vietnam and across
the border into Laos and then Thailand, ride down the Thai and Malay Peninsula
to Singapore, fly to Darwin Australia and ride through the centre of the
country to Adelaide and then Melbourne, and then be home by May in time for
Niel to leave for the States to do the Trans Am.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCD234JppAnlMkjDacfgV53BxRBjUcT4RXaOjKcDtFgrpWT3IyXpK_oqKaW-K0u7WPf67Rsyzmbi84VBfTbbjpoemJ4wJTUZNHdUymW3y9jEJ_G4Ygn67sixTMxRt0wHiM5l5RllSBVg81/s1600/DSC00796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCD234JppAnlMkjDacfgV53BxRBjUcT4RXaOjKcDtFgrpWT3IyXpK_oqKaW-K0u7WPf67Rsyzmbi84VBfTbbjpoemJ4wJTUZNHdUymW3y9jEJ_G4Ygn67sixTMxRt0wHiM5l5RllSBVg81/s400/DSC00796.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have all the maps already for section one.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Stage 2 starts in August when Niel is home from the Trans Am
and I will start in Seattle and ride the length of the American Pacific coast
including the Baja Peninsula to Mexico City. Then I will fly to Lima Peru in
the Southern Hemisphere Spring and ride to Santiago Chile, across a not too
high pass in the Andes and East to Buenos Aires where I will fly home and wait
6 months for the Northern Hemisphere Summer to heat up again in 2017. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Stage 3: Fly to London in approximately early June, and take
a ferry across the English Channel to Brussels and ride to Denmark, across to
Sweden and ferry to Finland. From Helsinki I will ride to Moscow and take the
Siberian Express train to Beijing and ride down to Hong Kong to complete the
loop.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That is the plan at the moment subject to any improvements.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Where? As explained above, I have cheated a bit catching the
train across Russia, but it’s not a race, and my course is the safest I can
come up with for a woman on her own.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How? I intend to do it like Niel and I did our trip across
Canada. Touring NOT racing, with days off to stay mentally and physically
refreshed. There will be long and short days depending on distances between
places and to be honest – the faster I do it the less time I will be away,
which means it will keep the cost down.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ll repeat myself and say if any of my friends or family
thinks they will like to join me for any or all of this – then I would love
having some company. If you are interested, then I am budgeting about $50 (NZ) a
day, plus airfares, and will stay in cheap motels / hotels only if there is no
camping available.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well now that I have
openly declared my intentions, I will admit that I am a bit nervous, I would
prefer for Niel to join me, but one thing I did really like about doing the
Trans Am is - making my own decisions whether they are right or wrong – they
were MY decisions, and I found that empowering.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlasUN-6OrOr8H-030Jq9LHECsTD1lNGFAoCNHDtgek5Vy27Q1YGTI86JoqY0DS5fHQHTo51PLTzOMPkpWtd6nnwlq8YsFONjPWRPLAm6tkyi2qo85qJ9HfdXbbuIjfIOO3znAiwHiaokJ/s1600/stock-photo-lamb-and-daffodils-3030030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlasUN-6OrOr8H-030Jq9LHECsTD1lNGFAoCNHDtgek5Vy27Q1YGTI86JoqY0DS5fHQHTo51PLTzOMPkpWtd6nnwlq8YsFONjPWRPLAm6tkyi2qo85qJ9HfdXbbuIjfIOO3znAiwHiaokJ/s640/stock-photo-lamb-and-daffodils-3030030.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OH - how cute.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Spring is almost here now. Baby Lambs are appearing in the
paddocks, the daffodils are in flower, some cherry and magnolia trees are also
in flower, and the grass is growing again and needing mowing. There is a
feeling that the seasons have turned a corner – perhaps it is the hours of
daylight increasing, whatever it is, I am ready for longer bike rides, and
regaining the fitness I have lost during winter.<o:p></o:p></div>
vespa chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557924552715079239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6882060592258177243.post-71113626364328397192015-07-14T19:10:00.002-07:002015-07-14T19:10:46.632-07:00It was the shoes fault.<div class="MsoNormal">
I fell off my bike this week – it’s alright – I’m fine, no
need for you to fret about my well - being. Just matching lumps on both knees
and whip lash in my neck – strange that – but it is all I can think of to
explain why my neck is so sore and stiff this week. I thought it was sleeping
on it in a funny position, but it hasn’t abated, so I know it was wrenched
significantly enough to not be simply sleeping on it funny.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWA5I1dgfteGB69tlg9FFttnW_6omwx3h1_HygMWON5K7e6mqT7mkrguPr0uT_y5VcsMAVGVIlTser491Ukmt39oDXG__KHstIKvMjefkMls9eNedFiLe64WmO_au5YKGOlKx2Gr3gI-qB/s1600/DSC00795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWA5I1dgfteGB69tlg9FFttnW_6omwx3h1_HygMWON5K7e6mqT7mkrguPr0uT_y5VcsMAVGVIlTser491Ukmt39oDXG__KHstIKvMjefkMls9eNedFiLe64WmO_au5YKGOlKx2Gr3gI-qB/s640/DSC00795.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Actually I blame my shoes. What I hear you say? Yes you
heard right, I was almost at a stop and went to twist my shoe out of the pedal
and nothing happened except falling on the stony path of the cycle way. On
getting back to my feet I noticed my shoe felt like a Flip Flop. The sole had
all but parted company with the rest of the shoe, so when I went to untwist my
cleat from my pedal the cleat stayed put and my shoe untwisted itself. Well
that is a first; I have never had that happen before.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
OK my shoes were pretty old. I had cycle toured, Vietnam and
across Canada, and done about 20,000 kms of training on them every year for the
past 3 years, but Niel reckons there is still plenty of life left in them –
what? I was putting them in the bin when Niel gets them out and takes them down
to his bike workshop and comes back with them glued and held together with
clamps. Why am I telling you all this? Well this is a typical example of how we
can afford to keep having trips away. We keep our worn out stuff going well
beyond when most people throw them out. I have no hesitation in wearing cast
offs from other people and mending and fixing things, all with the desire to
save money that I would rather spend on a hotel when I need one in another
country.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYrPxm3IIdcKDN5rcYyYohYIZrppeRqIkjkM-95u9ls9yUxsnKKUyth46cJ6teXcwfxl2rAs4tdmuH-XJ5dLifq33GeFlJoFHxtJYWEFG1J8lGcijx_KAgdCbBQDb_X0mD1L9_ZjBz_tr/s1600/DSC00763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYrPxm3IIdcKDN5rcYyYohYIZrppeRqIkjkM-95u9ls9yUxsnKKUyth46cJ6teXcwfxl2rAs4tdmuH-XJ5dLifq33GeFlJoFHxtJYWEFG1J8lGcijx_KAgdCbBQDb_X0mD1L9_ZjBz_tr/s640/DSC00763.JPG" width="460" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Food for thought, where shall I go next?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I have been giving a lot of thought to my trips in the next
few years. I need to work around Niel’s trips as the dates of his are set in
stone – being events that he wants to accomplish. So I think I would like to
finish SE Asia early next year, and finish Europe at the end of the same year.
Then I need to be at home for a year while Niel is away. So the following year
– 2018 I want to finish going around the world by doing the main Asian
continent. I am toying with ideas of how to make this happen without going
anywhere near any war zones or scary places.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think Niel and I are in for an exciting few years if
everything goes to plan and nothing untoward happens. We have such a lot to
achieve in a few short years.<o:p></o:p></div>
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vespa chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557924552715079239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6882060592258177243.post-59980283766054882482015-06-29T18:57:00.002-07:002015-06-29T18:57:09.202-07:00Would I have done anything differently?<div class="MsoNormal">
Before I say anything else, I want to thank all those people who gave me words of encouragement and goodwill while I was attempting the Trans Am bike race. I couldn’t respond at the time as Microsoft had stopped me accessing my email account- thinking I was a security risk as I was trying to get into it from a different location than home. I tried to amend this but to no avail, so thank you for your lovely thoughts and wishes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have no regrets about pulling out and it was definitely the right decision at the time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How come my bike weighed 1 and1/2 kilos more on coming home from the USA than going there? Surely I had the same load? I had to pay $70(US) for being over my weight allowance. I unloaded everything and pulled out 8 lithium batteries that I bought to keep my spot tracker going across The States. They were expensive and I wasn’t going to throw them out, so was my tube of sunscreen, UV protection face cream and container of Anti Chaff. Then there was the extra summer clothes I wore on the plane going there, but had to be packed away in favour of some winter trousers and jacket I bought to come home in, for the middle of winter temperatures. OK I can see where the 1 and ½ kilos came from now.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well it is lovely being home, even though it is the middle of winter. It is not too cold to ride my bike though. I have thought a lot about the last month and asked myself if I would have done anything differently to have finished the Trans Am, apart from the obvious: not sticking to my original game plane - if I had done that I would have finished.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5BfiyoA8J0gICtKz6aQahDsIu0BiknDkqlcpQZn6FrOcBm5AlJMZYjENP_CeB5x1JtCK-TeTypc_INQz674NU8I89F8YllmyFYKlpgaYR-EaT9aqpMLjkv0meNXFgmXG61FUTa0sqLw/s1600/DSC00770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5BfiyoA8J0gICtKz6aQahDsIu0BiknDkqlcpQZn6FrOcBm5AlJMZYjENP_CeB5x1JtCK-TeTypc_INQz674NU8I89F8YllmyFYKlpgaYR-EaT9aqpMLjkv0meNXFgmXG61FUTa0sqLw/s320/DSC00770.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">I had too much stuff.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Yes, I should have taken less stuff for a start. I thought I had perfected my load but once a cycle tourist – always a cycle tourist and I took things I thought were indispensable but proved to be the opposite. I shouldn’t have taken a tent and sleeping bag – they may have been light weight but motels were the accommodation of choice, and a bivy bag would have done the trick for those occasional times of wilderness. I took far too much first aid stuff – that could have been reduced by 2/3rds and I didn’t need insect repellent – I wasn’t still long enough for insects to bite me. I didn’t need a knife and fork but I did use the spoon and plastic cup I took - a lot, as motels have coffee making facilities but no cups or spoons and it was useful for eating cereal and yogurt out of. I don’t regret taking 3 drink bottles as you can always leave them empty when in an area of plenty of shops, but when you need a third drink bottle it is indispensable.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I should have been more flexible with my riding; I should have ridden through the evening, night and morning until the motels opened for the day and slept through the heat of the day. If I had kept cooler I wouldn’t have got so saddle sore and the creams wouldn’t have melted straight off like they did.