That seat was originally at the high point of HotXBuns at the top of Direct Rd. It was always a good place to stop and have a breather. Then the pines grew, so Rick moved it to new open spaces.
Sitting on the seat catching my breath, it took meamoment or two to re-orient myself. I've never hadaGPS unit before, though I've been seriously tempted.
However, I'm back in the forest on a bike, now. After such a long time away and with all the change, it was a reassuring moment when a new Magellan eXplorist 610 unit turned up on a courier a couple of weeks ago.
Magellan is the sponsor of the Whaka 100 run at Labour Weekend. I did some work for them and race organiser (and my good friend) Rawiri Bhana, who took over Nduro Events this year. AGPS was a bit more than I expected in return and I amvery grateful to Magellan for their generosity.
However, I had explained to them that I planned to chart my return to riding. They feltaGPS would help me do that as I slowly increase distance and time. It's a fascinating process, a lot of fun and very easy to play with.
The eXplorist will be a constant companion. I hope I don't get too geeky tracking my rides. No, hang on. I love it and will bore people to tears about it all - from here till Christmas. If you've never tried one, you really must. Something else I love is being back on my bike. Just my little old Blur right now. The 6-inch travel tractor can waitawhile.
Apparently riding a bike is one of those things that, once learned, are never forgotten. It is something about how the brain works, storing the information in the long-term memory. I can testify to that. First time out for seven months was a lap of the Forest Research Institute on Labour Day-my own little Whaka 1.
It felt perfectly natural. I even got off the pegs a couple of times and roosted of a bank. Age9-again.
? Shameless plug time. Thanks to Magellan NZ-good people and big supporters and fans of mountain biking:
www.magellangps.co.nz.
