The Gladstone route

I commenced the day (after stacking the firewood) by running after the man I had noticed staking out my neighbours (who are currently overseas) house.  Sometimes I have no fear.  And yet when I think about it, fear is a fundamental barrier to change not always acknowledged, so I have had some things I fear.  Show me a man (or woman) who has no fear, and then that scares me, but it is a balance between being fearless and having courage to follow though.  Anyway, before I digress, after a brief conversation with the man, and being shown his Genesis ID card, I was satisfied he was indeed the local meter reader~!  Woops~! Actually, it would be a stupid person to break in to my neighbours house (given their son in law is the local policeman), but people can be stupid. It's one of the things of being "at home".  I don't really know who the postie or the meter reader is because I never see them.  Hopefully, I will never see the meter man again!

After the adrenalin of the faux chase subsided, I decided to layer up again - this time in my cycling gear - lycra, long johns, shorts, tramping socks, and three thermal layers on top plus the yellow wind jacket.  It was a overcast, but segments of blue sky held some hope, and not raining like yesterday.

Despite the fact there are still quite a few tasks to be completed indoors, I decided to go to Martinborough and return.  I didn't make it there, so modified the route and have now got what I will call the Gladstone route.  This is the round circuit via Gladstone Vineyard, Gladstone pub, and then turn off at Millars Rd and back via Parkvale Mushroom Factory.  At the turnoff at Millars Rd it says its 18k, so I estimate the circuit would be about 40km.  It took me 2 hours and 5 minutes.  This may become my base route and I'll try and time trial it now and again.  The road up Millars Rd is quite a gradual hill climb.  I managed to get in the right gear, and I think that is working better now.

The wind was quite strong, so it felt like quite a tough ride in parts.  It was worth it though to see this beautiful double and huge rainbow.  I also saw my first lamb for the season.