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I should have had a Garmin or loaded the route onto my phone instead of using 12 heavy maps that needed to be constantly checked for directions and needing turning over to the next map. I wasted such a lot of time with my maps and if I had the route downloaded – I wouldn’t have got lost as it would have told me I had gone the wrong way.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was fit enough – my training was great, but I needed to ride more through the night and to constantly push the distance as you get caught up in the hype of the event and your original ideas of daily distance gets abandoned in favour of keeping up with everyone else.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But what I have learnt – I can pass on to Niel who is still keen to do it next year.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next year…… I have given it a lot of thought, and decided I want to be a ‘credit card’ tourist- doing big mileage but taking very little gear and using motels / hotels. Being away cycling for 3 weeks this way would cost the same as being away for 6 weeks and doing 100kms a day and camping the whole time. I am thinking about riding from Bangkok to Singapore.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTs0gcbQdDRWpadUB9dTDdD92zsPNRjPbVtFYoWZYY204UjRpwh4o8R49Dlg-dj4if6xym5_OKnJ7KbY_8ra0Fbv0qCYbcdH23yhaIiNkDsbyg5Osj1IAFgB6I7RnX7i60FD73B1I79U/s1600/DSC00794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTs0gcbQdDRWpadUB9dTDdD92zsPNRjPbVtFYoWZYY204UjRpwh4o8R49Dlg-dj4if6xym5_OKnJ7KbY_8ra0Fbv0qCYbcdH23yhaIiNkDsbyg5Osj1IAFgB6I7RnX7i60FD73B1I79U/s640/DSC00794.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Planning for next year already.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I met some lovely people while I was away, and I am very grateful to my lovely friends Jan and Reed from Olympic Peninsula near Seattle, who ‘rescued’ me and put me up for a week. It is often the people who make a trip not the scenery or physical achievement. Having said that though , I am very proud of myself for how I rode – not many middle aged women could ride 200kms a day carrying the weight of a child on their bike, in 40 degree heat barely eating and in constant discomfort from saddle sores and surviving on an average of 5 hours sleep a day.</div>
vespa chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557924552715079239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6882060592258177243.post-27225499825006308012015-06-19T00:11:00.002-07:002015-06-19T00:11:57.372-07:00Life after the TransAmI've been trying to work out in my head what my cycling niche is now. This trip has sorted some things out for me and I realize that what I really enjoyed before, isn't what I enjoy now. Maybe it's a progression of aging, maybe it's that nothing in life ever stays the same. Maybe I am sick of hardship and hurting, or maybe I've changed. What ever it is I still love riding my bike.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItLBAQbPfkO7e8pFgjtofvkLh13SziUNh1VPgK3kAE0vIhzu7r5apx92STWvc9KfJhVRpGhaFS9t0qUFRM1oLN2iB7DGzdZsdw7zV1S-AgCrATYfepO9dJzrEZla23ENxxyu1jTRlrXHz/s1600/received_865481206871761.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItLBAQbPfkO7e8pFgjtofvkLh13SziUNh1VPgK3kAE0vIhzu7r5apx92STWvc9KfJhVRpGhaFS9t0qUFRM1oLN2iB7DGzdZsdw7zV1S-AgCrATYfepO9dJzrEZla23ENxxyu1jTRlrXHz/s640/received_865481206871761.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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What don't I like? Pain, going to bed dirty, being away from creature comforts for too long, repeating the same roads instead of seeing new stuff. And getting up at 2/3am every morning.<br />
What do I like? Feeling free, fit and being part of the environment around me. I enjoy long rides - I find them physically satisfying. I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment from the comfort of a motel room or your own comfy archair after a hot shower.<br />
I'm starting to wonder if I've got soft.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnR9XexIdFSGKcJ1i0ESSWeUHhptXyGVlzAHGTg0s2bprThzskJgboriWw2bpuY8FTEPAFA83XLp-_gnNMzskEVQQNKoe7qOm4f9zy8AOQbcG5Y28fnJaKiJdd-2OSV6QfLBh9_qewcnWb/s1600/20150619_181631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnR9XexIdFSGKcJ1i0ESSWeUHhptXyGVlzAHGTg0s2bprThzskJgboriWw2bpuY8FTEPAFA83XLp-_gnNMzskEVQQNKoe7qOm4f9zy8AOQbcG5Y28fnJaKiJdd-2OSV6QfLBh9_qewcnWb/s640/20150619_181631.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Niel ' s Idea of Creature Comforts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Option 1) cycle touring long distance but over the short time of a week staying in motels.<br />
Option 2) vehicle assisted touring with a bit of comfort, no load and the versatility that gives you.<br />
Option 3) do Randonneur events from home or a motel.<br />
Option 5) doing organized tours where you don't have to carry anything and everything is done for you - although you may have to put up with annoying people.<br />
There is no reason to carry on doing things the way you always have in the past. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should do it, and I need to do things a bit differently now.<br />
<br />vespa chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557924552715079239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6882060592258177243.post-53368408205808953902015-06-16T14:23:00.001-07:002015-06-16T14:23:17.006-07:0010 days was enough.After 1600kms my body has said enough. My saddle sores are so bad that I can barely sit on the saddle at all despite all the cream I am putting on them, and the lack of sleep is wearing me out so much that I am simply not enjoying this. When I got on my bike and started vomiting I knew it was time to pull the plug. If I could get one more day to Missoula In Montana where there was an airport and or train, then I could get to Seattle to where my friends live and try to get a flight home.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfG7eVmlMeFrkmGvLvuhO5WXoXTZp-uoylvivNDpryUSB-_wdAZOWX6hp5hTUHrIDDjyablbvHgxpKrYkH6BGDW1jsa9XO2pbN3TxzmO8BQc0G_1CoDfFWf7ItZe523o3ePzNAJU8qmvFr/s1600/received_864053433681205.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfG7eVmlMeFrkmGvLvuhO5WXoXTZp-uoylvivNDpryUSB-_wdAZOWX6hp5hTUHrIDDjyablbvHgxpKrYkH6BGDW1jsa9XO2pbN3TxzmO8BQc0G_1CoDfFWf7ItZe523o3ePzNAJU8qmvFr/s640/received_864053433681205.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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So one last day of struggling with my complaining stomach and saddle sores over Lolo Pass, I actually had to walk up some of the Pass.<br />
I have seen some great scenery and some lovely people. I've seen Squirrels, Chipmunks, Deer. Birds of all sorts, and on my last day I have finally seen a mother and baby Moose right next to the road.<br />
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It has been a great experience and I exceeded my own expectations of my riding ability.<br />
But right now I am going to recover with my lovely friends and enjoy the summer temperatures while I sort out getting home. <br />
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<br />vespa chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557924552715079239noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6882060592258177243.post-65388318552851802572015-06-11T14:29:00.001-07:002015-06-11T14:29:25.734-07:00I wouldn't want to repeat today. Day 5 : 200kms and 920kms from Astoria.<br />
It started out as a good day until I took the wrong road and did 110kms off trail. I had no drink left that for the first time in my life I was just guzzling drink from Discarded bottles on the side of the road. I was stumbling with fatigue and dehydration so I was imagining that God put it there for me. My tongue was swollen and my mouth felt glued shut, but I eventually summited the monstrous hill and I crawled the last 21kms in a headwind to Baker City.<br />
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The motel was a god send as well and I just made it to a restaurant before closing. I considered quitting - I really did, but the kind words of Niel and friends encouraged me to carry on and with a whole 8 hours sleep I'm in a better head space.<br />
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After staring at the map ' I realize that I can be back on schedule in 2 days and then start making up time again. I will try and keep an eye on Fran so that I don't overtake her.<br />
In the meantime I will be doing a few chores today, rest my body and go to bed early for an early start. I'd like to do 215km tomorrow to a town called Council, and there are no big hills only 2 medium sized ones.<br />
What ever I drank from the discarded drink bottles upset my insides!!! Enough said already.vespa chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557924552715079239noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6882060592258177243.post-11052187712930565612015-06-10T04:34:00.001-07:002015-06-10T04:34:08.791-07:00The first four days.Hello my followers, this the second time i have written this - as I lost the first draft to the ether somewhere. I've just finished day four and have done 720kms so far .<br />
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It's been incredibly hot and therefore tiring, but others are in a worse state than me and I am actually now the first female but I'm sure that won't last.<br />
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My worst problems are bad saddle sores from chaffing in the heat (yes I'm using Savlon cream at night and anti chaff during the day. The extreme heat is just melting it off). And a burnt tongue and lips which makes me incredibly thirsty to cool them off. Never the less I am pretty proud of myself so far.<br />
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.Oh well it's 4 in the morning and time to get on the road.vespa chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557924552715079239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6882060592258177243.post-957290708142731812015-06-05T19:12:00.000-07:002015-06-05T19:12:49.927-07:00Astoria or bust.I had the strangest feelings leaving Niel at the airport and flying away. I felt nervous for a minute and then suddenly really empowered. I felt oddly like I had gained a sense of independence and self confidence. I don't know if that makes any sense, but I felt liberated. I know what Niel meant when he rode across South America and said he was scared at times, but also felt like he could do anything. Now don't get me wrong - I love Niel and all the trips we have done together, maybe it's simply that this trip came at the right time in my life.<br />
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In all my travels over seas I have always struggled to get my bike and gear within the 23kg weight allowance on the plane. Even wearing practically all my clothes and making my carry on bag as heavy as I can get away with, I have achieved the impossible today and my bike and gear weighed in at 22.8kg - awesome.<br />
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I've always heard that LA is the busiest and most unappealing of international airports. It certainly is busy but then so is Hong Kong or Bangkok, but LA seems to have endless queues that are very trying. And exiting my flight into the terminal someone had put the heater on! ! It was definitely Summer again and all those extra layers had to come off.<br />
I got my bike together and took it for a test ride and firstly the computer wasn't going because I had put the wheel in back to front - duh. Then the handle bars started to turn around because I hadn't tightened it enough - back to the motel fixed everything and tried another test run this time my bike felt great and I felt less jet lagged and more alive. I'm looking forward to a decent ride to Astoria tomorrow.<br />
