Biking

Okay, so I have some time right now and there are a couple of posts that I need to make, but I'll start with what I did on Thursday.

I had slept over at Nathan's (a cousin), which was good because the house was pretty much unaffected by the recent earthquakes.  He has power, water and a full bed that I could stay in, it was a good night's sleep and I did not really feel any of the after shocks that night.  Also I had had a couple of beers to get me to sleep.  However I get the feeling that many of you will think this means many beers, but no, not a good idea to get properly drunk when you may need to quickly vacate the building.

Anyway after my nice sleep Martin came over on his Trike - A picture is to come.

So we set out for a day out of Christchurch, one to get away and two to let me experience the thrill of biking.  Nathan had taken his bike as well...pic and details to come.

We drove out West, we were heading for the West Coast.  I set out on the back of the Trike first, it was pretty mental, I felt pretty safe strapped in and yet not at the same time because it is comepletely open to the elements.  I got to see plenty of the scenery on this too, since I didn't really have to do anything other than sit back and let the wind destroy my face.  No need for a bike helmet on a trike although, some protection and warmth was appreciated.

After a while, I switched over and got on the back of Nathan's bike.  Now this was weird, having never been on a bike before I had plenty of misgivings, but it was easier to get into it than I thought.  Just lean with the bike as you round a corner and keep my head back so I don't smack heads with Nathan (yes we had helmets on).  I don't think I did all that bad really.  My previous observation of New Zealand stands, there is bugger all there.  However I can see why people like the open countryside when you are riding such beasts.  I was not able to take photos as I had wanted, of the scenery.  Mainly because I was too freaked out for that, but also because my camera had been misplaced at that time.

We stopped off at a couple of pubs on the way out, to space out the day and had lunch out at Jacksons, a West Coast pub (technically).  But we did not make it much further, since the weather was looking a little wet and there was no point in putting ourselves in that position for nothing, so we headed back.

I rode the Trike all the way back, it was pretty awsome.

I got bloody burnt on my face though, even though I put cream on and had bloody hats on all the time.  I am told it is wind burn, but it's buggered me a bit.  I get the feeling I am going to be something of an eyesore when I reach Korea, a big, untamed earthquake beard, a partially burnt face, highlighting the colouring of my skin and hair and just to round it off, I'm not smelling too good right now.  The lack of working showers in the earthquake ridden Christchurch did not help, plus I got myself all hot and bother stupidly during my journey.  I shall detail this in my next post.  I am sure you can all have a good laugh, especially those there to see it, what and idiot I was.  Anyway, I need to go find my departure gate.  I should get around to my next blog some time after I get back to my place...gah, it's going to be a fucking pain getting to the bus station.