Up early but unfortunately, outta town late. Morning run just got away from me – 10 miles. One left when I should’ve turned right, long morning on Christchurch city streets. Run highlights: EIGHT city parks, morning sunrise. G’day New Zealand!
10am rental pickup (sorry Dawn). 2 hours west, couple days ‘til our next cityscape. First stop: Arthur’s Pass National Park. Easy short hike UP to Devils Punchbowl Waterfall. Purchased 2 apples, hung a ½ hour near the railroad tracks. Sunshiny day.
UP & over the Southern Alps (another 2 hours west), lunched in Hokitika. Afternoon adventure: swinging bridge over Hokitika Gorge. Travelling one-lane farm roads 30-35 minutes, ultimately located the Gorge. Hiked a mile, mile-half thru a mix of deciduous & tropical vegetation. Slender wooden bridge ‘cross the mighty Hokitika, stunning turquoise blue below. Not for the faint of heart. Creaky swinging structure, 6-person weight limit…truly a hidden gem 🙂 WOW, WOW, WOW!
The Hokitika River is in the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is about 64 kilometers (40 mi) long, beginning in the Southern Alps, emerging from the narrow Hokitika Gorge after merging with the Whitcombe River, and flowing into the Tasman Sea just south of the town of Hokitika.
Hugged the Hokitika for 2 days, ending our river journey Friday. Stopped briefly in Bruce Bay & touched the Tasman Sea. Having travelled all the way to New Zealand’s western coastline, over the next week would work our way east & up its Pacific shore.
But first…tomorrow morning: Franz Josef GLACIER
-
- Devils Punchbowl Waterfall
-
- another sunshiny day
-
- mix of deciduous & tropical vegetation
-
- swinging wooden bridge over the Hokitika River
-
- 6-person weight limit…not for the faint of heart
-
- stunning turquoise blue
-
- New Zealand’s western coastline
…meanwhile, far far away — sent flowers & a tier of cupcakes, 70 mini cakes in all. Love ya Mom, Happy Happy Birthday! ❤
-
- flowers & a cupcake tier
Arthur’s Pass
Hokitika Gorge swinging bridge
the Tasman Sea
Up an hour before dawn, kept my first run on South Island close to our Christchurch lodging – early tour start this morning. Quick 3 miles ‘round Burnside Park. Run highlights: rugby field, lawn bowling, morning sunrise. G’day New Zealand!
Full day planned – 4WD tour, Jet Boat…no TranzAlpine Train. Rated one of the world’s top six train journeys, but unfortunately all train travel on South Island down (‘til March 22nd) due to extensive forest fire (it’s Southern Hemisphere summer).
Off-roaded across a rural cattle farm [Torlesse Station], driving UP UP UP steep switchbacks, ultimately climbing 3000ft+. Stopped & took in the landscape – clouds poured in, keeping temps cool…beautiful Canterbury Plains loomed below. No cattle this high; altitude however doesn’t slow the island sheep. Sighted a herd lunching on moisture-rich shrub grass. HUGE topography change from yesterday, more reminiscent of Colorado than New Zealand’s tropical North.
45 minutes from Torlesse Station, jet-boated up one of New Zealand’s major snow-fed rivers, the Waimakariri. Spray jacket, hat, gloves, life vest – check check check, boarded my first [Hamilton] jet boat. Weaving in & out of rock faces, over white water rapids, thru high rock canyons…at times, gliding over water less than 3 feet deep. WOW, WOW, WOW!
Amazing shot of the Southern Alps on the return ride near Lake Pearson. Mirror image of Colorado’s San Juan Range. Stunning.
Rental car pickup tomorrow. 5 hour drive, west over Arthur’s Pass to Franz Josef Glacier. Super excited! Is it morning yet? 🙂
-
- UP UP steep switchbacks, ultimately climbing 3000ft
-
- high above Canterbury Plains
-
- SHEEP!
-
- spray jacket, hat, gloves & life vest — ready, ready to RIDE
-
- View Hill
-
- LOVE LOVE jet-boating!
-
- return trek near Lake Pearson — WOW!
…meanwhile, far far away in Colorado — pup’s enjoying an adventure of his own 🙂
Jetboating the Waimakariri
last marathon of 2016
Thursday night flight thru Dallas – Friday marathon? Heck no, Saturday 🙂
Week before Christmas, no better time of year to mix ‘love of running’ with ‘love of family’. No direct flights to Fort Smith, Arkansas – but can always count on family to pick me up at the airport. If you can’t count on family, who can you count on?
Friday noon hitched a ride with my niece to the best lunchette in the world – my Mom’s lil’ sole proprietorship, Williamsburg Kitchen. When did my nieces & nephew all learn to drive? And why again was my niece not in school…on a Friday? HA!
Post-work day, family loaded in my brother’s SUV — destination: Little Rock. Mom sprung for a set of hotel rooms, night before my final marathon of 2016. Over-the-top nice, huh? Thanks Ma.
Crack of dawn wake-up (345am alarm). Last trolley to the Start: 5am. Shed layers before I left my brother’s truck, already 64 degrees…gonna be cooking by noon.
‘3 Bridges’ Marathon so…should I assume three actual Bridges? Yep, pretty straight forward.
The course crosses the Big Dam Bridge at Miles 1 and 18, the Clinton Presidential Bridge at Mile 9, and the Two Rivers Bridge at Miles 19 and 26. The course is mostly flat, except for the three bridges.
Tagged 2 runners early, consistently pacing 8:40/miles. Would coast off these dudes to the Clinton Presidential Library. 9 miles, totally doable. Heavy humidity early on, like breathing in water (yep, it’s the South)…luckily, skies above stayed overcast so I didn’t bake.
the course? Urban trail. the view? Miles & miles of river. my attitude? FAAANNNTASTIC.
Lost my pacers a mile past the Library. Slowed waaaaaay down but didn’t stop, didn’t walk…and most importantly, no pills. Sub-2 first Half. Crazy muggy but didn’t really struggle until marker 20-21; puked at 22. Finished the day with ‘Boston’ Jim – guy wore a Tough Mudder tee & spoke fluent Yankee. Great attitude; made the last 4 miles completely bearable.
And my Finish? Sprinted it out with Boston Jim. Check out the pic – mighty close, you be the judge 🙂
K R Haga, Congratulations on Finishing the 3 Bridges Marathon!
Time: 4:35:41
13.1: 1:59:39
Post-marathon? Shower & fancy food with the Fam; insta-weather change. Outdoor temps dropped from 78 to 34 degrees during our 2 hour drive to Fort Smith. Guess I brought a little Colorado with me 🙂 Evening plans: Game night. Mighty good to be home.
-
- count ’em, 3 Bridges
-
- photo finish: me & Boston Jim — you be the judge 🙂
-
- marathon #78, 2nd in Arkansas
-
- 50 Stater, Dan Ruiz