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Leaving Portland - I was surprised at what a big city it was. My very kind friend - Jan took me to Tillamook - just over 100kms down the Oregon Coast from Astoria and I rode against a strong headwind to Astoria. That coast would have to be the most scenic in the world it is a stunning combination of trees, beaches, rocky islets and estuaries. After getting lost at one point - I finally pulled into Astoria at 8pm.vespa chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557924552715079239noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6882060592258177243.post-49496792501609267412015-05-30T16:19:00.003-07:002015-05-30T16:19:48.633-07:00As ready as I can be. I attempted one last training ride- the day dawned fine but very cold at 1° Celsius. I had so many clothes on that I didn't know where I was going to put the extra layers when the day warmed up. But the day only warmed up to 12°, so I had the extra layers on for most of the day, it was only my warm hat I had to deal with, and I tied that to a loop on my handle bar bag. One very difficult part of riding in the freezing cold is that your sweat never dries off (yes I still sweat in the cold), so you are damp when the chill settles in at sunset. 3° with a with a wind chill on damp skin and hair is awful - Needless to say I had to call it quits then and only got in 160kms.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7loFJsR4AtbtRfpztnfFn7mn50hP0R6zvp7EPY1To4cojYJFJ6wQrJwvfZCzygbIUNvFuLDZwHB7gM8KuFruBpK_5f-RRkTHwiXBo4tVqkbcGnK7s-rec3xKPKcHGvEaZZR25G_qdUkMk/s1600/DSC00745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7loFJsR4AtbtRfpztnfFn7mn50hP0R6zvp7EPY1To4cojYJFJ6wQrJwvfZCzygbIUNvFuLDZwHB7gM8KuFruBpK_5f-RRkTHwiXBo4tVqkbcGnK7s-rec3xKPKcHGvEaZZR25G_qdUkMk/s640/DSC00745.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My god it was cold.</td></tr>
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So training is completed, I've cleaned my bike ready for dismantling and boxing up. I've added one last thing to my bike of a thermometer. We had one for our trip across Canada and it added another fun aspect to the trip . When it was scorching hot we marvelled at high the temperature got and it helped to understand why we might be really tired. Also when it was a frigid 4° on Allison Pass - I realized it was hypothermia that I was feeling.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My 'coffee milk frothing' thermometer - notice it is only 9 degrees C.</td></tr>
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Even though I have endeavored to keep my gear to a minimum, my panniers are full and I'm crossing my fingers that everything comes under my 23 kilo weight allowance for the plane.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for boxing up.</td></tr>
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Wish me luck.<br /><br />vespa chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557924552715079239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6882060592258177243.post-63485324548074265082015-05-16T02:54:00.000-07:002015-05-16T02:54:12.325-07:00Why aren't I nervous? Two weeks to go till I leave for the States. Niel can't understand why I'm not nervous. I am not at all nervous about the cycling, but I am worried about having to do everything on my own. I fully confess to being old fashioned or old school when it comes to booking things - for example: I would rather look for accommodation when I get there, but these days everything is done online. So that will be hard for me. Also I'm concerned about coping with mechanical problems, although Niel has replaced and checked everything that was likely to cause me any grief. Again if I have a problem I'll have to deal with it with the help of my smartphone. I'm actually more worried about Bears, gun toting hill billes, and tornadoes than I am about the race itself.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Niel getting my bike ready for the Trans Am.</td></tr>
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So thanks to my own personal bike mechanic, I now have new: tyres, and tubes, cluster and chain, brake pads, brake and gear cables, Jockey wheels for my rear derailleur, carbon fiber seat post and all bearings checked and regreased. I have a few spokes just in case and a rear drop out because if I broke one then that would be the end of the race as I wouldn't get another one in the States. I have a multi tool that should cover most eventualities.<br />
The weather forecast for the weekend looks good, so I'll be out test riding my bike. It might be the last training I get before I go.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These new bits and pieces get the thumbs up.</td></tr>
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Wow it's like riding a new bike except better it is molded and adapted especially for me. The new tyres are heavier but bomb proof and good on patches of gravel where the road was being repaired- but still narrow and responsive. The gears change like a hot knife through butter. With new brake blocks and brake cables - they felt great. The squeak I've had for months is gone with a new seat post. In fact my bike was so quiet - all I could hear was my puffing with effort. All that is left to do is change the batteries in the computer and sensor.<br />
If you want to follow me on the TransAm I have entered under my blog name of Vespa Chick.vespa chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557924552715079239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6882060592258177243.post-24966653188974819272015-04-26T20:31:00.002-07:002015-04-26T20:32:22.539-07:00I hate grocery shopping.<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve got to that
crazy stage before going overseas. Basically I’ve got too much to do and not
enough time to do it. Last week was too
early to start all my tasks, but this week I’m stressing that there isn’t
enough hours in the day. It would be a piece of cake if I didn’t have to be
super fit on top of everything else, but that is essential to the whole trip.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here’s a sample of my list of jobs: Mammogram to have, visit
the doctor to renew prescriptions and get cortisone injections in my feet to
ward of pain for at least a few weeks, I have a court hearing about my ACC
claim, a load of winter firewood is arriving to
stack in the shed, I have to get all my last minute stuff for the bike i.e. tires and tubes, chain and cluster and
brake and gear cables – these need to be fitted and test ridden, at least one
more mini tour, and lots of 200 km rides for training, the garden needs to be
winterised, pruned, sprayed and new vegetables in for spring eating, I’ve just
been told that I have to tell the newspaper what I am doing, and then there is
the last minute stuff like a haircut, and dismantling and packing up my bike. That
is just what I can think of off the top of my head. It doesn’t help that I am
working full time. And when I do get a day off - it rains grrrr.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very tempting goodies at work.</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have managed to keep the weight off that I lost over
summer doing my mini - tours; it’s a miracle really when I am surrounded by
such yummy food at work every day. Most of the weight loss has been from my
backside and legs, which isn’t surprising considering the millions of pedal
revolutions I have done in the last few months. I worked out that I turn those
pedals about 10,000 times on a ride of 200kms. How many times in a year I
wonder? I have no idea, the numbers would be amazing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZLxNrDeRX02cR-_ZzD8ltOP3e9FS2GEZIqUZW_bRuPnSjBykFIOI__NDz-aRLItqyvHXOslwjIn7DJ8bb494ovok5E-GbYAkttG8CNOPI7pKnOdeVpdkwCLnkR-tZWjM8GIGQhfWz5t7v/s1600/DSC00561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZLxNrDeRX02cR-_ZzD8ltOP3e9FS2GEZIqUZW_bRuPnSjBykFIOI__NDz-aRLItqyvHXOslwjIn7DJ8bb494ovok5E-GbYAkttG8CNOPI7pKnOdeVpdkwCLnkR-tZWjM8GIGQhfWz5t7v/s1600/DSC00561.JPG" height="532" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Niel helping me with the weekly nightmare of grocery shopping.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My biggest problem I have when working full time is finding
time to do the weekly grocery shopping. Most people have a car and can slot the
shopping in after work, when you don’t have a car it takes twice as long by
bicycle. I simply don’t have the 3 to 4 hours to devote to do the shopping, and
I can’t leave it at work all day and ride it home after work – it is such a
curse. I have to ride in to the supermarket on my Vespa scooter early in the
morning, because the Vespa is faster than my bike, do the shopping and meet Niel
outside with his bike and trailer, load his trailer bags, throw down some food
and rush off to work. Then on finally getting home – I have to put the
groceries away. Yes Niel does attempt to put them away, he has lots of skills –
but putting away groceries isn’t one of them. That is my weekly nightmare
called grocery shopping. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
3 more weeks of full time and then 2 weeks of part time, and
then Trans Am here I come.<o:p></o:p></div>
vespa chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557924552715079239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6882060592258177243.post-5223327874776413072015-03-26T02:07:00.001-07:002015-03-26T02:07:52.606-07:00Night is not the enemy. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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</div>
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</div>
Mini tour number 5 completed. I must have virtually crossed America in training kilometres by now. Actually my odometer on my bike computer has just clicked over to 12,000 kilometres in the year that I changed the battery in it. Considering in winter time I struggled to do 150 to 200 kms a week then most of that distance was done this summer. Also bearing in mind that I also have another bike I use mostly for commuting, so that is a lot of mileage clocked up in 12 months.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMs0NSV3IC0nkin87k7_wECMpxpE55XkR9srzLRiCnrITE2zoPQ7IQklUt7JcwaZEOttsNOWs-5cdsnDm_Rga2B10YRrQtfp0RtqCnP9FAuNV3IXqdI4mK-8jJ32CKf1MGdACM-mn4KrZ/s1600/DSC00550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMs0NSV3IC0nkin87k7_wECMpxpE55XkR9srzLRiCnrITE2zoPQ7IQklUt7JcwaZEOttsNOWs-5cdsnDm_Rga2B10YRrQtfp0RtqCnP9FAuNV3IXqdI4mK-8jJ32CKf1MGdACM-mn4KrZ/s1600/DSC00550.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm off again on another mini tour.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This mini tour was only 3 days as I'm working now and that is all the days I could scrape together, and I felt great. After 6 weeks of feeling jaded, I finally felt like I'd got my 'mojo' back . I know the weather was favourable but it was more than that. I felt like I could just keep going and going.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8ifoRAqUbKAymcSVKrUR1cAeMON8_N8aJz3K5cqO5N9eGwmI-I-QI3DRjFM_gJThWEouhmwjBCY1ZRBkuCWwAi-r7bld9W7EajtdWd4LHI15Rg6Wyh8l9t2wbmZngrCnsTSMhhQI46gB/s1600/DSC00554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8ifoRAqUbKAymcSVKrUR1cAeMON8_N8aJz3K5cqO5N9eGwmI-I-QI3DRjFM_gJThWEouhmwjBCY1ZRBkuCWwAi-r7bld9W7EajtdWd4LHI15Rg6Wyh8l9t2wbmZngrCnsTSMhhQI46gB/s1600/DSC00554.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a hint of Autumn colours in the willows.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WjozBQP_Sit0oYr8jx42MnQ0Wuyel6Hbw7r-SzP1e8jy_zp6_xHMjrsyqUiKm4tXDZrAv7objRuK1DVic26p1t-PuhUO4Hw4wXv6T-Z9XlveIRJuPXbQDOHA2D53GD4CKFer40Ch8cWv/s1600/DSC00559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WjozBQP_Sit0oYr8jx42MnQ0Wuyel6Hbw7r-SzP1e8jy_zp6_xHMjrsyqUiKm4tXDZrAv7objRuK1DVic26p1t-PuhUO4Hw4wXv6T-Z9XlveIRJuPXbQDOHA2D53GD4CKFer40Ch8cWv/s1600/DSC00559.JPG" height="202" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am happy and enjoying the early morning riding.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Talking of keeping on going, I recently helped out with a week of extreme long distance cyclists all endeavouring to do all the qualifiers for the Paris / Brest / Paris in one week. Credit to them - they all achieved it. It was an eye opener to see how these riders achieve such long distances. They seem to enjoy riding at night.<br />
