I have to admit I got pretty slack with the blog in the later stages of last year. Writer burn out!!
We have had a quiet start to the New Year. We saw it in with a few friends in Katikati. No hangover this year which was rather nice.
Marty - still a chick magnet. Seen here with myself and Beate
On the 3rd we headed off to Whangamata. Not one of our usual destinations at this time of the year as it is full of holiday makers but I had agreed last year to participate in a triathlon with two of my "old" school friends. The things you agree to when you have had a couple of wines. I did three training runs the week before so I knew I could at least manage the distance. It was only a mini triathlon so my bike ride was only 9km with one small hill section. The weather was terrible but the rain did stop for our event. The only other teams in the section were 15 and 16yr olds so we were up against it but we didn't disgrace ourselves. One member of our team was immediately talking doing the full monty next year. We may be away......
Pre Race Photo: Shelley, (swimmer), Me (cyclist)and Chris (runner).
I did get a sweat up. Did the 9km in 23.49mins. Quite a respectable time
I am still swimming, cycling and walking in the vain hope of getting really fit and even maybe losing a few lbs this year. Dreams are free.
This morning we took a drive out to Waihi Beach to see what had been washed ashore from the Rena.
Waihi Beach with Mayor Island in the background
In case you didn't know some complete womble Captain of a container vessel hit a well marked, charted and known reef coming into Port of Tauranga. Recent bad weather finally broke the ship up and more containers etc found themselves in the sea and this time some made it to our end of the harbour. Thankfully at this stage we don't appear to be getting any oil coming ashore. That may well happen down the Papamoa end which is thankfully miles from us. It was a hive of activity as people worked to get the containers of the beach.
Marty strolling along the beach
One of the rogue containers
Bulldozers and diggers get the container ready to move along the beach for evacuation
The slow journey down the beach to the waiting crane and transporter trucks.
Tonight we have some friends calling in who are touring the world on their motorcycle. They have had a great time in NZ and we were lucky enough to do the East Cape with them. So I had better go and organise food for tea tonight.
Saturday we head off on our own motorcycle adventure with good friends Tim and Beate. This time we are going to explore the back roads of the Wairarapa. Can't wait.
