Blood, sweat and tears!!

So do was a leisurely awakening before chance to explore the Saturday morning market of Nelson. We headed in around 9am for a wander and some breakfast. The area was bustling with activity and many stalls! There was vast amounts of jewellery; silver, bone, jade, clothes, honey, soaps etc. and food stalls. After a waffle for breakfast we browsed, picking up a few items each.
We were soon back at the hostel, ready for a 10:30 start to a mountain bike ride planned for the morning. We collected our bikes and set off. (image below / we followed green from the city centre along the river and golf course, then up yellow to the Tantagree saddle androgen back down. Our trip didn't start too well with a couple of people falling over and cutting themselves - and this was on the flat roads! We began along the river and soon found the group had various paces. I kept up well here, enjoying some of the riding and struggling up steeper sections. We got to the end of the track directly next to the river and split up. 2 of our riders headed leisurely back to the town and the rest of us headed up towards the saddle. As the most overweight and unfit in the group I was worried but our leader assured me I would be fine.. But I wasn't, I was a nightmare. I was sweating buckets and struggling to breathe - my asthma making things worse, and could barely move uphill. I felt more like I was rolling backwards and useless. I got off and walked a bit feeling guilty for holding the group up. They said they were glad for the rest. We carried on and didn't have too far to go. I went at a pace I could, often walking stretches to catch a breathe - and the last section a large proportion of the group walked. Finally we got to the top!! And it was all downhill from here - I have never been so happy to hear that phrase in all my life!! It w as fantastic and such a rush! Primarily worded tracks softened with fallen pine needles it was brilliant zipping in and out of the rocks and roots beneath. Although it took so much longer to get to the top than the 15 mintutes it took to get back to base, it was so worth it and I am so proud of myself. For carrying on - which I would not have done without Rachel encouraging me and wiping away my tears!!
The afternoon was therefore all about resting. I planned some of the work for my secret kiwi and we had a noodle takeaway for dinner!! Packed up. Ow and shattered. SO ready for an early night.
P.S - sorry the photos at the top are rubbish - I was too tired to focus, and didn't have much of a chance as the group wanted to crack on after I arrived!!
Night all!