Takaka Hill.

I know I've been quiet lately, it's not because I've had nothing to say, It's more a case of will anyone be interested in what I have to say.

Plans for cycling across Canada are firming up. Yes I'm cycling across now, instead of Vespa riding every 2nd day. We originally thought of having the assistance of a Vespa to make the trip across faster. But it also creates more problems. To sell it, we would've needed to circle back to Montreal to find someone, or perhaps a scooter shop, to buy it off us. But now with Niel carrying on to Europe afterwards, it was a waste of time. The 2 weeks it would've taken to circle back to Montreal, is the extra time it would take for me to cycle across. It also saves us a lot of money.

It's going to take 9 weeks, including days off and flying time there and back. And it's just under 7,000 kms. I have started training. Actually I never stop cycling, but I'm doing more hills than before.

Quarter of the way up.2 more hours of climbing to go.

I've just ridden over Takaka hill twice in 2 days. Takaka hill is an enormous. It is fifteen kilometres from the bottom to the top, and is very steep in places. It is like climbing a French Alp. It was Niel's birthday. Most people go out for dinner for their birthday, Niel is no exception, but he wanted to cycle 92 kms over Takaka hill, to go to a restaurant, then cycle 92 kms back over the hill again to get home. I am always a wee bit apprehensive when his birthday comes around. What 'adventure' will be dream up from year to year. I don't know why I still get surprised by what he comes up with, but I do.

A bit of flat road and still feeling pretty good.

Last week our lawn mower's engine 'blew up'. It's had a hard life and it finally spit the dummy. So after working out the best deal, I said we may need to get it delivered, as we don't have a car. "No we don't, it's no heavier than a fully loaded touring kit" said Niel. So here he was with this enormous box on the top of his trailer - cycling home from the hardware shop.

I got a bit irate last week, I was cycling along the road, when a car pulls alongside me and the driver says: "You should be on the cycle track, (as) it costs thousands to build", and sped off without me having a chance to reply. Do I tell him he should be on the motorway as it costs thousands to build. No, it's not where he wants to be. Need I say more. Yes I do. I wrote a letter to the editor of the paper. What gives a car driver the right to tell a cyclist where they should be riding. The paper didn't publish it. There is a lot of double standards here!

It's been a very strange summer, we've had everything from heat waves, to cold snaps, flooding and severe gales. The wind was not welcome and we lost a lot of big tree limbs and a great deal of twigs. A lot of Berry orchards lost their whole crop, and some trees blew over in the apple orchards. The vineyards seemed to cope okay, but then we got the flooding. We enjoyed the flooding as our Well went from bone dry to full again. Needless to say I've been raking and sweeping for weeks.

It's been a year now since my beloved Bob the cat had his terrible accident, that cost him his leg. He is still my shadow and goes everywhere with me. I will hate to leave him in the cattery again when we go to Canada, but that is 5 months away yet.

Bob and I are tired out.