Wedding Annivesary Away

Every wedding anniversary we've decided to go away somewhere instead of buying gifts. The past 2 years were 1. Tahiti, 2. Vietnam (which was crap - so we did a belated one in Cambodia). This year was less exotic but still most enjoyable. We went to Nelson, and drove to Kaiteriteri, where we laid on the beach for a few days.

View from Kaiteriteri beach


Dinner overlooking the water

Mountain Biking

So after a dissapointing ski season, I didn't have to look far to see what sport Wellington was custom-built for: mountain biking. First of all, you've got a World Cup downhill course in Mt Vic, minutes from downtown and basically in our backyard, at least one purpose built mountain bike park, and several 500 - 700 meter mountains also just minutes from town. And best of all, there are many sheltered bush tracks to keep away from the winds. Unfortunately our first ride was not in such a sheltered spot -- Mandy made a valiant effort to begin mountain biking with me, but was discouraged when she was blown off her bike, making it her last ride!

Apart from many weekend rides, I also got a chance to do The Big Coast, a 2-day ride around the South coast just east of Wellington, a beautiful if exhausting ride.

Andrew Checking out the view from Makara Peak (part of wellington's Mountain Biking Only Park)


Andrew and Zuk about to depart for The "Big Coast"


One of the great views during the "Big Coast"