Route 77

This entry is from Saturday:

Route 77 is Carterton to Martinborough and return. If I travel one way by Gladstone and Longbush, which is the back road from Masterton then the total distance is 77km.

I was reluctant to go for a ride today as I had a bit of headache due to a mild cold I have. I considered cancelling the trip, but decided I'd go in any case. I thought about the team in Wellington doing RPM. Then I heard Rowan Keating's "Flying without wings" on the radio. Its cheesy, but I like that song. Also, I guess the mental motivation is now there that that Sundays are designated for the endurance rides. Part of building up the stamina. I set off about 9.15am which is about an hour later than the last few rides I have ridden.

I was also motivated that I've made a commitment to the owners of the straw house that I would water their pot plants while they are in Italy and the South of France. Given they have only been away five days so far I don't think the plants actually needed watering today, but it served as a motivation to make me go to Martinborough. I was a bit nervous also, that as the owners of the straw house are essentially my "AA" service should I break down, this makes riding a bit more risky. I took my cell phone in any case. I guess I'd call my neighbours should the worst happen and I actually break down.

Because it had rained last night the road was a little bit wet in parts. I encountered my first safety hazard when I saw my first orange cone. I pretend the orange cones are race course markers. However, the orange cones mark the crossing areas for the cows that have been milked early in the morning. About 5km into my ride down Park Rd there was about a 20 metre stretch of wet cow shit. That cow shit got up my legs and also on my bike, and it actually felt a bit unsafe riding through it. The tyres (not fully inflated as the thing at the service station made no difference) although pumped sufficiently for riding, took a while to settle after going through the cow shit.

I took the "short" route via the Mushroom factory and Ponatahi Rd to Martinborough. It took me most of the trip to get into the ride. I was riding against the wind for part of the trip. It took me 2 1/2 hours to get there. At least though I feel more familiar with both my bike and the road. I have these geographical markers that make it easier to ride: the mushroom factory, the bridge, the Ponatahi turnoff, and then once I reach the Dr's house, I know its about 5km or so to go so I'm almost there.

Once I get to the Magrain villas, and around to Schubert vineyard I feel as I turn into Cambridge Rd like I'm almost "home". At least in a Martinborough sense.

Once I get to the straw house I get changed into my skirt. I'm conscious of the size of my legs and definitely wouldn't go down "town" in my cycling shorts. I leave my bike and gear at the house, and walk down to the Wine Centre cafe for a cappuccino and muffin - its about a 5 minute walk. It has changed a bit there since I was there last. It used to be market on Sundays, but now it is a thriving cafe with what seems good food. I was the only customer with a bright yellow jacket on! Oh yeah, I have a new yellow jacket. (It deserves and will get a separate posting!)

I used to joke that if anyone couldn't see me on a bike then they must be seriously visibly impaired. Now they would need to be legally blind. There is not that much traffic on the roads I'm currently riding, but last week when I passed someone coming the other direction and I could see them about 1km away because they had a yellow fluorescent jacket on. I was aware that the shirts I have for riding (Marino Icebreaker and tramping thermals) are dark, and on grey days like today probably could blur and not be that visible. So, its a safety thing in the jacket, but it also made riding on a coldish and windy day much better.

I was going to return the "easy" way back via Pontahi Rd, but at the last minute changed my mind because I wanted to ride past the Palliser Pencarrow vineyards. I don't why, I just did. I guess it reminds me of when I lived in Martinborough and used to walk around the vineyards on a regular basis for cardio exercise.

Once I got to the turnoff that leads to Martinborough Vineyards, I made the call in my head to continue onto the Hinakura Rd via Longbush and then the Masterton Rd. This is the first time I have ridden this road this year re returning home. Its definitely easier to ride as there are more downhills to go from Martinborough to Carterton. Its a beautiful ride re the landscape too. Not just sheep! - but more variation in the landscape and landmarks along the way. I passed a woolshed party - they looked like they were having fun. Then the landmarks of Gladstone school, Gladstone church (from which it is 16km home). Gladstone pub, the Marae - the statue of the monplane opposite. Once I get to Gladstone vineyard I feel like I'm on the home stretch although its still about another 12 km. Once I get to the turnoff then I know its 5km and really is the home stretch. Now that I've listed the landmarks out, I can see why the route has more variation.

It took me about the same time to get home (2 1/2 hours) which was due to the downhills and a bit of wind behind me. That was comparatively quite good timing becasue the Longbush route is definetly about another 15km or so than going the short route of Ponatahi Rd.

There were some beautiful rainbows and changes between blue and grey skys. There would have been an hour or so, when it was just me, the bike and occasionally some cows! - although there definitely was an increase in traffic at the pub and from the vineyards

I'm still a bit nervous about some of the down hills. I can go quite fast for my weight on the bike, but don't feel completely in control of the bike so need to double break sometimes.

I want to master route 77 because its essentially the route for the Martinborough fun bike ride which is about a week or two weeks before the Taupo challenge so that will be perfect timing. I've done it before when I lived in Martinborough. I remember being passed by children and old age pensioners. I don't intend for that to be the case this year!

When I returned home, I felt better than when I left! 5 hours on a bike and I felt better!