Motu Taniwha

Rowie resting in the undergrowth after an unsuccessful parking manoevour
Originally uploaded by m0rehu.

This was the day the taniwha struck in many disguises. The plan was for 9 of us to ride over the Otipi Rd to the Motu and return. This is a very tough 40k ride climbing from 300m to 850m over 7k then dropping to 250m over 14k to the Motu and then return. Check out The Mad Keen Mountain Biker's Road Trip by Ruth Connor for a great description.

Taniwha 1: At 7.00am Hedley rang to say that he had just backed his van and his and Teleri's brand new MTBs!!! into a post and would not be making the ride that he had organised.

Taniwha 2: Brian didn't turn up. Where were you?

Taniwha 3: On her first MTB ride since her separated shoulder event Lea rode for 30 minutes and then came off as her rear deraillieur snapped off! Look out Hedley, a taniwha is coming your way!

Taniwha 4: The photo shows Rowie in the undergrowth. Destry hit this spot, known as the forks, first, couldn't decide which way to go, so went straight ahead and over the edge. As Rowie arrived he wanted a closer look but misjudged and went over as well. In the most isolated spot in the North Island he ended up with a piece of glass jabbing him in the arse.

Taniwha 5 was a real taniwha. At the Motu I leapt in to a perfect swimming hole for a swim and photo op. I then dived to the bottom to meet a very large eel (1m) face to face. Swinging my arms wildly and kicking in mad panic I shot to the surface like an exocet missile with taniwha in pursuit. I landed on the rocks much to the amusement of Barry and The Boss. Check the photo of the taniwha with the other photos!

Apart from the taniwha it was an awesome ride, but most probably one of, if not the hardest MTB ride I have done. The climbs were relentless of between 1 hr and 2 hours each, but the downhills made it all worth it.

We were also able to offer assistance to two hunters who had a puncture on their 4 wheel motor bike. They used our bike pumps to keep pumping up their tyre. A few broken bike pumps now.

Condolences to Hedley and Teleri. Hope the bikes are fixable and covered by insurance.

Sasquatch Interest

The recent postings concerning Sasquatch have resulted in a world wide interest. Check out this link that opens up a whole new world for us to explore www.bfro.net.

The Sasquatch Hunt Continues

Sasquatch Hunter
Originally uploaded by m0rehu.

The great Sasquatch hunter is dressed for the risky enterprise, armed with the anti-Sasquatch liquid and fully alert. Check out the rest of the photos taken by Hedley at the Round The Lake Relay in Taupo. The last photo shows the secret team member whch Hedley somehow smuggled along who is seen carefully weighing her options.

The Sasquatch Roaming The Forests During the 2008 Round Taupo Relay

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Originally uploaded by m0rehu.

The Cellar Rats returned to the Round Taupo Relay with a few new comers to defend their proud record. After 14 hours and 32 minutes we crossed the line to be 4th in our division of about 200 teams. We were only 6 mins slower than last year when we finished 3rd.

New records were set by Aaron, Barry, James (though we are requesting a recount as James beat Maurie's record by 4 seconds and it just doesn't seem right) and Racheal. Maurie set an awesome record over 10.1 k, blitzing the previous record for when the leg was 2k shorter!

Everybody gave their all with the new comers seeing what 100% effort 100% of the time really means.

Once again the support from team mates was awesome. Our own prizegiving in the presence of Koro James was an impressive event, but signs that Shane might not see the full evening out were beginning to emerge.

We all danced the night away and made it back to our digs safely with Lea being like a DP and getting everyone on the taxi to get home.

What an event! Check the photos.

Many laps were changed so new records were set over many laps.

Sam Has Left Home

Our middle son Sam has jumped on the plane and flown to Invercargill to begin his Bachelor of Digital Media. I've never been to Invercargill, but I know it is about the furtherest you can be away from Opotiki and home and still be in NZ. What is he saying to us?

Start of School Year

After our first week at school staff relaxed on Waiotahe Beach and dined on fine sausages cooked on the BBQ. It has been a great start with very good NCEA results from last year, a high roll continuing, and a neat group of new staff, including 4 year 1 teachers who look as if they are going to fit right in.

Spooky! Can you hear the music from Deliverance?

This series of photos have caused some concern. A pack of hillbillies arriving by suspect vehicle and carrying out strange activities in the Blue Mountains.

Brazil Meets Possum

Gabriel Being Inducted As a Possum
Originally uploaded by m0rehu.

Here is Gabriel being inducted as a possum. The omens are good as it is a rare albino.

Story in previous post and more photos here.