<br />
I can see the positives of riding at night:<br />
- it's calm and peaceful.<br />
- there's very little traffic.<br />
- the wind dies away to nothing.<br />
- it's cool and you don't suffer from hot foot.<br />
But I like to see the scenery, and it's definitely an advantage when the shops are open. But I totally admire the dedication of these riders, and I did learn that night is not the enemy.<br />
<br />
Yes I have a new job - and I really enjoy it. But the best bit of all is that they are going to keep my job open for me while I am away doing the Trans Am. Most of my training is completed now, I might get one more 3 day mini tour in at the end of next week and possibly a small trip away at the end of May before departing for the States. I'm guessing that the northern hemisphere folks are just getting started on their training. I hope I don't loose what I have gained in the 6 weeks I have to work full time in April and May, I will have to be really dedicated on my days off to go for really long rides.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8ZxfrSRvBY-S7cHC6EfxxUA4LYAuH8juHzapIEcHKdaRlWdk0Ce37N2OqVINQhL5JjxCJmkhtp9tV20TfWBjNBpMjhAiPzsIWMYPY0jBur1HbeOYtOUFZj22pHrj28R8LyB7TI3D_XTb/s1600/DSC00560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8ZxfrSRvBY-S7cHC6EfxxUA4LYAuH8juHzapIEcHKdaRlWdk0Ce37N2OqVINQhL5JjxCJmkhtp9tV20TfWBjNBpMjhAiPzsIWMYPY0jBur1HbeOYtOUFZj22pHrj28R8LyB7TI3D_XTb/s1600/DSC00560.JPG" height="450" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a bad photo from outside the public restroom in the Marlborough Sounds.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />vespa chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557924552715079239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6882060592258177243.post-87036623544640213962015-02-21T17:34:00.000-08:002015-02-21T17:34:10.135-08:00Bike and Bee's.Mini tour number 3 was a bit messy, as I couldn't get 7 days in row to do it, I kept getting interrupted by domestic chores,appointments and rain. Actually the rain is a god send, as we have only had one other day of rain since new year. I know what you are saying - just ride in the rain anyway, and yes I would if I was on the road, but having just got home and lying in bed listening to it pattering on the roof you don't want to get on your bike an go out in it. <br />
Actually this trip was memorable for the swarms of Bee's. They were attracted to the bright colours I was wearing. If you stop for any reason then they were all over you. Needless to say I got stung. A lady I met told me that swarming Bee's are nature's way of telling us that we are in for a cold winter. I don't know how accurate that is, but I won't be here for most of the winter so I'm smug about not caring what the winter is like.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigge3YpDX0k7V-77Lz2aGAkePOoM-ptUFtMlS-CGiDeY0-RYbosvKM4EgA-6UKTCjMEuiRSuxejWb7xKvH17jLSN8tW0oJgEK2HjQr0Vl05jJFXC7h_Qz_UQEN2GclO3ByWfepqNi_nNNg/s1600/bike+and+bees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigge3YpDX0k7V-77Lz2aGAkePOoM-ptUFtMlS-CGiDeY0-RYbosvKM4EgA-6UKTCjMEuiRSuxejWb7xKvH17jLSN8tW0oJgEK2HjQr0Vl05jJFXC7h_Qz_UQEN2GclO3ByWfepqNi_nNNg/s1600/bike+and+bees.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
One thing I worked out on this trip is that even when you've got your gear down to a bare minimum it is still too much. What can I go without?even less clothes? I've already taken tent pegs out, left my hairbrush at home and weighed all my non cycling shoes to find the lightest pair and my warm non cycling top to find one is 100 grams lighter than the other. I have crossed off cold weather cycling clothes as cold weather (if we get some) will be short lived and I can live with being cold for a day or so, or if it is really bad - sit it out and have a day off. There really is nothing else I can eliminate from my list. Some things you just can't skimp on like adequate water and spare tubes for punctures, (and being female) toiletries are essential - Men might be able to wash their hair with soap but I need a bottle of shampoo and conditioner.I realise that my toiletries bag weights as much as most racing cyclists bike, but some things a girl needs.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILjfdVqSqd2uhnQBxzLPUpSxj3nKli8yVNjHFdmt-chMVmuomnIgf97LzgA9suOVRvFsZD2V-yAngFXbEdKFJ6RepNDntR3YQhcDCHZtkWEgdHuNqBrdQSOtnWwV9ia7TDI_EInsbqmKf/s1600/large-hanging-toiletry-bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILjfdVqSqd2uhnQBxzLPUpSxj3nKli8yVNjHFdmt-chMVmuomnIgf97LzgA9suOVRvFsZD2V-yAngFXbEdKFJ6RepNDntR3YQhcDCHZtkWEgdHuNqBrdQSOtnWwV9ia7TDI_EInsbqmKf/s1600/large-hanging-toiletry-bag.jpg" height="352" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At least I'm not as bad as this lady.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
One thing I should have taken and have added to my list for the Trans Am is an adaptor to use the tire compressor pump at petrol / gas stations, and a tire pressure gauge. I had a puncture on my first day and although I used my high pressure hand pump to pump it back up, there is only so much air you can push in without needing a foot pump to finish it off. Of course there is no bike shops in the back country and I had to ride on a not fully inflated tire for 3 days until I found a support vehicle following a bike race that had one in their car.Yes I could use car valves, but I like high pressure valves.<br />
I think my next trip will be to Christchurch and back and if rains then I'll just have to ride in it.<br />
I met a man on the road who worked out that I was the wife of 'Niel the wheel'. He had read Niel's blog and knew everything about him. That was amazing to met a complete stranger who knew all about you. It is reassuring actually to know that these blogs really do get read and that the effort we put into writing them isn't wasted.It is also nice to know that people enjoy hearing of Niel and my adventures.<br />
Speaking of adventures - it is only 3 months until I leave for the Trans Am. I can't wait. I have already worked out my next adventure for 2016. Niel and I want to finish SE Asia, after which I want to ride home through Australia, but I'm not sure whether to go through the middle of Oz or around the coast. I've got plenty of time to think about it.vespa chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557924552715079239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6882060592258177243.post-51458110553742713372015-01-31T16:39:00.002-08:002015-01-31T16:39:29.903-08:00Frozen drink bottles.<div class="MsoNormal">
Mini Tour number two done and dusted.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is such excellent training. Even though I’ve been cycle
touring constantly since I met Niel in 1983, I’m still learning tricks and ways
of coping with things. <o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhicP9PffMuTr-FwFyBWInSpRro8rHcDwj43DMDJIdR6UMuP0iSLlnECTt9rvy5GAfFG401FDpMkiuzdsB5QsG5zs4TpgUzLkXLDsNOoINza0wacLGEP4qXg5xoKxF_xM6du5Is1AcoH_HW/s1600/DSC00546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhicP9PffMuTr-FwFyBWInSpRro8rHcDwj43DMDJIdR6UMuP0iSLlnECTt9rvy5GAfFG401FDpMkiuzdsB5QsG5zs4TpgUzLkXLDsNOoINza0wacLGEP4qXg5xoKxF_xM6du5Is1AcoH_HW/s1600/DSC00546.JPG" height="414" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nelson on a beautiful summers day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Where did I go? Well, nowhere actually. A big unexpected
bill came last week that took the dollars I had put aside for a week’s cycling,
to pay for it. So I pretended to go touring. I loaded up my bike with panniers
full of old shoes, containers of fluid wrapped in towels, a tent on the top of
my carrier and a full handle bar bag, and off I went every day, doing rides of
varying distances. Niel joined me for most of it, so it was good riding, good
weather, and good company.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZXaq4ke0_Lz0jCllUFKVTYo8OgXwUDAwk5vnUfDbgnWhFhMmEmS4VaXdZr4SbbwHexcOwONXyPXrXLW9l7udYt4HWSjyK2sSd66ain_hDJA05XQPd7dNHhqrlweqYKb73EnrXnofjFeZ/s1600/DSC00545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZXaq4ke0_Lz0jCllUFKVTYo8OgXwUDAwk5vnUfDbgnWhFhMmEmS4VaXdZr4SbbwHexcOwONXyPXrXLW9l7udYt4HWSjyK2sSd66ain_hDJA05XQPd7dNHhqrlweqYKb73EnrXnofjFeZ/s1600/DSC00545.JPG" height="492" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Niel at the top of Spooners Range.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My last mini tour ended after 5 days with heat exhaustion,
but I’ve learnt how to overcome that now. It seems that when you are
dehydrated, no matter how much sun warmed water you drink from your drink
bottle, it just doesn’t sate your thirst or cool you down, but an icy cold
drink bought from a shop, instantly hits the spot and refreshes you. Is it the
sugar in the shop bought drink, or the icy coldness of it? I put my drink bottles
and a third container of sweetened juice in the freezer overnight, and voila –
problem solved. As the ice slowly melts – you drink icy cold fluid that
instantly cools and refreshes you. It felt like a ‘eureka’ moment. True – when you
are camping – you don’t have access to a freezer (unless you are in a well-equipped
campground that has a kitchen). But most petrol/ gas stations sell bags of ice,
McDonald’s restaurants have ice with the drinks dispenser, and bars and cafes
will have ice.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Ns0FfQTl0lBNkkHEW0CTennbz7ZF6dAoe6ulx4jETFKrhVwH6GobLGFmAZCWW6vDJHBA8tcC7AiHgAJAMh_mvQ81vs4iKDTtWLCQQTKkF7v84TR7wy48aGH3UuJPDVWdH0sqFdywLuKX/s1600/DSC00547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Ns0FfQTl0lBNkkHEW0CTennbz7ZF6dAoe6ulx4jETFKrhVwH6GobLGFmAZCWW6vDJHBA8tcC7AiHgAJAMh_mvQ81vs4iKDTtWLCQQTKkF7v84TR7wy48aGH3UuJPDVWdH0sqFdywLuKX/s1600/DSC00547.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frozen juice - Yum.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So over the last year – I have learnt to ride 200kms with
ease, solved heat exhaustion problems, I have learnt how to prevent ever getting
saddle sores and chaffing (a combination of women’s hygiene pads and anti-
chaff cream), and lastly but certainly not the least – the pain of oversized pinched
nerves in the ball of the foot, bought on by ‘hot foot’ and excessive amounts
of cycling. You use ‘Voltarin Emulgel’ cream(an anti – inflammatory pain
killer) rubbed in when they first start to feel hot, wear your socks for as
long as possible to prevent your feet chaffing, then dispense with the socks,
use more emulgel and when the pain gets too much – use pain killers. Even in a
30 degree sunny day, pushing up huge hills for a ride of 12hours - all of the
above will work. The only thing I still have trouble with is knowing what to
eat when it is really hot and you have no appetite, and no saliva to chew on
dry things like muesli bars. Fruit is good, but heavy and not very sustaining.
