A day in Temuka

We have a 'rest' day here in Temuka today, but I have a chore - ride to Timaru, buy tyres, and return. Like a lot of things there is a reluctance to get started... I've got up early, had breakfast. It's time. I change into my riding attire, empty my backpack and am walking to the bike when the motel owner comes. "My brother in law is going for a swim at 9, he can give you a ride" It's perfect and I accept gratefully, particularly since we sort of asked for help last night... but now I feel just a little disappointed.

A hour later I am being driven to Timaru by brother in law. He's chatty and has worked all over NZ as a crane operator. Interesting job. The swimming pool is 20 minutes walk from the city center and he wants to swim for an hour. Perfect. I walk to town via Caroline bay park. It's another lovely day and this area is looking a picture.

The town center is very quiet. I buy my tyres, smooth road tyres not knobbly ones, exactly what I want, but could not find in the Christchurch shop. And at a reasonable price :-) Photograph a few nice murals and walk back in time to get a coffee at the pool cafe... Now I think about it, did the mural influence me?

On the drive back I notice another of my mystery structures beside a fence. The next one that we come to I point out to the brother in law and ask what it is. He tells me they are stops for the big irrigators. They will move along until the end hits the stop then the irrigator reverses direction. Ah, mystery explained.

Back home I change the tyres. On the inside can see the tyre has delaminated in the suspect spot. It's quite soft there... I can poke my finger through it!

Now to work. I have things I want to achieve - and the business wants my hours to bill.

Fairlie tomorrow. Only 50 km, but first hills of the trip and maybe our first bad weather.