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Thursday, 10 November 2011

Water, water everwhere!

Hi everyone,

I'm really sorry for not posting anything for such a long time! We have been on the move for so long and having to move so quickly that we haven’t really had time to stop and write anything! Now our NZ road trip is officially over and we are back at the original Olive's, trying to sell our Car Olive, we have time to update you on some of our adventures in the South! We have a few funny moments to tell you about, but putting them all in one ridiculously long post would be mind numbing for all involved. Instead, we'll take turns to tell you about some of our fav times over a few posts! This is a story that's not particularly exciting but you'll just have to put up with it!

In an attempt to get fit(ish) we have been doing a bit of swimming. This allows us to have a MUCH needed shower and pants washing session (unfortunately we didn't have anywhere to dry the pants so they remained hung in the window of Olive above my head as I slept and occasionally I got woken up by a cold, damp pair of pants falling on my face.) Anyway, as part of our 'get fit regime' we decided to go mountain biking in Hanmer Springs. Hanmer Springs is a little town in the central south island, noted only for its gigantic hot springs complex. We decided to venture there as we were waiting for prime whale watching weather, as it was pissing it down we thought a little soaking in mineral pools would pass some time.

We rented bikes and helmets from our campsite and sped along the road in the direction of the mountain bike tracks, aided by an extortionately priced map. Thinking that we'd opt for a 'medium to Expert' track we cycled to the beginning of the woods. Surprisingly after 10 minutes of cycling downhill on a tarmac road our legs were beginning to fail us. Ignoring our pain, putting it down to 'warming up', we pushed on, entering the woods via the 'easy rider' track. Scoffing at its simplicity, I sped ahead sending mud and debris flying behind me. Getting up to top speed, I crashed through puddles, mud and streams, trying to lose Emma. Feeling a bit out of breath, I stopped and waited for her, boastfully showing off my soaking wet bottom (which I later regretted as it soon started to chafe). Getting back on our bikes we started to feel the increase in gradient more intensely than anticipated. After approximately 10 more minutes of traversing small humps and corners and various grades of gravel we had to have a ‘water break’.

It was at this point when a family of 5 including a 3 year old child passed us effortlessly, as we panted and tried to increase oxygen flow to our limbs. Embarrassed, but determined to catch up with these new opponents, we continued on our journey. Thankfully the family had stopped a few hundred meters down the track to attach a tow rope to the toddler’s bike. 'Ah ha' I thought, 'It’s not just us finding this 'easy rider' track difficult'! Feeling reassured we decided to take on the challenge of the 'perseverance' route of the 'easy rider' track which consisted of far too many bumps for my liking! Emma, pointing out the danger of a number of protruding, skiddy roots, opted to get off and push as we had both experienced a few hairy moments. Unfortunately, it was here where our foes regained the lead. Being pulled along by her mother's bike and wearing a pink, starry helmet and Pepper Pig wellies, our nemesis could only stare and jeer at us as we panted along the remainder of the 'easy rider' track and got to the finish line. It was here where we should have started our journey on the 'medium-expert' track. As I was almost vomiting from fatigue and Emma subsequently discovered she had been riding the whole route with her brakes on, we decided to return home a mere 45 minutes after departing. We still blame the bikes for our appalling efforts, I’ve been MBing before and it DEFO wasn't that difficult!

Luckily we spent the next 2 hours soaking our limbs in the hot springs of Hanmer. Unfortunately I must mention the embarrassment of having to go on a water slide with the Brownster. Hanmer springs has 2 water slides, usually reserved for people under the age of 16. Emma, at 39, had never been on such a slide so forced me to go with her. We queued in the cold in our swimwear for 15 minutes whilst children stared at the old people wanting to crash their party. Eventually we got to the front and had to carry a double, inflatable ring up 16 flights of stairs to the top of the slide. Emma was at the front- this was a mistake. As we pushed off and descended into darkness, Emma's squeak escalated into a full blown screech. It was so embarrassing as it wasn’t a particularly fast slide and dozens of Under 5s had traversed the same journey without so much as a whimper. I felt myself needing to push her off but instead opted to clamp my hand around her mouth, muffling her screams and saving our dignity. We disembarked the slide as Emma tried to conquer her knocking knees, she almost fell backwards into the ring- and this from a woman who was seriously considering doing a bungy jump! HA! Anyway, I eventually managed to get back to the mineral pool from where I was dragged, but despite this our legs still ached the next morning.

We managed to go whale watching but Emma will tell you about that another time!
Love
Roo

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