Ice cream hits the spot every time, but you need a shop to obtain ice cream,
and it’s not particularly good to eat it all the time. I’ve tried sandwiches
with a moist filling that won’t go off in the heat of your bag or pocket, cold
cooked sausages are good, and they don’t crumble as you ride along. Any
suggestions are welcome. One bonus of having no appetite is a loss of 9kgs of
weight in 5 weeks – I’m not complaining.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KoSfU2qKwUofomasIQcrm6H3Arg-oGig-wvbmP1GdF9dZwut57C_aP0Uiebxr7R48Bp0BKwQs2Kp1nLPHhXXZ2_Ld3e_pjIMjVlYsFk5Qrkp7T6kdGcJ8H2FYtJYu_sfDIjvl1aBsZKn/s1600/DSC00548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KoSfU2qKwUofomasIQcrm6H3Arg-oGig-wvbmP1GdF9dZwut57C_aP0Uiebxr7R48Bp0BKwQs2Kp1nLPHhXXZ2_Ld3e_pjIMjVlYsFk5Qrkp7T6kdGcJ8H2FYtJYu_sfDIjvl1aBsZKn/s1600/DSC00548.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another hot day at Marahau beach watching the tractors pick up kayaker's and boats at low tide.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mini tour number 3 in a couple of weeks’ time. This time I
might actually go somewhere! <o:p></o:p></div>
vespa chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557924552715079239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6882060592258177243.post-33542019922017219812015-01-12T15:36:00.002-08:002015-01-12T15:40:33.090-08:00Writing is where your future lies.I've never been happier since I left my job, but part of me felt bad for not contributing financially to the household coffers - so I got a job harvesting the boysenberries. I lasted a week. Employers of seasonal workers need to buck up their ideas if they want to retain their workers. 10 hour days doing the same brainless job at speed with no days off at all is no way to treat people. But then what right have I got to comment, I'm just a frustrated person rendered brain dead with swollen wrists hankering for a day off to ride my bike.<br />
So I left and I am happily riding my bike with a vengeance to make up for my wasted week doing the boysenberries. You know it is funny - on reflection ; why should I feel guilty for having some time off working? I have never willingly been unemployed before, I never had children that meant years off paid work to bring up kids, and I am not a burden to society as I don't qualify for a benefit, so there is absolutely no reason to feel guilty.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKzjaexI9ktVk8I7J8qjFkDn1WUm-AMzJynnuo6KLfdLMIOTJs1WBcU-nXImOYDEN6TJ6-W9fzaERNoWO5WxoGSaGYh7JTzSLG0NPKxQHCxvCBn9uawfokkHa4n9YOfFAR08qfYkmYD00/s1600/DSC00531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKzjaexI9ktVk8I7J8qjFkDn1WUm-AMzJynnuo6KLfdLMIOTJs1WBcU-nXImOYDEN6TJ6-W9fzaERNoWO5WxoGSaGYh7JTzSLG0NPKxQHCxvCBn9uawfokkHa4n9YOfFAR08qfYkmYD00/s1600/DSC00531.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All loaded up.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Actually I am on a mini bike tour.You know when you are dehydrated - you stare at discarded bottles on the road side wondering if there is anything worth drinking in them. You'd drink puddles if you didn't get a mouthful of mud in the process. River water is a god send when normally you wouldn't touch it for potential bugs, but when you are that dehydrated - you don't care. Needless to say I suffered over the last 10kms to St Arnaud and had to drink 2 litres of Powerade and 3 cups of Tea before my stomach could accept any food. And that night I had terrible cramp But then this is why we train, or we wouldn't know how to cope with it or better still prevent it happening. It is the joy of summer riding.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCwsa3_VEE4xjSLolwbZBonoqsKbxS1tKgZqlXEgWevcWu3_hLHNXut36t4-HhRMN7EK5qvbey2DhRzsS89PuP8cS-6Bp2KWGYgsfiqN7tEXyikNRV7U9mo8wb2AM-WILcc5f6Gjs4qzG/s1600/DSC00532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCwsa3_VEE4xjSLolwbZBonoqsKbxS1tKgZqlXEgWevcWu3_hLHNXut36t4-HhRMN7EK5qvbey2DhRzsS89PuP8cS-6Bp2KWGYgsfiqN7tEXyikNRV7U9mo8wb2AM-WILcc5f6Gjs4qzG/s1600/DSC00532.JPG" height="460" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My only cool day in the week of riding and it was bliss. St Arnuad - Nelson Lakes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I still ponder how I can earn a few dollars, when a friend told me not to worry but to concentrate on writing my book as "writing was where my future lay". Well what a lovely thing to say. I know what a real writer is like - my brother is a real writer, but it would be nice to achieve some literary prowess when my old English teacher at school encouragingly said I would never pass my exams - I did pass my exams no help from her. I wish there was performance pay for good teachers in my day and then we might have actually had good teachers that care. But I'm getting off the point.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAJkrKyEOMT1-MNNv9n945HFh0tujxI93cyEyWUKIuqZhTkMv3z-5n4jGZEvHCXzE4P2LUhYfIQ6Z23an1w3j045xDuGbxYLhSGgbEaAYFCo8TPsdg5HpgxXG2-7q4HWkW0NZkP27trFp/s1600/DSC00533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAJkrKyEOMT1-MNNv9n945HFh0tujxI93cyEyWUKIuqZhTkMv3z-5n4jGZEvHCXzE4P2LUhYfIQ6Z23an1w3j045xDuGbxYLhSGgbEaAYFCo8TPsdg5HpgxXG2-7q4HWkW0NZkP27trFp/s1600/DSC00533.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A swim at the beach would have been heavenly but I'm not into crowds.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It was secretly my ambition this week to ride 1000kms in 7 days while carrying a load. I didn't tell anyone because I didn't know if I would achieve it -.I didn't quite make it - I did 700kms in 5 1/2 days, and had to rest and recover for a day before completing my mission a day later, why? heat exhaustion and rapid weight loss. I lost 6 kilos in 6 days in the hottest week of the year so far and carrying 20 kilos of load over countless hills unable to eat due to dehydration and loss of appetite.I haven't felt this tired since crossing the Death Valley in 2010. I learnt not only to carry more drink than I thought I'd need and have a big breakfast as I don't know when my next mouthful of food will be, and try to take something other than muesli bars that are impossible to eat when your mouth feels like sandpaper.<br />
But now that this mission is over I have the time to go back to my writing. Although that was such excellent training I am going to do it again.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCq1ueWe4o3XiVGKhCsTUTnLFmc76IOyYAfWAthyphenhyphen33qDK0BF687AiczElI2vZsh-tSLhL9DdE9HXnIENxKHeFvrwuujGfp5oSxMFXKD5t0Lt8Xl5fI6z3S2bh2-HwXaD_qv47wu9IwlZO1/s1600/DSC00534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCq1ueWe4o3XiVGKhCsTUTnLFmc76IOyYAfWAthyphenhyphen33qDK0BF687AiczElI2vZsh-tSLhL9DdE9HXnIENxKHeFvrwuujGfp5oSxMFXKD5t0Lt8Xl5fI6z3S2bh2-HwXaD_qv47wu9IwlZO1/s1600/DSC00534.JPG" height="432" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I ride past this view every week and I still love it - looking towards the Richmond ranges from Motueka.</td></tr>
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vespa chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557924552715079239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6882060592258177243.post-10766580104216061552014-12-16T17:21:00.003-08:002014-12-16T17:21:51.793-08:00Special Airfares.Our friend Di – who is also our travel agent, told me she had found some really special airfares to the USA, the only catch was that they had to be paid for the next day.
How do you work out dates for a trip that you don’t know how long it will take?<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmdAK-ZSlaRpemQG7EIcrO92lW804YDfWALVTfV9z4AGvThbE8zaMTxDA4Cp2NfXLSNsUvyZqzXuwSbL5gvKlxdeKRU0ilT0hU8gq_DBAHwyKvj-TNXm5pIJv9m3zFtkAxjXaCGQHD7_w/s1600/DSC00529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmdAK-ZSlaRpemQG7EIcrO92lW804YDfWALVTfV9z4AGvThbE8zaMTxDA4Cp2NfXLSNsUvyZqzXuwSbL5gvKlxdeKRU0ilT0hU8gq_DBAHwyKvj-TNXm5pIJv9m3zFtkAxjXaCGQHD7_w/s1600/DSC00529.JPG" height="203" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have all the maps.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Having just left my job, I no longer had the ability to save and my savings would have to cover the tickets, and these special fares meant that Niel and I both had our fares paid for. But again how do I work out dates? Flexible dated tickets were out of my price range – I had to work out an itinerary
I had all the maps for the Trans Am route with the mileage on them. I absolutely love staring at maps, so I stared, added up kilometers, stared some more, counted more kilometers, adjusted and tweaked and when I finished staring and counting I came up with a challenging but realistic itinerary with a day off programmed in every 2000kms to rest and recover (well I’m not going to win it am I?) and 5 emergency days up my sleeve in case of mechanical problems, injury or illness or bad weather. If I don’t use them cycling then I’ll use them at the end of the event. Then there is the few days flying there and getting to the start at Astoria, and getting back to the west coast in time to fly home. In addition to all this I had to bear in mind that I had to get home before Niel left for his adventure in the first week of August.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJM32bJ_k4hWsWZ1_nZ82OAB_J0HmSaPJWYZr334QB1C-rCN6j4u_S69raPB-K1uJgNgJX-aGCcIz6F3m6H1AU3U_CP9KBzVDTGncam_Ffao5qSRlSDU1coSXhf-lqgZfWBzpgM6lwjAV/s1600/DSC00523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJM32bJ_k4hWsWZ1_nZ82OAB_J0HmSaPJWYZr334QB1C-rCN6j4u_S69raPB-K1uJgNgJX-aGCcIz6F3m6H1AU3U_CP9KBzVDTGncam_Ffao5qSRlSDU1coSXhf-lqgZfWBzpgM6lwjAV/s1600/DSC00523.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lovely field of blue flowers among the Hop vines.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So now I am committed, no more procrastinating. Actually I am glad as I can finally get my mind into the right head space, being ‘between jobs’ gives me the time I need to train properly and summer has finally decided it is here for good.
