The start - I wasn't exaggerating about the waves!Brian had sensibly said earlier on that I should really do local events, it's cheaper and easier to get to.
BUT another team REALLY needed me! Well that was my story anyway.
I had been checking the Spring Challenge website regularly for those wanting team mates and this came up:
We're slow but have been looking forward to having a great time in the 6 hr vet race but have lost a team mate to injury. If you'd like to join us please contact Lyndsay at xxxxxx or xxxxxxx@xtra.co.nz
I have lots of airpoints, so made sure I could get flights and a rental car, organised the girls to stay at my brother's, and put it to Brian that I should really go. He didn't bother arguing, he knew I would be too hard to live with if I couldn't go.
So I let the team 'Giving it a go' know that I could go, and I was in. The only hassle - 17 days to the event. I knew I was fit enough to finish, but I couldn't push it. My knee was sore from a farm injury. I was pretty strong from working on the farm all spring.
I arrived in Nelson and picked up a rental car, I had organised a hatchback, but was thrilled to get a Toyota Rav 4 - what a cool car. I had my bike in a bike bag, so I could fit it in easily. My own car has done about 240 000 km, and is starting to leak oil, and has bits falling off and breaking - a Toyota Rav 4 could be a replacement - one day. Although I'd love a mini!
Anyway, got myself to St Araud, there was lots of snow about and it was cold! Luckily I had packed extra thermals.
Registered, attended the rafting briefing, and met my team mates and their support person. A Scottish lady - Shirley and Lyndsay and her husband Stu.
I put my bike together, put on lots of insect repellent (the sandflies are legendary), had tea, and went to bed. We had a campervan in the local DOC camping ground, really close to the start line.
Up at 3.30 in the morning, having a bad gut ache (anti-inflammatory side effect), I had been dreaming of rafting in the sea in big waves. I went down to the shore - you guessed it - big waves crashing on the beach - oh!
The race started at 6 am. It was meant to be a short swim to the rafts then into the rafts for a 3km paddle across Lake Rotoiti to the Buller river. Due to the waves we started on the beach, put the rafts in, then paddled for our lives to beat the 20knot headwind. It was tough.
Just another bumper boat ride!Once we got to the Buller River it just got tougher. Low water levels meant getting in and out of the raft to lift it. The thought petrified me. There was didymo on the rocks, which made them slippery. Being overweight meant I was scared I'd not get myself back in the raft with any dignity! After about 20 in and out events, I was over it!
It took us 2.5 hours to do the rafting, it was gruelling. I was stuffed. The ambos were treating a lady that had hypothermia. I ended up taking her back to Nelson the next day.
We had a LONG transition. We were all cold and tired. It took me 3 attempts to get my cycle pants on the right way round!
The weather had improved dramatically - it turned out to be a fantastic day!
On to the bikes, and a short ride across paddocks to the next checkpoint, bikes dumped at the base of a hill, and we climbed to 1000 m to find two checkpoints. One of the men on Checkpoint 3 was Scottish, and lived in the same town as Shirley had!
The highest point in the race 1023 m above sea level. I know it looks like it, but I hadn't forgotten to take off my life jacket. Note to self - get into better shape!Down the hill (the beech forest was neat - lots of birds too), back on the bikes for a short ride, then a long push up a clay bumpy forest track - I don't think anyone actually rode up the hill. On the downhill I had to get off a couple of times, but otherwise it was cool.
We got to transition then had some food, and set off on the tramp. We had to find an orienteering control point along the lake track, which got a few people lost. We found it eventually.
We just walked to the finish, the best teams ran. It was neat finishing. I had not done much training, but I knew I could finish, it would just not be fast.
Our time was 9 hours 40 minutes, not last, but not far off. Still it was a great adventure.
The prize giving was good, with the local school putting on a great lunch. I got a prize for doing all 3 spring challenges, and the 2 autumn ones - along with another lady in the 12 hour veteran winning team who has done the same.
Shirley won a rafting and kayaking trip in Tonga, with accommodation provided. She has to pay for the airfare though!
The autumn challenge is in Palmerston North - my old student stomping ground!
Photos are taken by Ian Trafford http://www.iantrafford.co.nz/ The CD hasn't arrived yet, I got these off his website - so these aren't as clear as the higher resolution ones I'll get off the CD.
