My life - a shoe

My Life

I met my predecessor briefly - he told me that he had only recently come from the shop - but boy he did look a bit used - told me that it was only one coast to coast that did that to him - some thing to look forward to,  I think not. Still it is nice to get out of the box - wonder what I will get up to?  Well the first few months are quiet - the odd wander round some tracks in Queenstown area mislead me a little, but winter coming and my other friends in the cupboard get the invites to play while I stay behind - heavy plastic things with buckles - we really don't understand each other so well.

Sept comes and all of a sudden I start getting thrashed - around the Arrowtown hills - seems like we are going in circles, but at least we get to stop every now and then and the ground is easy on my soles (TrustPower Adventure Quest course setting) After a few weeks I get to rest again. What the hell is going on? - quiet as a door mouse then all go for a couple weeks then all quiet again - such is my life.  Thrown into a bag and then hauled out and run around for a while and then back home - those cold high pressure showers are not much fun but at least I feel refreshed after wards and looking somewhat newish again.


This sort of traveling is not so bad - in the bag a small amount of light filters through but I have heard of more scary stuff.
November rolls around and time to get out of the cupboard and into a bag again - but this time a couple socks are rammed down my throat and I'm crammed, jam packed into a bag.  Something is different - a short car journey and then a few bangs and bumps - "what's that noise?" - and this feelings of weightlessness - and jesus - why is it so cold here?  Hours and I mean hours later and I've been dam near frozen to death a few times before I finally get the chance to get out of the bag - the socks are removed from my throat (to be replaced by feet - but that ok,  that is what I am made for.  Hell its hot here - the ground is hot and the air as well - everything looks different - the ground is a different colour - sort of a red - and the noises (the language) is quite strange - but well it's another experience.

Years later (it seems) - all this is quite normal - a long weightless journey somewhere and then stranger sights and sounds - the ground is always different - red or brown mostly - but some of those strange looking plants are rally sharp and the some of those rocks cut me to the sole but the views I hear are astonishing - I've been some places, - but the story that I hear now is that this last trip could be my last and perhaps it's the garden for me now.  Still - the last one was good and my cousin was with me as well - he had some great stories about traveling through three nations in one ride - but still I beat him. From the top of the Ben in Scotland, through the outback of Australia, the highest peak in Portugal, running from lions in Africa (that was exciting - lucky that fence was there or I might have been all that was left behind)   To across the Alps in France and in Spain. The bottom of the Verdon Gorge was my highlight of the last trip - It has been fantastic - my only regret now is that my successor is the one who who get to finish the run around Lake Wakatipu - at least I got to travel to Kingston - road running not my thing but this one was all right.

For now - bye - look for me in the garden as I enjoy my retirement. Photo attached - I'm a little covered up - called snow protection or something

Below are just some of the places I have been - passport is full now.
Brazil  nov '06
scotland '06  the ben

Scotland '07

Hamner '07
Scotland '08
australia '07      outback running
Brazil '07       rain forest think not
Portugal '07      cliff top waves

Hamner April '08
Ireland may june '08
Irish Multisport Champs - proud moment - won my division and 10th overall. Some of that mud was deep though, but the views from the highest peaks was great

Africa Aug 08      lions
Brazil '08        desert sand running
ST Glenorchy '08
Portugal Nov '08
Japan '08

Spain and France '09

Yep - it's time for some new Merrell running shoes