Puponga

The bach at Puponga BEFORE it started raining.

Holiday route choices

It is always difficult to get the family to agree to the holiday plans, so Jenny had to come up with a simple way to impose her will on the rest of us (opps, I mean get our agreement). I was easy to subdue after a couple of pints of locally brewed beer at Upper Moutere pub. So, it is Nelson, Golden Bay, Wanaka, Alexandra, Te Anau, Bluff, Catlins, Dunedin, Christchurch and home. Note: Jenny has been known to change her mind.

More orca - it was a good day

Orcas, Welllington Harbour - Take Two

From the New Zealand Herald, Tues 6 December

Orcas & Wellington Harbour

These are the things you can't (often) do when you are working. Paddle
with Orca in the harbour. They (x 14) were amazing. So big and powerful
but so in control. That is me being polie as they cruise past. Distance
from me to Orca, about 2 m. Who was most nervous - Me!

We knocked the bastard off! The finishers couch

More info on the kiwi team.

Keep an eye on http://kiwixpd.wordpress.com/ . Annie will be doing updates from the field on all the kiwis she can.

Live web site up and running

The www.xpd.com.au website now has the live section. We haven't started yet though, Wednesday 2 nd November

Burnie By The Sea.

Packing - I have 4 hours before Jenny gets home!

Packing

Arghh. I have had all week to get ready and packed, so I have taken all week! I am sure if needed i could be out of the door in 30 mins, but as Ihave all day I expect to be doing the final touches at 4:45am tomorrow morning. The compulsory bits (safety and warm gear) are easy, as is putting in about 15 pairs of lovely Bridgedale socks. The hard bit is weeding my way through a huge pile of my fashionable lycra and polypro clothing. It was easy last week as weather report was clear, WET. Now they are saying it might be dry. Decisions, decisions. It's a good job black is in vogue.

5 More Sleeps, socks and t-shirts packed

Well, most of the training is done so we thought we could afford an
evening off to support the All Blacks. The new team t-shirts have
arrived to distinguish us from the other teams with less comfy feet.
Unfortunately we let slip our greatest secret weapon - bbq tongs. I bet
no other team carries a set. A good night was had, just! Which obviously
means that if we harden up, make our tackles and hang in there for the
full 80 minutes we will do well at the Adventure Race World Champs ....
5 More Sleeps

Visitors from Chch

Been a bit distracted

Hi - Haven't been very good at keeping this blog going as have been
focussing on the team bridgedale stuff.

We are off to Tasmania for the World Adventure Racing Champs in November.
You can check out the event at www.xpd.com.au
You can follow us on Facebook or http://bridgedalesocksnz.blogspot.com/

In 4 weeks we will be off and running

Only 4 weeks to go before the start of the 2011 Adventure Racing World Champs in Tasmania. We've just received the final competitors update from the organisers with a little reminder about gaiters - "we've seen lots of snakes in the area", dry bags (surely Tasmania is sunny and warm?), and not drinking unpurified ground water (as if I would after last race in Cairns).

They are also pushing Tassie as a tourist mecca in case we have time and/or energy to explore after the race so check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik0ce-eH9Cs

Putting the bike miles in

[DR] Another great day in Wellington. Needing some bike miles we headed
out on the Big Coast circuit. From Petone, south round the coast to the
Wairarapa. A road section from the Wharekahu alongside Lake Wairarapa
to the Rimutuka Incline, over the incline and through Tunnel Gully to
the Hutt Valley, and down the berms back to Petone. Sounds a straight
forward 130km ride. Just to spice it up we invited Barryn, Trevor and
Samara - you know, just to keep the pace honest! The pace line got a
little streched at times but there were moments of respite, like when
Jerome broke his bike just avoid going any further, and the coke stop in
Upper Hutt. It was the best conditions any of us can remember for the
trip which normally involves cold, wind and rain. There was a 30km head
wind up the Wairarapa but that was generated by Barryn and Trevor. The
section from the Orongorongo River to Wharekahu is in good condition and
mostly rideable except for the soft sand.