The pace quickens

"The year passes like a worm through the mower; hell for the quick, mincemeat for the slower!" The pace has certainly sped up around here. Just after getting the MTB champs out of the way the focus has shifted to Round Taupo Relay (in 2 weeks) and the prospect of the punishing Colville Connection in March! The weekly road cycle and MTB gut-busting sprints are still going on as well. Added to that, school is also about to begin.

School started with a Teacher Only Day last Friday and the traditional start of year BBQ at my place. We seemed to have a great night with the last going at about 1.30am. Unfortunately Hedley brought his home brew which required an informal "taste-off" with my beautiful creations, which have been in the bottle for about 3 years! I was deeply hurt by the many people from my family and others whom I have considered close friends who made statements suggesting Hedley's brews were better. I can only imagine they were building him up a little and/or had drunk too much and were pissed!

The previous week we had Year 13 Leadership Camp at beautiful Omaio and I will post photos shortly.

We had a brutal, but sort of enjoyable ride today and I will post photos. Myself, the Boss, Brian and Hamish, Karl, Kate, Hedley and the Brazilaian Exchange student, Gabriel, set off from the Boss' and met up with Roger. We plummetted down Amokura, ground up to the top gate, and then charged through (biking and walking) the Upper Paerata section to the trig. The view is outstanding as you will see in the photos. From there it was an awesome downhill, most of the way apart from Old Creamery! back to the Boss' for muffins and coffee where we met up with Leigh, Shirley and Marg who had ridden to the Eucalypts (almost) and back.

What were the highlights?
Karl walking through the ford because I thought he was good. He gave some excuse about his bottom bracket getting too wet recently.

Brian grabbing a recently deceased albino possum and introducing it to Gabriel (see photos).

Brian (again) sailing over his handlebars and over Hedley who had inconsiderately fallen on a mean downhill and left his bike over the track for Brian to hit. The forward roll from a great height was spectacular. Hamish and Gabriel nailed this downhill straight away. Roger and I fell so marched to the top to try again. Roger made it; I had another fall and then nailed the rest of it. My last memory before that fall was Hamish yelling at me to let the brakes go. He's on detention tomorrow!

Students at school tomorrow!!!!!

First Round of the North Island MTB Champs

Gareth Owen gutsing it out.
Originally uploaded by m0rehu.

This competition was held in Opotiki on Sunday in the outstanding Blue Mountains. It was agreat opportunity to show off our wonderful playground. The photos are a bit boring because I was stuck in one spot marshalling.

This photo shows gutsy local lad, Gareth Owen, on his thirdlap completing the hill climb. Other photos show our outstanding marshalling team of the Boss, Kurt, Dr Kerr and Lea who had responsibility for marshalling "The Dip" and also another local College student, Glen Baird who gutsed it out over the full long course.

Congratulations to Mike and his team who pulled this great event together on the course largely prepared by Brett and the others he dragged in to get involved.

Bush Bashing Down The Military Track

I can't believe this place! There is always something new and adventurous to do. Yesterday as we came out of the bush at top of Block Access Rd yesterday Hedley showed us the beginning of the Military Track that runs from there to Tirohanga - where I live - and before you know it he has organised us to run it the next day.

He described it as a 15km bush run on a largely cleared bench track. I haven't run this far since last year's Motu but thought I would give it a go. It started raining at 5.00pm and Hedley and Teleri and Karl turned up shortly after. We drove up in Hedley's van with his dog doing its share of the driving and then it turned the radio on.

Hedley, Karl and I started the track at 6.00pm while Teleri took the dogs for a run. The 'run' was awesome. Narrow bench track which was reasonably clear for the first 30mins and then was a bit of a bush bash and supplejack clamber for the next hour before we hit Tirohanga Rd and a haul into the wind and rain for 4k back home.

There was a bit of walking, scrambling and climbing as the track petered out in places but the rain and fading light made for a great adventure. As well, Karl and Hedley told hunting stories all the way through and pointed out signs of deer along the way. It was fun AND educational.

I feel like I've run a marathon but it was a great day to bring up 21 days in a row training!

Maraehako Camping

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Originally uploaded by http://www.flickr.com/people/22987124@N05/

Click here to see the photos from our recent camping at Maraehako. Leigh and I and Lucy and her friend Waitapu.

Huge Turn Out On Sunday To Meet The Three Sisters

About 11 SOBs turned up at Hanaia on Sunday morning to take a brief ride through the Blue Mountains, mainly to check out the dip on the big track as some of us are marshalling there for the National MTB CC Champs here this Sunday. The plan was then to ride the small loop. However, the attraction of the Three Sisters meant we rode most of the big lap.

