a few cars...

still here

We are still in Blenheim, now housesitting for our friends while they head for the South of the South Island with other friends.
The North Island is having water problems, especally the Waikato/Coromandel and Northland..too much rain and a shortage of drinking water.
Whanganui seems ok and we'll be back there on the 21st....a quarter of the year gone already!
The rain here is just steady and fine, just the thing for the parched earth and the grape harvest. Some have already started harvesting, but most have more growing to do yet.
Rain may have stopped today's club ride, but it wont stop coffee and muffins..we'll still all meet up at the designated cafe in Blenheim, by the Taylor River.

garden inspiration, Pollard Park, Blenheim

Apologies for the layout today, sometimes the tablet computer has a mind of its own....but we did have a good hour wandering around the park. The Potager was especially inspiring, having seen how it has developed in the pastfour years. It has got me thinking how the garden at home will change in May...

history ride

After a good 80k yesterday, including seeing friends at the end of the Forrest Grape Ride ( a 101k Sportif ridden by nearly 2,000 people) we only did 64k today! Mostly at an easier pace, and the reverse direction round some of the usual routes. Added in was a ride up Delta Valley and a visit to the Delta Plains memorial commemorating the military camps  there in mid 20th century and exploration a century previous.

robot!

If you're doing plenty of riding...in other words most days...there comes a time when you need to visit the local cycle emporium...there are three to choose from! (in a town of about 30,000 folk)

We like Bike Fit, and met this marvellous fellow..a robot lamp. Don't think he moves much.

He is made from bike parts.

The Pirate got a professional trim from a visiting hairdresser..now his helmet fits his head!

planes

We splashed out on a day out and went to Omaka Aerodrome to see one of the world war one plane exhibitions. Good to see no glorification of either side, just facts. Marvellous restoration and reconstruction by Peter Jackson and the Weta Workshops plus a wealth of photographs and ephemera.
These were hanging around outside....

only one hill today.....

It was just the Weld Pass at 196m, on the eay to good coffee and cake at Seddon. Generally this is at the end of a ride, but we had to get back over it! At least coming back up from the Awatere Valley is easier.

The hills you can see in the top picture are Mt Richmond Forest Park and Scenic Reserve, between Blenheim and Picton, about 30 k away as the crow flies.