But now it is Christmas time, the sun is shining and it is the longest day, what have we got planned? A kayak and swim down at our local beach – a typical kiwi Christmas.
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdj2MylKOI0_Flzd4fj2bTNXfAfyoe5Wa8pH8nNMCctvLllQJnVj-0dzjuNI1zh5Chxt9Rt-Aiuwt81ZbI7KwqxVLm2lIrx3AROE3j1z8vkUZlP6C5xI8CbnMTNHMH_EDaX1VQNB_lYhpW/s1600/DSC00527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdj2MylKOI0_Flzd4fj2bTNXfAfyoe5Wa8pH8nNMCctvLllQJnVj-0dzjuNI1zh5Chxt9Rt-Aiuwt81ZbI7KwqxVLm2lIrx3AROE3j1z8vkUZlP6C5xI8CbnMTNHMH_EDaX1VQNB_lYhpW/s1600/DSC00527.JPG" height="462" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cycling past a do it yourself Nativity scene - Kiwi style.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
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<br />vespa chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557924552715079239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6882060592258177243.post-62365134161319756732014-12-04T14:11:00.000-08:002014-12-04T14:11:59.447-08:00Around Lake TaupoI've just completed the around Lake Taupo bike race, and all my cycle racing friends are obsessed with my time. They are amazed that it took me 8 hours and 45 mins to ride over 38 big hills on a 160km course where only 40kms wasn't a gale force head or side wind. Frankly I'm very proud of that time., I'm not a great hill climber but I paced myself so that I never had to stop or walk, and I only put my foot on the ground three times- once to fix a mechanical problem, and twice to have a drink from the drink stations.<br />
It has been 20 years since I last did the race, and it has changed. It used to be about ordinary people who wanted to be challenged by a long ride, but now I think every racing cyclist in NZ was there and hardly any ordinary people. All you hear about is the top times and the records that were broken. I believe it's the people who rode unicycles the whole way around, or the kids riding it with their father, or the 79 old woman who completed the solo loop of the lake that made the event.<br />
In the 20 years that I last did the race, my body has also changed. No matter how much riding you do, you will never be as strong as you were 20 years ago. And a 54 year old woman will never be as strong as a 54 year old man. I feel like saying to my cycle racing friends - could their mothers or wives ride 160kms in gale force winds over 30 big hills? No? Then stop asking me my time because it's irrelevant.vespa chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557924552715079239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6882060592258177243.post-30793811498863933642014-11-19T19:34:00.001-08:002014-11-19T19:34:20.335-08:00<div class="MsoNormal">
I have my first article published in a cycling magazine. For those of you that followed my journey across Canada last year - it will be familiar to you, but you may still enjoy the read. This story will become a chapter in my book, so you may like a taste of what I write.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAixNorOr2lzDWZpDgoXVrI_M1nTHPPG-b6s_O_O7_cSPsXc41vlxk65wFlJyOdlPN1jZmG-jJBB9S4N4sfGTJxJr7j-9ajJZ-x6fpdAW36yzT_slqpQJu8G8VELA-DdX7a7bX3piJir5/s1600/DSC00521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAixNorOr2lzDWZpDgoXVrI_M1nTHPPG-b6s_O_O7_cSPsXc41vlxk65wFlJyOdlPN1jZmG-jJBB9S4N4sfGTJxJr7j-9ajJZ-x6fpdAW36yzT_slqpQJu8G8VELA-DdX7a7bX3piJir5/s1600/DSC00521.JPG" height="552" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I finally feel like a real writer.</td></tr>
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HOW I BECAME AN AUDAX RIDER.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After Niel’s bike was lost by British Airways while on the
global bike race, and my bike with everything I owned on it got stolen when I
turned my back on it in Vietnam in 2012, we wanted to go somewhere ‘safe’, and
I really wanted to cycle across a continent.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Canada is the biggest country in the world behind the USSR
continent. After spending a long time staring at maps and guide books, and
following the blogs of other transcontinental Canadian cyclists, we decided the
most scenic route and the ‘path that was of least resistance’ involved crossing
into the USA at a few places. All previous transcontinental cyclists had started
or finished in Halifax Nova Scotia, so that had to be incorporated into the
plan. Canada is a British colony just like our home of New Zealand, so we could
travel there without needing a visa, but
we did need a visa for the USA, and one with multiple entries and exits as we
would cross the border between the US and Canada three times. We knew the wind
was predominately from the west, so our course started in Vancouver British
Columbia, and headed east to the province of Ontario, where we headed south
across the border into Minnesota, east through Wisconsin, Michigan and back
into Ontario (which is a very large province). At the Niagara Falls we crossed
back into the US and through the states of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and
Maine. We were supposed to ferry from Maine to Nova Scotia, but simple plans
can go awry and we ended up crossing from Maine into Canada’s New Brunswick
province before heading finally to Nova Scotia. Approximately 7,500kms.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a day of sightseeing and buying supplies in Vancouver,
we pointed our bikes east and said goodbye to the Pacific coast. Little did we
realize it, but this was going to be a trip of big kilometers each day. It’s a
long way between places in Canada and not much in between. Our first day of
143kms was a good achievement (especially with the load we were carrying), but
it actually became our average daily distance, and became easy and nothing to
crow about. Allison Pass on day two was supposed to be steep, unrelenting and a
natural wandering area for black bears, I won’t pretend that I wasn’t worried
about it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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19/06/13 (from my diary)<o:p></o:p></div>
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I can safely say – that Allison Pass is up there as one of
the hardest passes that I have ever done. 1350 meters from sea level and it
climbed for 60kms with just one flat section in the middle. It was pouring with
rain and only 5 degrees C – old enough to see your breath.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was doing really
well, and no incline was too much to cope with, when I ‘hit the wall’, and as a
consequence I got hypothermia. I was nauseous – my stomach was doing
somersaults and gurgling, my judgment was impaired and I was starting to feel
like I was going to faint. When we got to the ski village of Manning Park, I
insisted on a motel room to recover, warm up and dry everything. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On reflection though, I think doing that massive hill in the
cold and wet, would’ve been easier than in the heat. <o:p></o:p></div>
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20/06/13 (from my diary)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today was even colder than yesterday – if you can believe it
– only 4 degrees C. The rain was even heavier than yesterday and we were so
cold that our hands and feet weren’t working properly. Then Niel remembered
that he had packed overshoes and wooly gloves, so I wore the overshoes and Niel
wore the gloves – it helped enormously. The road wasn’t downhill; it climbed
back up to the height of Allison Pass three times before finally descending to
Princeton. It was still lightly raining here, so we stopped at a café that advertised
all day breakfasts and we had an enormous cooked breakfast. So warmed up, and
with our bellies full, we carried on to Keremeos. As we got closer, we could
see a patch of blue sky in that direction. It had stopped raining and the
temperature had risen to 7 degrees C, and we actually felt warm. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The campground manager here says that most cross country
cyclists give up before Keremeos, because Allison Pass is so tough. <o:p></o:p></div>
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For the next few days we climbed enormous passes. First were
Anarchist Mountain, then Bonanza Pass, and then a day of non- stop hills. This
is British Columbia; wet, green, wild, and scenic full of wild flowers, rivers,
lakes, mountains and Bears.<o:p></o:p></div>
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24/06/13 (from my diary)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Back to rain again, but guess what? We saw a grizzly bear
cub – only two to three meters from us. Amazing – what a huge buzz. I didn’t
see it until it burst out of the bushes on the side of the ride right beside
us, and then it ran up a rocky bank. Niel saw it straight away and they stared
at each other, and after it ran up the bank it stopped and stared at us. When
we got to the next village, the café owner told us there is a mother Grizzly
Bear with three cubs in the exact spot we told her of our sighting. God I’m
glad it wasn’t the protective mother Bear we saw or we may not be here to tell
the story.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a day of very remote roads with no human habitation –
so no food or drink stops anywhere – we finally made it to Revelstoke and the
gateway to the road across the Rocky Mountains.
Apparently all the rain has produced terrible flooding in Calgary on the
other side, and the powers that be have closed the road. After a day off, we
found out the road from Revelstoke to Banff is now open, but the road onwards
to Calgary will not be open until the weekend. We judged that by the time we
cycled there it would be the weekend.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
27/06/13 (from my diary)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We made it into the Rockies and ‘Golden’. Rogers Pass is the
easiest pass I have ever cycled. You follow a railway line the whole way, so
that is an indication of the gradient. However after the pass, the railway line
goes in a different direction, after initially descending, the road climbs a
lot steeper, we climbed back to the height of the pass again before finally
descending. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
15kms out of Revelstoke we saw a Bear and passed our 1000<sup>th</sup>
km. But the best sighting of all was as we exited an avalanche tunnel, and
there was a black Bear right at the exit. Niel pointed to it, and his action of
pointing meant that four cars screeched to a halt and people started running
towards the Bear with cameras. What do the park rangers say? “Never approach a
Bear”!! We got a quick photo and were off – so was the Bear, who didn’t look at
all perturbed by the attention.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So after a long 150kms over very scenic roads, seeing
amazing wildlife, and crossing from Pacific Time to Mountain Time, we made it
to the city of Golden. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another just as long day with just as spectacular scenery
took us to Lake Louise, and to an enormous and very full campground as it is
Canada day this weekend <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
29/06/13 (from my diary)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I got up early, as I knew it would be a long day, but not as
long as this – 172kms.While packing, Niel noticed his rear carrier was broken.
