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Day 6 - 6th November 2012
Rest Day in Christchurch
Rest Day in Christchurch
Interesting New Zealand facts:
Favourite sport: Rugby - our national team, The All Blacks, are the 'winningest' rugby team in the world having won over 73% of their test matches over the years.
Favourite sport: Rugby - our national team, The All Blacks, are the 'winningest' rugby team in the world having won over 73% of their test matches over the years.
PREVIEW:-
After 5 solid days of riding, I am sure we will all be ready for a lovely relaxing day in Christchurch. It will be my first visit since the devastating earthquakes so it will be interesting to see first hand what changes it has made to the place.
It is also the "first Tuesday" in November so we will have to find a spot to watch the Melbourne Cup!
After 5 solid days of riding, I am sure we will all be ready for a lovely relaxing day in Christchurch. It will be my first visit since the devastating earthquakes so it will be interesting to see first hand what changes it has made to the place.
It is also the "first Tuesday" in November so we will have to find a spot to watch the Melbourne Cup!
REVIEW:-
We have all been looking forward to this day! "Rest day" isn't quite the right word for it. Sure we won't be on our bikes, but - I think we all have lists of things to do before we are underway again. Tony and Jane Glentworth made us so welcome. We were able to catch up on lots of dirty biking clothes and other laundry. A visit to the local bike shop sorted out some unusual clicking noises in Margie's bike, Don obtained a new rear vision mirror (his was damaged in the flight over and unable to be repaired), Margie got new double-sided cleats and shoes - and - we all - got time on the massage table as Tony had organised Wendy from Shadeofgrey Cottage to be at the house for the day. Apart from all his other generous support, Tony was paying Wendy to do this for us - and in the whole great spirit of this ride - what did Wendy do? - yes - she donated the entire fee to our fund-raising for the NZGCF!! Thanks so much guys!!
I was first on the table - Wendy completely understood that we still have 2 more big weeks of biking, and although I am sure she would have loved to have really worked on some of the knots and knarls, she took it easy so we would ride again tomorrow!! I was pleased to discover she thought my legs (aka Kauri Stumps) were in pretty good shape - not so my neck - but that's biking!! She also finished the session with wonderful motivational words that I am sure we will reflect and draw on as we go!
As that finished, old (as in - for a long number of years) friend Noel Kennard called to collect us - in a 1979 Chrysler New York 5th Avenue car - what a machine!!! First stop was at Cran Dalgety's training establishment, Kentuckiana Lodge - to see the horse we own a few hairs in. There he was - looking very fit and bright - "Harry" aka Franco Harrison is a couple of weeks off trialling so I hope he goes well and I look forward to tuning in to listen to him race when I am back in Australia!
From there we went to Noel's property and caught up with Wendy - and saw, and heard about how the earthquake had affected them at Rolleston. Such an amazing event and vastly different hearing personal stories compared to news reports. After lunch a quick tour back "home" via Mark Purdon's lovely training property - and home with 10 minutes to spare so that Pat our driver managed to get her turn on the massage table.
By now, it was 30 mins until the Melbourne Cup jump, so around to the Racecourse Hotel to place a bet (Margie was the only one to collect). The next couple of hours are extremely hard to describe. We drove into Christchurch city, and to say I was absolutely gob-smacked at the amount of devastation is an understatement! How different it was seeing the place, compared to watching clips on the news. Such a sad, sad situation for such a wonderful city. The road to recovery will certainly be a long one.
Glentworth's served a splendid evening meal - crayfish, prawns, salads, lasagne - which all went very nicely with our Toi Toi Sauvignon Blanc, then we all crashed into bed thinking how good it would be next day to depart with all clean gear and a days rest in our legs. The weather report was sounding excellent as well!
We have all been looking forward to this day! "Rest day" isn't quite the right word for it. Sure we won't be on our bikes, but - I think we all have lists of things to do before we are underway again. Tony and Jane Glentworth made us so welcome. We were able to catch up on lots of dirty biking clothes and other laundry. A visit to the local bike shop sorted out some unusual clicking noises in Margie's bike, Don obtained a new rear vision mirror (his was damaged in the flight over and unable to be repaired), Margie got new double-sided cleats and shoes - and - we all - got time on the massage table as Tony had organised Wendy from Shadeofgrey Cottage to be at the house for the day. Apart from all his other generous support, Tony was paying Wendy to do this for us - and in the whole great spirit of this ride - what did Wendy do? - yes - she donated the entire fee to our fund-raising for the NZGCF!! Thanks so much guys!!
I was first on the table - Wendy completely understood that we still have 2 more big weeks of biking, and although I am sure she would have loved to have really worked on some of the knots and knarls, she took it easy so we would ride again tomorrow!! I was pleased to discover she thought my legs (aka Kauri Stumps) were in pretty good shape - not so my neck - but that's biking!! She also finished the session with wonderful motivational words that I am sure we will reflect and draw on as we go!
As that finished, old (as in - for a long number of years) friend Noel Kennard called to collect us - in a 1979 Chrysler New York 5th Avenue car - what a machine!!! First stop was at Cran Dalgety's training establishment, Kentuckiana Lodge - to see the horse we own a few hairs in. There he was - looking very fit and bright - "Harry" aka Franco Harrison is a couple of weeks off trialling so I hope he goes well and I look forward to tuning in to listen to him race when I am back in Australia!
From there we went to Noel's property and caught up with Wendy - and saw, and heard about how the earthquake had affected them at Rolleston. Such an amazing event and vastly different hearing personal stories compared to news reports. After lunch a quick tour back "home" via Mark Purdon's lovely training property - and home with 10 minutes to spare so that Pat our driver managed to get her turn on the massage table.
By now, it was 30 mins until the Melbourne Cup jump, so around to the Racecourse Hotel to place a bet (Margie was the only one to collect). The next couple of hours are extremely hard to describe. We drove into Christchurch city, and to say I was absolutely gob-smacked at the amount of devastation is an understatement! How different it was seeing the place, compared to watching clips on the news. Such a sad, sad situation for such a wonderful city. The road to recovery will certainly be a long one.
Glentworth's served a splendid evening meal - crayfish, prawns, salads, lasagne - which all went very nicely with our Toi Toi Sauvignon Blanc, then we all crashed into bed thinking how good it would be next day to depart with all clean gear and a days rest in our legs. The weather report was sounding excellent as well!
PICTURES OF THE DAY:
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On a bicycle you can expect to be
as fit as an average person ten years younger, if you cycle regularly. |
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