Windmills on my mind

Yesterday, was a recovery day.  Eeek, that's a "recovery" day as opposed to a rest day.  These aren't included on the Taupo Guide training programme.  I had "one too many" on Friday night.....   I guess this brings home, even though I have seriously modified my drinking and eating habits, there are some habits that "die hard".  I'm OK, with this "now and again".  Although, part of me actaully wanted to celebrate the news from Friday with a really (really) long (long) ride on Saturday.  So, I'm not completely OK, then.  Hmmm. A contradiction in my statements then eh??  I'm a Gemini! - which of course only part explains the contradiction.  Anyway, no more "recovery days" allowed now until post Taupo.  So, in summary,  I don't think it would have been wise to go biking yesterday, so I didn't.

I was booked in for the Wairarapa Fun Ride today.  But a) I didn't want to ride up to Masterton (no logic in that as its only about 12 km) and b) I wanted to do my own thing.  Go figure! so I had made a decision not to go.  I decided this weekend,  I needed to aim for distance, without the pressure of "race conditions".  Not that being in the "tail end" places me under riding pressure with other cyclists, other than the threat of coming last - which is of course better than the threat of non completion.  I just felt the need for a long ride, without all the other assoicated Fun Ride stuff.  Which although I warmed to that stuff more at the Whitemans ride, still reflects why I like the nature of cycling, the solo nature of the activity.

I had a huge (well, huge, by my daily standards) sleep in until 10am or so today.  This affected my ride for today, as I didn't get to "leave the building", until about 12.30  by the time I had attended to domestic chores (not cleaning), - hanging out the washing etc.

I had either two trips in mind for today. Either  up to the windmills out of Martinborough.  I knew there were some meaty hills to get there, or to Lake Ferry and back. Due to the late (very late start)  I ended up with the windmill route.

Hau Nui, as described below, is 20km or so out of Martinborough.  I've been there a couple of times by "mountain bike" when I lived in Martinborough - there is a cool route through the vinyards at the back - but you do need mountain bike tyres to do that.  So, today I had to keep to the tar sealed roads.

I took my little shoe "caps" just in case, turned on my "computer" for the first time, and did the ride.  I didn't make it quite to the top of the windmill as um I looked at the hill, and thought "nah!".  However, some of the hills I did today were meatier than the normal Gladstone route, and I did need to walk one
It took me ages to put the caps on.  But that's what I have to do.

The advice I got from Mrs Strawhouse, when I stopped for coffee, was "ride until it is dark".  I didn't quite do that.  I came home via Ponatahi Rd and then Millars Rd.

The computer made a difference, at least in terms of knowing my speed and RPM.  I'm bordering on 20km per hour at times.  I need to make the most when I get that faster.  Also, my actual RPM is all over the place - not consistent at all.  If I could just get it to touch on 80RPM for awhile in various places that would improve my speed.

Total distance today was 116km.
Time: Forever!
Feeling: Quite good  - so there is another 50Km left in the tank.  I'll just have to work on the speed factor as much as I can.

Riding until dark wasn't really a safety on the road option, so I came home when cars had their lights on!

So, Hau Nui by bike still remains a goal - but not pre Taupo.

	Hau Nui wind farm
	Hau Nui wind farm is situated about 20 kilometres from the Martinborough township. Built in 1996, it is New Zealand's first commercial wind farm and generates enough electricity to power 1500 homes. The seven turbines operate in a wind speed range of 10 - 120 km/h above which they shut down. The structures are designed to withstand wind speeds up to 240km/h. Hau Nui (meaning 'strong wind' in Maori) wind farm has a well designed viewing area with seating from which to marvel at the impressive machines. There are comprehensive information panels making a visit informative and interesting or you can simply take in the stunning views of the surrounding countryside. This is definitely a worthwhile excursion.