So he did a patch up job of taping up the break with the brace of an Allen key
tool to get him and his gear down to the town and to the bike shop we saw when
we came into town last night. Needless-to –say, we didn’t get away until almost
lunchtime. While Niel was putting on a new carrier, I went to the visitor’s
center to find out about the road ahead – that was flooded last week.
Apparently the cycle track has been washed away and the bikes have to be put on
to a shuttle bus to the next town, for which you have to pay. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was hot and we were on the motorway (as the other route
was still impassable), this was downhill with a tailwind, so we made up time on
our late start. We decided to act like ignorant foreigners if we were stopped
for riding on the motorway, especially on the part where we were supposed to be
on a shuttle bus. It was no problem and we weren’t the only cyclists to use the
road as we saw wheel marks in the mud. Sure the road showed signs of terrible
flooding and there was debris everywhere, but why do the powers that be think
that cyclists can’t ride on the road as well as a cycle track?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After passing quickly through Banff (which I found too
artificial and soulless), we finally made it to Seebe, our destination for the
day, but there was nothing there, and I mean nothing – just a road sign. There
was no option but to go on for an extra 52kms to find human habitation. It was
Indian reservation land, so there were no shops and we were definitely running
on empty when we pulled into the next town at 10pm. We had a quick and nice
Chinese meal while the restaurant was still open, and then tried to find
accommodation. It being Canada day tomorrow meant every motel was fully booked.
At 11pm – just as it was getting dark (thank god for the longest day), we
finally found a camping ground that was closed for the night. We pitched our
tent there anyway and very dirty, very tired, and very sunburnt we finally got
to sleep at midnight.” If we can do this, we can do the Paris / Brest / Paris”
I said as our heads hit the pillow. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We were told before we left home that there was a big area
of nothing we would need to cross. That ‘nothing’ was the Alberta, Saskatchewan
and Manitoba plains. Calling it ‘nothing’ is insulting. Yes it is flat, and
there are very few trees, but there are things of interest and the cycling was
easy. For the first time in my life, I was riding huge distances every day, and
I couldn’t blame it entirely on favorable winds. I was finding I could ride all
day and felt good the whole time. One day it would be 150kms, the next 170,
then 180 and then 150 again. I had never felt so competent. We were flying
across the plains. After crossing into Manitoba and writing in the border
visitors center what we were doing and issuing a challenge to all other cyclists
to ‘catch us if you can’ , we spent the next 4 days clocking up 800kms to get
just passed Winnipeg – the supposed half way point across Canada.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
12/07/13 (from my diary)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
180kms is my personal record I one day while touring. I
found it easy and have never felt so fit. I feel like I can do anything. It
rained for most of the day, which helped to keep things cool, but the highlight
for the day was catching up with Jessie and Jackie. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jessie and Jackie are the people who initiated the web site
of cyclists doing the Trans – Canada. So you can follow others in their blogs
to find out how they are going. Jessie and Jackie have already been on the road
for 100 days. They have cycled from San Diego in the SW of California, all the
way up to Alaska, across the Rockies to Jasper, and then across Canada to
Labrador. They are still cheerful and not the least bit sick of the journey –
good on them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
13/07/13 (from my diary)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Manitoba turned on a beautiful day with lush forest, rocky
outcrops, and scenic lakes everywhere. We passed the border into Ontario
province, and the scenery continued to be spectacular, particularly the town of
Kenora, with views of the ‘Lake of the woods’, with forested islands and boats
everywhere. It is a hot, sunny blue sky day and it is possibly the most scenic
day of the trip. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We left Jessie and Jackie after a lovely lunch together, as
we wanted to go further than them today. We spent the night in a forest park campground
big enough to be a tent city. And I feel asleep to the sound of wolves howling
in the distance.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next day we crossed into the USA – Minnesota to be exact
– at a place called International Falls. We were heading for the city of
Duluth. Duluth being the western most edge of Lake Superior. It seemed that
Duluth didn’t want to be found, as we were beset by delays; a bridge was out
due to repairs, and we had to in the opposite direction to find a road we could
use; we missed an unseen fork in the road, and once again went 30kms in the
wrong direction before we realized it and managed to get back on track.
Campgrounds did not exist but only after doing circles of 30kms looking for
them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was very hot, and we had gale force headwinds to content
with. We started to scan the horizon for the water towers and platforms that
indicated a town coming up for food and drink stops. It is just as well that we
are fit and used to doing long distance. We eventually made it to Duluth and
the great lakes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
21/07/13 (from my diary)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was cool today, which makes cycling easier than in the
heat. The road was all in the ‘Ottawa National Park’, so there were trees all
day. However we were both a bit jaded and homesick. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve been through the roller coaster of emotions today. This
morning I saw a father teaching his young son to shoot a rifle. That made me so
angry. That boy is being taught that it’s okay to shoot to kill. His target was
a human figure. Along with the homesickness – I wasn’t feeling very happy. We
got our airline tickets out and started to talk about going home. Then a couple
of things happened to snap me out of it. We realized that we only had 30
cycling days left until we reach Halifax in Nova Scotia. And then we met some
people from Halifax at our lunch stop, and we felt like we were on the home
straight.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘It rained and rained and rained, the average drop was well
maintained, and after a drought of half an hour, we had a most refreshing
shower’. This is part of a poem I’ve seen about the weather on the west coast
of the South Island of New Zealand. Michigan was very wet. But when we crossed
the St Clair river (which is the border between the US and Canada) on the
ferry, we were back into Ontario province again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We passed through several pretty ‘port’ towns. They were
busy and thronging with people. We are not far from the most populated part of
Canada – around Toronto. So many people throng to to beaches at the ‘ports’ on
the weekends and this weekend had a public holiday as well. We are amazed to
find out that Canada has a day off every month, even if there is no particular
reason for a holiday.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
04/08/13 (from my diary)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The road was like Cornwall in England, dropping down to
‘ports’ and then climbing really steeply out of them. Pretty as it was, I got
sick of it, and when a direct route presented itself, I decided to take it. The
weather stayed nice, but with a strong crosswind. About 20kms from Dunneville,
a group of Harley riders gave us problems.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They rudely overtook us and immediately turned right – right
on top of us (Remember we are riding on the right side of the road). The
leading rider almost took Niel out, and then the second rider was trying to
turn in the 1 meters gap between Niel and I, almost taking me out. Swear words
were exchanged. Then they all turned around and decided to harass us, by
accelerating up to speed and cutting us really closely. Actually that is just a
normal New Zealand driver, so it didn’t scare us. But no more than 10mins later
we saw them stopped getting petrol. We rode in amongst them and started
pointing and memorizing their number plates to tell the police and suddenly
they looked frightened and sped off.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then we found the camping ground and it was so full that it
actually gave me shell shock. After seven weeks of quiet campgrounds, we get
this one with boy racers and their loud stereos on one side, a loud drunk
family behind us who couldn’t stop laughing, and on the other side – family
with untold kids who thought our camping spot was their personal playground. Suffice
to say after 3 hours of sort of sleep, we left tired and irritable. We were no
longer talking about doing the Paris / Brest / Paris, basically because we had
stopped talking. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This demonstrates how important food, drink and adequate
sleep are - to being able to carry on. Yes we were fit, but physically,
emotionally, and mentally exhausted. Even seeing the stupendous Niagara Falls
couldn’t get back to our old selves. It took many days of forcing ourselves to
slow down enough to ‘smell the daisies’, before we were talking and smiling
again. By now we were in the Adirondack Mountains in New York State. We know we
are going to make it now. When we tell people that we are heading for Halifax,
not only do they know where it is, but they all say “oh you are almost there”.
If only things had worked out as simply as that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
14/08/13 (from my diary)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve had the worst thing that can happen to a cycle –
tourist last year – when my bike (and everything I owned), got stolen in
Vietnam. However today would take a close second place when it comes to drama.
