Still here on North Island

Keeping the running going!

http://www.parkrun.co.nz/kapiticoast/news/ this is where you'll find the evidence - Vicky was first L60 and I was first V60. What stars we are!

Friday was good preparation for the Saturday parkrun! We found the Tuatara brewery tap within walking distance of our b&b at Paraparaumu (getting good at pronouncing these names now!) Had some excellent beer and pizza and just before we set off home we saw some 6 packs of Sauvinova single hop for sale We couldn't carry them back because we were nearly two miles away but the following day I drove down to grab some. This is yet another example of wet hop beer. This must all sound a bit fishy to all of you back home, but basically it means that just before they pack the beer into bottles or casks they throw some fresh (undried) hops into the beer to give it a real hoppy boost. And so we opened the first couple of bottles tonight - absolutely fabulous to coin a phrase. And so back to the parkrun............limbering up with dozens of other folk I was feeling a bit ginger but we were ordered up to the start line - off we went and I found myself in about sixth place trundling along a gravelly path up the river. Struggling somewhat but I picked off a couple of runners before the halfway turnaround and grimly hung on to a chappie in front - I realised he was in second and gave it a bit of oomph towards the end and managed to get past - that's several seconds and thirds in parkruns now - don't think I'll sneak in  first though unless there's something else on and the best guys don't turn up. Vicky had a superb run getting stronger all the time and she is getting more competitive as well!

This weekend's parkun pic - looking as if I'm well down the field but in fact there's only one guy in front - must get some trendier running togs! Now in Wellington and checked in to our hotel to find we are at the foot of the 'Town Belt' which is a park on a hill - must have been at least 800 feet climb and then some up and down. Still there were some great views from the top. Will explore it at leisure tomorrow. More pizza and ale at the Sprig and Fern over the road to finish off with! Barman was from Bradford would you believe!

I'd seen that there was a big feature halfway up the hill called Elephant Rock. This brought to mind a fillum that was made in the late 1970's called East of Elephant Rock and I thought maybe there was some connection. I'd heard about the film because Peter Skellern (the fine songsmith from Bury, Lancashire) was responsible for the soundtrack, and his single 'East of Elephant Rock' was the B side of 'Put out the Flame' - a fabulous song if ever there was one. There was a fine schoolgirl choir providing a 1930's style chorus to both sides of this forgotten classic!