Another hit of K2

So the long training session starts tomorrow.  In reality, we kicked it off on Saturday with a little jaunt around the Coromandel Peninsula.  Several of my friends from Tauranga came up for a K2 training ride which by the bike computer measured in at 117.8 hill filled, leg cramping, and fortitude testing miles.  My friends have been logging a ton of miles over the winter, while I've dealt with some back issues and really only rode my mountain bike a couple times a week.  The ride provides picturesque views and stunning landscapes.  I was captivated last year while doing my first K2 ride and fell in love with the area.  Unfortunately, Beth has yet to experience the full peninsula,but we look to rectify this once she gets back.  Yesterday, she had the pleasure to drive up to the Coromandel Town to join us for lunch and ferry one of us back to Thames.   When I got back all I could think was that in 8 months, I'm going to have to "run" a marathon after the approximate distance I just biked.  I'm glad I have some time to actually train.

Where is Beth going?  Well she is visiting the US for 3 weeks.  She is meeting up with her friend Angi in Vegas, then back to Milwaukee to visit her family, and finally back to Minneapolis to visit my family and friends.  We also have a small amount of things that need to be picked up from the States as we have been stockpiling items at our families houses.  I'm a little jealous that she gets to eat at Chimborazo, El Taco Reindo, Punch Pizza, Ideal Dinner, and many of our other favorite jaunts in Minneapolis.  Then there are the ones that she wouldn't dine at, but I would like Big Daddy's BBQ, The Butcher and the Boar, and Zenbox.  When we visit the US together, I have a feeling that I might eat out every meal. 

Beth and I looking at the logistics of our standing trip we take every 4 years.  That's right, its time to look at World Cup.  We are registering for the ticket lottery and making our sojourn to Brazil this time.  We are also talking about re-visiting Uruguay while we are over in South America.  There is a pararillada that I'm dying to eat at located in Montevideo.  I would have hit it up in 2010, but we ran out of time.  Has it really been 4 years since we were last in South America?  Seems like we just visited Pete and Leeann there in the last couple years.  I guess I have no concept of time when it comes to traveling.

Last weekend, Beth and I headed to Taupo.  I was supposed to meet up with a co-worker for some snowboarding at Whakapapa ski field, but he and his wife ended up bailing.  So I ended up riding solo for about 4 hours.  Longer than I thought I would make it as I haven't boarded in probably 2 years.  My feet and calves were screaming at me.  I also had the coincidental meeting of an older couple on the chair lift and after a brief conversation I found out that they were also from Thames.  Not only that, but there is a strong chance that I ran with the gentleman on our Tuesday Night run.  With the early twilight settings I don't know everyone's face unless I have met them during the daylight hours. 

Last week, I had an interview up in Auckland for a developer role.  I let my current boss know what I was doing and he asked what he could do to prevent me from looking at the opportunity.  We are talking possibilities tomorrow.  I feel that my talents are being wasted performing only only as a BA.  After the interview, Beth and I went to a place that sells American groceries.  We purchased corn soft shell tacos, hot sauce, and a few other items from the States.  I could probably start an import company for other ex-pats that crave particular items.  It could go even further and I could start selling bikes!  I have several people interested in my Surly Disc Trucker.  They want one of their own.