For the last 2 weeks, I’ve enjoyed a long overdue holiday with Dave on the south island of New Zealand. After so much time and distance between us this past year, it has been important to be a married couple again. :) We’ve also brought along our friend Kat to keep the peace. Having travelled with us in New Zealand three years ago, Kat is a great travel companion as she loves to indulge in similar hiking adventures, following each day with a decent steak. Deprive her of her daily steak and she starts to get the shakes. She has had a good influence on me, reminding me to increase my red meat intake as I’ve been rather slack lately and wonder about those iron levels.
Oceania titles 2010 brought us to Invercargill last weekend. I’d never cycled this far south. I’ve competed in the womens tour for 2 years on the North island of NZ and experienced “windy Wellington” but I can now say that place doesn’t hold a candle to the weather conditions in Invercargill. From the day we arrived until the day we left, the wind averaged 30km-50km/hr. At night it kept us awake as it shook the windows of our hotel and during the day it often blew me off the road. I will NEVER complain about riding in the wind in Canberra again.
I struggled through both the time trial and road race. Whilst all of the girls who’ve spent a solid time overseas this year were in the same boat regarding form and fitness, I seemed to come up the worst. Oceanias at this time of the year was always going to be very tough after a 3 week break. I finished 4th in a dead flat 25km time trial and was significantly off the pace of 3rd. The road race was hillier but the wind just as brutal and given it was a rectangular shaped circuit completed 6 times, we were belted by the wind from all directions. With a very small bunch of less than 20 riders there was no where to hide. An attack by Bridie 30km in to the race was the right idea and this stuck as there was no coordinated chase from the bunch. I finished 7th in the huge bunch sprint. C’est la vie. It’s now time to keep the base fitness kicking along as I look towards December with two cycling camps, the Tour of Bright and some solid local racing.
From Invercargill, it was time to holiday. We’ve spent time in Te Anau, Milford Sound and now Queenstown. The highlight has definitely been a cruise on Milford Sound. Given that it rains almost 200 days of the year in Milford, we lucked out in terms of weather – a glorious sunny day that revealed the colours in the waterfalls and rocks beautifully. Every day has involved hiking – anywhere from a couple of hours up to 6. Kat and I are true “peak baggers”, preferring to walk the trails that involve a summit and views. Dave just sighs and follows along. The “Key Summit” trail along Milford Rd was another highlight, offering views along the Hollyford valley and of snow capped mountains 2000m high.
All of this hiking had me truly spent at the end of each day. I chose to relax in a floatation tank at a day spa in central Queenstown. When I first began my massage career I worked in a clinic Bondi, Sydney which combined massage with floatation tanks. For those who haven’t experienced these sensational inventions, let me fill you in… They are the shape of bread boxes with a sliding roof that once closed leaves you in darkness. The floating part is achieved by 50kg of Epsom salts thrown in which gives the water a silky feel and great buoyancy. After you’ve stuck in some ear plugs, applied vaseline to any skin cuts (absolutely crucial unless you’re prepared for skin burning once inside the tank!) you step into your personal bread box and float away all your worries for an hour. Bliss!
Lakes, mountains - what more could you ask for?
Dave & I in the same country at the same time!
With scenes like these, I remained in a state of bliss for the next few days in NZ. It was very hard to get back to reality in Canberra. I worked a day in the clinic and am currently clocking up the kms on a training camp in Kiama with my state institute team. This has been on my calender for 3 years now and I’ve found it’s been instrumental for building my fitness into the new season. I’ve survived the first few days chasing the guys up the climbs and hope to hang in for the remaining 3. I’ll let you know how that goes!