challenge wanaka and on

Wed. January 20
Last Friday - checked in, bought booties, then went for a swim - the booties really helped. Then checked in bike and went to pre-race meeting. Had a great salmon dinner with roasted potatoes. When we got back to camp the stars were out -- a first. Got a good night sleep woke at 4:15 am, had a breakfast of yogurt & granola and a English muffin with crunchy nuttella. had a nauseas stomach like I have had since the I.V. at Wilverman. Once I started the swim I felt better - sang "Praise to the Man" over and over in time with my stroke. finished in 1:04 plus. The bike was @ 6:53. Discovered that if I stopped to pee regularly my back and quad pain would subside. The ride had some good climbs and very scenic. Drank 3 bottles Perpeteum and 3 bottles water plus ate a power bar and 2 ems energy cookie bars (great). On the run drank 1 Recoverite, 1 Heed, 1 Balance, and an em bar and a few other snacks. Walked almost all 6:23 but finished in 14:35 with blisters on my feet, otherwise felt ok.
Sunday went to the awards Brunch then drove to Franz Joseph. Great scenery, beautiful drive. Walked to foot of Fox Glacier, then on Monday morning we hiekd to the Franz Joseph glacier. The river runs right out of an ice cave at the bottom. We then drove to Hanmer Springs and had a good soak. Tues. we drove to Picton and crossed to the North Island on the ferry to Wellington. Then we hiked up the Mt. Victoria and saw the city and the Adm. Byrd marker pointing to Antarctica. Today we made it to Blue Lake for 2 nights.
There is a distinct difference between north & south islands. The South seems more rural and for the adventurous. The north is more developed, McD's,BKs, KFC's, every town and more traffic. Today we saw Huka Falls, lots of fast moving bright blue white water in a narrow gorge. We have met people from all over, the Ukraine, Germany, Denmark, Japan, SLC,, Australia, Boston. Some have been toting the world for months, one couple sailed here from Seattle. Some stay to work. Have seen lots of bike tourists. We have seen lots, still lots to see.