There's been a definite lack of posting on my blog recently - really need to spend half a day catching up on everything I think. Now I'm cooking on gas again (iHug broadband up and running) I can get on with uploading the hundreds of photos from the last few weeks too.
Has been a bit of a nightmare and a very stressful couple of weeks since leaving Queenstown - most of it centered around having nowhere to live and nowhere to work. But finally that's all out the way and we're now living here, overlooking the park and a couple of minutes from the city/bars/restaurants and SJ's work. Got a modern 1 bed apartment with separate office, so ideal for us. Balcony gets sun all afternoon, so great for getting through all the wine we brought back from WA. The complex we're in has swimming pool (mini one!), sauna, gym (like I'll really use that!), spa and tennis courts - bit of a change from what we're used to, but all good. Have spent a bit on making it all our home and just planted out the first batch of rocket/lettuce and herbs on the balcony. So yeah, think we're getting settled here for a bit.
SJ started her new job last week and is now the product manager for NZ for an underwear brand - free pants for me then 
. Already she's off on business travel, in Melbourne for the next 3 days. So that leaves a Sloth on his own in the small city (you can walk across it in about 10 minutes!).
First MTB ride
After another 5 week break, finally got out on Mildred the other day. Weather was looking great when I left, but clearly I hadn't noticed the big black clouds looming over the east of the city. Got to the bottom of the Port Hills in 12 minutes, so that's pretty handy. Only thing is, it was an hour of road riding before I'd got up to the trail I wanted to do. There's quite a few trails up in the hills, a lot of it maintained and managed by the council, with a variety of grades from pootling along to stuff for bigger boys on bigger bikes. Bought an NZ trails guide t'other day too if I get round to riding further afield (need some people to ride with first though!). The council's MTB guide describes the Kennedy's Bush to Worsleys as "an oldie but a goodie". Well after a *** of a climb up the road I finally got to the trail.
Heading down to the left was 1.8km singletrack called Crocodile - looked great. Up ahead was another big climb and *** weather. So what did I pick? Well I stuck with the planned ride and headed up the climb, the wind and drizzle getting worse every metre. At top of the first bit there was a small MTB sign going off to the right, but couldn't make out the trail so ignored it. D'Oh! That was a new bit of singletrack that by the look on someone's face I saw at the bottom was a pretty sweet one. More climbing for me, up grassy, open doubletrack. Just about my worst sort of ride. So this went on and on until I got cramp and started swearing a lot. The last few weeks of drinking and no exercise don't mix with this ride. It is the longest climb here apparently.
Finally got up the top, back on road and up another short climb to find end of road and 6 gates. No signs. Ok, so pick the open one, headed down to find myself riding across someone's back garden. Still, I could see the trail ahead so got out of there quick and back on it. How do you like your ruts? Well these were big enough to swallow an elephant! Managed to find some sort of line down above them until track was blocked by a load of 4WDs, most of which were stuck. Weather getting worse, I got to the end of the downhill to find myself back on the road again, but still loads of height left to go down. But alas, no trail to take me down. Let's just say by this point I'd really had enough and won't be doing that one again; definitely not an oldie but a goodie! Better luck next time, Sloth!
Been back in the swimming pool today (have found a 50m outdoor one not too far away), so determined to get the fitness back up and tackle some bigger rides. Watch this space.
For now though, it's back to you...