I'll Be There For You

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You know you are talking to a racist when they start by saying "I'm not a racist but.....".  Our friend the house painter was just the most recent of several kiwis who have already cornered us to tell us how the 'asians' are ruining New Zealand.  That they are themselves 1st or 2nd generation immigrants doesn't seem to have occurred to them.

The fact that you are continuing to receive these daily missives is an indicator that I am not too completely knackered to write them.  The hours on the trainer seem to be paying off and the miles are rolling by without ill effect.  I dont even think I am slowing Plum down too much......though no doubt he will put me right when he reads this.  Today we had a good old blast over mixed terrain...a few hills to keep us honest but also some nice flat to downhill sections.  We finished the day with an average of almost 15mph which won't win any medals but is respectable given the weight of panniers etc.  

The reason for our haste is that tonight we are staying with friends of Neil who run a hostel in Murchison on the Buller River.  Our arrival wasn't greeted with quite the enthusiasm we had expected.....mainly because they had just extracted their cat from a neighbour's illegal gin trap.  They were a bit cross.

The hostel also has a restaurant where they are bedding in a new pizza oven so that is dinner sorted.  Between now and then (a matter of 4 or 5 hours) we will have to find something to do.  Hmm, now let me think.......




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