AND we got back in time for the rugby. It was a great night in
Wellington to be Tongan.
Colin was home alone with whiskey and ipad for England Scotland game.
The updates dried up after 60 mins but we think he is ok.

Mt Climie. Nice snow.

Sent from my HTC

Michaels holiday goal achieved, taller than his mother.

Sporting afternoon. This is before the fighting broke out over cheating by the NZ team.

Lunch in Prestbury

At last, a peaceful brekkie.

Michael says goodbye to Bramble and Holly

Geocaching at Chatsworth House, Derbyshire.

Dudley Black Country Museum. Midlands equivilent of Disneyland

Jenny at Symonds Yat

Forest of Dean. Day Two. Sculpture trail. Michael and Alex plan a short cut.

Michael Rudge's cultural tour of Europe. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YILkke6-pg

Lost in forest of dean. I told them not to let Jenny near the map.

More bloody gondilers .. I mean narrow boats. (the other way was the village cricket game)

More culture, Coughton Court. Hosted the gunpowder plotters in 1600 ish. Dave and Mac head for cafe.

The pace of the holiday has changed

The Russies arrive in London. Apparently some sporting event here soon.

Michael enjoys Versailes Palace

Dave hops in queue for confession.

Paris parking 101: this guy failed for leaving to much of a gap.

Michael hides his enthusiasm for another big old french house

Versailles. A definite candidate for off season mountain biking.

Dave finally fits in some cycle training. Bois du Bologne, Paris.

A day on the move -750km from Nimes to Paris

Not a fun day. 2 to 5 lanes, with 130km signs everywhere. More of a suggested minimum really. I got to enjoy our hired Dacia Duster. Dacia being that well known Rumanian car company famous for their suspension and gear boxes developed for 50's soviet tractor fleets. Still we made it

Pont d'Arc -I am sure it was quieter when I worked here.

It was busy in the eighties but nothing like this. Tourist nightmare.

Old meets new - concert stage set up in roman amphitheatre

Nimes, Saturday. Did the roman tour. Amphitheater and maison carre, then headed for the hills & gorge of the Ardeche.

Roman ruins - Pont du Gard. Michael has had enough culture

Having done 11th - 12th century French in the morning, we now do roman. Luckily by river so swim time. Good news, Akon concert cancelled. Shame, Emma was so looking forward to it.

More old stuff ... I mean culture. Palais du Pape - Avignon

Late start, up at crack of 10. Another "Jenny" route to Avignon for brekkie. A wander and then the tour of the Palais. Next stop, Pontiac du Gard for a bit more culture and a swim.

Bastille Day #2. wander round Nimes and dinner.

Great evening in Nimes. Families out en masse. Night market, fair and even a gladiator show (Nimes has roman amphitheater). Dinner at cafe with warring buskers. Emma very excited as Akon on at amphitheatre tomorrow. Who?

Bastille Day #1. Hill work. Got to earn my red wine.

Managed to turn at 3hr drive from Nice to Nimes into a 10 hr epic via mountain passes, castles and a swim in the lake.

Fwd: Brekkie on Bastille Day

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Day 3 a- Bit Of Culture

After a long day out in Italy / San Remo on Tues, it was Antibes today. Bit of a late start but wE saved 5 euro going by bus, which was over full & slow. Wandered round old city and Picaso museum before heading back (train) to pick up hire car. Need to work on Jenny's navigation as a quick to beach had us miles in wrong direction. Late swim at Cape Ferret(?) with the rich folk.

Day two - San Remo

Tuesday so it must be Italy. Had to earn my beer by walking the old town. Hopped of the return train for a quick lap of Monaco and dinner overlooking Palais. Hopefully Jenny will allow us ten minute relaxing time later in week.

Quality time at Bangkok airport

France & UK here we come

Will be providing familt holiday updates of glorious weather, french cuisine and UK family get-togethers over next four weeks. Watch this space.