I believe it’s how you cope with these dramas that define you as a true
adventurer. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After climbing a hill that went on for 15kms, I finally
summited and put the brakes on for the downhill, and ‘boom’ – my back tire
exploded. I’ve had a ‘donk, donk ‘ noise in my rear wheel when I put on the
brake for 10 days now. Niel looked at the rim, didn’t see anything wrong and
reckoned it was oil on the rim, but it obviously was something far more
dramatic to make my rim rip apart. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I started walking as Niel had sped off enjoying the
downhill. A kind motorist stopped and asked if he could help. I asked if he
could drive on until he saw a cyclist in white Lycra bike shorts just up ahead,
and tell him to stop and wait for me. When I finally reached an impatient Niel
– who was sitting on a railing, we realized my rim was unrepairable.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We were in the middle of nowhere, there wasn’t even mobile
phone coverage, and I had to put out my thumb try to get a ride to
civilization. No one picked me up. After walking for a few kilometers, Niel was
waiting for me outside a house where the people ‘looked friendly’. Initially we
asked to use their phone to ring a bike shop in the next town 60kms away, but
by now the shop was closed for the day. These lovely people drove me and my
bike 30kms to the nearest habitation that had a motel. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is now 30kms to the town with the bike shop, so Niel will
ride there first thing in the morning, get a new wheel and cluster (as I only
have 3 gears left that work), and a chain as well; ride back to me waiting at
the motel, put it all back together, test ride it, and then ride back to the
town together. Thank god we still have 2 emergency days up our sleeves.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then: this evening we had WIFI at the motel, so we decided
to check on some of the other Trans Canada cyclists. One couple found their
ferry to New Foundland had been cancelled and they didn’t know what to do, so
we decided to check ours as well. My god, that had been cancelled too. After
frantically looking at maps and searching for a ferry that still existed, we
found one from St John in New Brunswick (Canada), to Digby in Nova Scotia. But
St John is an extra 300kms off our original route. Do we have enough time to
get there? Well we have decided to do even bigger distances for a few days to
get there. Hopefully nothing else will go wrong.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
18/08/13 (from my diary)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everything seems to happen in three’s and the third almost
disaster happened today. Niel’s rear wheel was ‘not feeling right’, and it was
moving a lot from side to side. He reckoned the bearings were the problem. Even
though we are pressed for time, we decided to stop in Bangor instead of going
on. There is a bike shop here, where we can get parts, if we went on; his bike
might fall apart in the middle of nowhere – like mine did. Unfortunately it is
Sunday today and the shop isn’t open until tomorrow. So we got a motel for the
night, so that Niel can take his hub out of the wheel, it was as wrecked as my
rim had been. Luckily Niel kept the hub and spokes off my wrecked wheel and he
built these into his good rim, so all he
needed to buy was a cluster that fit that hub and a new chain. There goes our
last emergency day.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We will now have to take a shorter route to St Stephan’s
tomorrow, as we don’t have enough time to go around the coast. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
19/08/13 (from my diary)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Niel finished fixing his bike by 10 am and we didn’t muck
around as we were trying to do 150kms today. Not a hope in hell. The road was
non-stop sharp ups and downs with no shops except what I would call a
‘roadhouse’ – café / motel / RV Park. I ran out of energy at 7pm and called it
quits at a rest area that had a private patch of grass hidden from the road, a
public restroom and a river nearby. We had no dinner just what we had left over
from lunch and we had to drink the black colored river water as the cooker was
playing up. I hope I don’t get sick from it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Famous last words – the next day I got food poisoning, but
that misery was counteracted by finally reaching the Atlantic coastline. Yes –
we had made it at last – I can now call myself a transcontinental cyclist, and
no one can take that away from me. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We made it to Halifax
in time to fly home. And I have realized that I am pretty good at riding long
distance. This eye opening fact was to change me and what sort of riding I was
to do in the future.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first thing Niel and I did when we got back to normal on
arriving home was to join UK Audax. New Zealand doesn’t have a club, although
there is now a Kiwi Randonuering club. We needed to learn all about long
distance riding and your Arrivee magazine is our bible on inspiration and
learning. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPqSd9PVIWPJKYsdqxDgJ09yCdGtA4JEhQFGGNdAT88IEY5O1VPJOBGTSK7yasLWRXoN9MVYv_RhTxmZ62voGgWGTYjt2XCZs2JV1iohO-W2qPiFmDaciOkULhf5cHoqicze2DIUFASpS/s1600/DSC00522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPqSd9PVIWPJKYsdqxDgJ09yCdGtA4JEhQFGGNdAT88IEY5O1VPJOBGTSK7yasLWRXoN9MVYv_RhTxmZ62voGgWGTYjt2XCZs2JV1iohO-W2qPiFmDaciOkULhf5cHoqicze2DIUFASpS/s1600/DSC00522.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
vespa chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557924552715079239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6882060592258177243.post-86656924818796606262014-10-26T16:28:00.002-07:002014-10-26T16:28:51.910-07:00Confused?<div class="MsoNormal">
You would be forgiven for being confused, but that is no
different to how I have been feeling for the past year. No it’s not age related
dementia, at least not yet. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On finishing our epic trip across Canada last year, we were
keen to do the Paris / Brest / Paris long distance endurance event. Then over
our winter months we saw the Trans Am, or unsupported adventure race across
America, and got so caught up in following that, the Trans Am became our event
of choice. Once the Trans Am was finished we thought what are we doing that
for? When we had already cycled 8,000kms around the USA and across the
continent when we went across Canada, the Trans Am wasn’t furthering our goal
of cycling around the world, so it was back to doing the Paris / Brest / Paris
with a tour furthering our global ambitions. I trained and trained and got my
mileage up to 240kms in a day, but couldn’t get past that, without riding all
night and being a basket case the next day; so I was back to thinking about the
Trans Am, or the Transcontinental ( the European version). I read people’s
blogs about the Transcontinental but didn’t like certain aspects of it, the
Trans Am was it. But Niel wanted to do the Paris / Brest / Paris and a tour. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If I don’t do something for myself in the next year, then I
won’t get another chance. I am still fit and find riding my bike easier than
walking around the shops – due to my dodgy knee. It’s not that I am staring
infirmity in the face, but I am not the coiled spring I used to be, and I know
the long distance ability will diminish as I get older.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One thing I can say for getting older – you are more
confident in your own decisions, and don’t take being pushed around mentally or
physically. I know my own mind and I also know that self- esteem is very
important. What Niel and I have come to realize is that we can do our own thing
and we don’t have to be together. <o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvYY94kAnuBx9xwhibVNd48H70jGZp4Fu5OIRyNLczziTPVkZ0Z1KVnLB-y-MXbpvJ0GWPjpApiK1XqLqGvGf6gzzZIjfTpxATgj0GSEve1IpwDI_DGWxXX8K-YG_ggRiB04vAOCi0ZvH/s1600/DSC00520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvYY94kAnuBx9xwhibVNd48H70jGZp4Fu5OIRyNLczziTPVkZ0Z1KVnLB-y-MXbpvJ0GWPjpApiK1XqLqGvGf6gzzZIjfTpxATgj0GSEve1IpwDI_DGWxXX8K-YG_ggRiB04vAOCi0ZvH/s1600/DSC00520.JPG" height="508" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm quite happy riding on my own.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I’m going to do what I am suited to do, and that is long
distance touring, So I have signed up to do the Trans Am, and Niel is going to
do what he is good at, and that is extreme long distance against the clock
i.e.: the Paris / Brest / Paris. We can tour together the following year.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The most common reaction I get is “What, on your own?” I am
not chained to Niel, I ride on my own all the time, in-fact I enjoy riding on
my own. It will be good for me to test my boundaries of what I can do as an
individual. I would like to see if I can
get the best time for middle aged women.<o:p></o:p></div>
vespa chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557924552715079239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6882060592258177243.post-49317424432175581052014-10-08T15:33:00.004-07:002014-10-08T15:33:50.589-07:00Paris / Brest / Paris or Trans-Continental ride?<div class="MsoNormal">
I was told by the president of the ‘Kiwi Randonneuring Club’
that riding a 300km or more bike ride in 1 day is all mental. He is mental!! It
is definitely physical. Ok, ok, I know things went against me with the 200kms
of my 335km ride being a strong headwind with gale force gusts, and getting 3
punctures in the dark, which led me to needing a motel in Havelock, at the
236km mark. The unrelenting wind and punctures meant I got to Havelock in 16 ½
hours instead of the 14 hours I estimated it should have taken. So there was no
way I was going to get home by midnight.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhreIOy_BijKvsrbEnJTIBDEG8UrK87kqZafJYyQ-yXqdnXVdes8iIPU2RwjgLFxkK32tH8jwM9uZtedCJXLoByQ4gXUzHHZuVfwBQccKc7FxYJgZe86bv7YtYlhXE6RjwzI2TofUfl8Tsb/s1600/DSC00515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhreIOy_BijKvsrbEnJTIBDEG8UrK87kqZafJYyQ-yXqdnXVdes8iIPU2RwjgLFxkK32tH8jwM9uZtedCJXLoByQ4gXUzHHZuVfwBQccKc7FxYJgZe86bv7YtYlhXE6RjwzI2TofUfl8Tsb/s1600/DSC00515.JPG" height="154" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St Arnaud with fresh snow on the hills.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvs44oIaopZoH0Ge7xWA_DO7oMybKEeBO4KLwpW4ZXOzwyo4Dsj0fBsXeuoX7PbiTSaXCH3WEC7jJZeDBOOHvr_9gUbOYJsr4k3EnghZOitmglLvceyx2WW8ZNGn_3icZnmeSCj-qTCqd/s1600/DSC00517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvs44oIaopZoH0Ge7xWA_DO7oMybKEeBO4KLwpW4ZXOzwyo4Dsj0fBsXeuoX7PbiTSaXCH3WEC7jJZeDBOOHvr_9gUbOYJsr4k3EnghZOitmglLvceyx2WW8ZNGn_3icZnmeSCj-qTCqd/s1600/DSC00517.JPG" height="416" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountains to the sea - Picton and the ferry crossing between the Island.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6882060592258177243" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I woke up to a storm, the wind was shuddering the building
and it was raining. Once I saw a blue patch of sky, I was off. The wind often
pushed me to a standstill and the extra effort required pushing into it wore me
out. My nether regions were chaffed and bruised feeling, and my feet were
swollen with the hard pushing on the pedals. Luckily I ate and drank well; (I
am wheat, dairy, sugar, bananas and dates intolerant) and I stretched the front
and back of my legs every time I stopped for food, so I was able to keep going
and got home tired and sweaty.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGR7NmURrTNqgneN_FhbAbzNIpR3K_ImMi1XfFz94PS8PkDpmeH3h4unxhwAX6tHg4QpRIpZhwbkmAdImF6wS1YwJgx_XyB5Ur4Lm2w78FN2Yt2NdyC5LzdxQQS9gB1SOcBcehEPcAYbsC/s1600/DSC00514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGR7NmURrTNqgneN_FhbAbzNIpR3K_ImMi1XfFz94PS8PkDpmeH3h4unxhwAX6tHg4QpRIpZhwbkmAdImF6wS1YwJgx_XyB5Ur4Lm2w78FN2Yt2NdyC5LzdxQQS9gB1SOcBcehEPcAYbsC/s1600/DSC00514.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My staples of cold cooked wheat free sausages, my home made oat slice, and nut bars.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
A decision is made – I am not doing the Paris / Brest /
Paris. There is no way I can ride 24 hours a day and night with no sleep, no
shower and on a raw backside and hurting all over. I should stick to what I am
good at – long distance touring. I’d love to do the Trans Am ride across
America or the Transcontinental across Europe – these events would suit me
perfectly. I could ride 13 hours a day and actually get a sleep at night and a
shower, surely that’s not too much to ask? Perhaps Niel could do the Paris /
Brest / Paris, and I could do one of the others? Cycling should be a challenge
and an adventure, but it should also be enjoyable.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZsFJYfIr6bc9ubcK3EKs-RxI9qXT_7ZP2Na0jt_0TWFUl8lhDWQjVeNonB7-3zD9nd97dzEq4WM3rFjhgPortQ1_9zrqnOpPwd8rJ_pn3NKWeTfNrttkZxHQxexxlsopXgsrvTPxQrjq/s1600/DSC00516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZsFJYfIr6bc9ubcK3EKs-RxI9qXT_7ZP2Na0jt_0TWFUl8lhDWQjVeNonB7-3zD9nd97dzEq4WM3rFjhgPortQ1_9zrqnOpPwd8rJ_pn3NKWeTfNrttkZxHQxexxlsopXgsrvTPxQrjq/s1600/DSC00516.JPG" height="466" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pointing at my smiling face. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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vespa chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557924552715079239noreply@blogger.com0