Myself, the boss, Kate, Roger, Brian, Kerr, Kurt (welcome back), David and Trevor (2 new comers to the Sunday adventures) set off from Hanaia after a coffee and met George and Aaron on the way. It's hard to describe the beauty of this ride. As we plummetted and slid down the dip the air was fill of Kerr's hoots of joy and exhiliration! We all made it safely but Trevor expressed a little discomfort with the technical nature and asked if the three sisters was any steeper!!

After negotiating the beautiful first part of the Military track, clearing windfall on the way, Roger, Brian, Kerr and Aaron elected to include the second part of the Military Track while the rest of us headed straight down King Rd to our appointment with the three sisters!!

It was fantastic downhill to the sisters where we met to discuss tactics and building bravado. After explaining my technique and describing the best part of the track to attempt to get down without parting from the bike David and Trevor promptly announced their intention to walk!

I made it successfully, with one minor fall as I slid out of control into a rut, as did Kurt who also had one minor fall. Others walked, slid and rode bits.

Just after the three sisters we tooki off down the last incline when I hit a rut and was hurled over the edge of the track, through the ferns and pongs, 3-4 metres down the bank where a pine tree stopped my further slide down the cliff. The others following came across my bike on the track and no sight of me as I was hidden several metres below hidden by the undergrowth. I managed to scramble back up (without their help!!) and carry on the ride. No damage, but I was a bit shaken just quietly!

On the way out we met up with Hedley and Teleri who had ridden the Greenhorn loop.

We all met back at Hanaia after about 4 hours of absolute fun and fear. Brian was ecstatic at his successful conquering of the three sisters!

The Grooming of the Three Sisters

On Saturday a group of us turned up in an attempt to tame the three sisters in preparation for the National MTB CC Champs which we are hosting this coming weekend. This was my first time helping with this. A lot of these guys have put a huge amount of work into these tracks, not only for the nationals, but also for the enjoyment of the rest of us.

These photos show Dick riding down the middle sister (Grade 5); they also show Roger and Barry and Paul attempting the difficult walk down the sisters and the group resting part way through the grooming of the girls.

Thursday Night MTB

Here are some photos from the Thursday Night MTB races we have every week with over 30 competitiors each week Great for a wee town eh? Click here for photos of some finishing and of the gathering afterwards.

Lot's been happenin

I've come into school today to upload all the photos from our camping trip to Maraehako and of the MTB race last night and I brought the wrong cord! I will post photos shortly.

Our whanau had a great 5 days at Maraehako camping with our 2nd 'daughter' Waitapu. Did lots of kayaking and even managed to catch some fish! Photos to come.

MTBiking last night was fun. Everyone is getting faster each week. I took the camera along to catch a bit of the action. Photos to come.

Wednesday's Taupo training had a great turn out with Jarrod, Barry, Destry, Hedley, Peter, Shane, Rachael, Tessa, Louise, Bruce and even Chris who turned up but had to go home to cook tea.

Getting slowly back to school. NCEA results out today and our students have done very well again. Back on deck next week with fulldays at work making sure we are ready to start. It will be good to catch up with the staff as they come in.

Photos to come.

Taupo Training

First big group turned up tonight to train for Round Taupo Relay. Racheal walked and daughter Louise jogged beside her. Jarrod, Hedley, Destry ang myself set off running the Woodlands circuit where we were pleased to come across James training. We met up with Peter who joined us. Man it was hot. At the end Jarrod and Hedley added on a small 3k loop as well.

It was very hard work, but at least we are under way. Barry turned up at the end "carrying a small injury" and promised to train next week. If I find out the others headed off for a cold beer afterwards, look out.

Woodlands Cycling

Despite the heavy drizzle over 50 turned up for the tuesday night cycle around Woodlands. There were a few highlights. Leigh cruised up to the gathering area, came to a halt and forgot to take her feet out of the pedals and hit the tarseal in a pile of maniacal laughing and bruising. The boss biked to Maraenui and back this morning then raced around the Woodlands circuit to finish 3rd and drop yours truly 200m from the end. The boss and I picked up Lucy and Rick 1/2 way around and dragged them to a good time.

It's a great atmosphere at this weekly event. Now we have to turn up on Thursdays as well to kill ourselves on the MTB circuit! What with the Round Taupo crew having to meet and run on Wednesdays our week is certainly fill of sporting activity with a neat group of Opotiki people.

New Year's Eve 2007 no.2

Oh Dear!

Holidays

This is what holidays are about - mtbing followed by coffee on the deck with friends (in this case Marg and her whanau and Brian.