A few months back (holla throwback) my two other flat mates abandon us for greener pastures and the third came home with an ambitious idea for adventure fuelled exercise, it would be rude to deny him the opportunity to train for his half marathon by running up to the Brooklyn Wind Turnbine. 

 

The destination was atop Polhill aka Pol-might-as-well-be-a-never-ending-Mountain!!! He’s all like running and I’m all like… hmm I think I can walk up here faster but I’m not a quitter. That was until I realised I hadn’t exercised in 3months, had lunch yet, it was 1:30, 24 degrees, sunny and I was dehydrated. No a good mix, this hill was steep.

The perks of running is finding new and exciting places. Like parks (sorry no photo too busy dying) and other tracks (sorry no photo was contemplating rolling home). But after a few laps back (they weren’t very far) to check if I was alive we made it to top! Views, rainbows, wind turbines – check, water fountain – negative. You’ve got to be kidding me!!!! 

   
  

    You know those somewhat useless key pockets in running shorts, seriously keys jingle and are annoying at least make the pocket big enough so it can fit an iPod and tissues or better yet SUCCULENTS. I’ve found their use! I borrowed a clipping of someone’s succulent and like a falling star “put it in my pocket for a rainy day”.

Back story: The weekend before this I purchased a new family member, a beautiful succulent from the Chafers markets. I love this succulent, it blooms like a flower looks dandy in my DIY pot and just as I was about to name the beautiful flora/fauna mum replied to my very proud photo with “Very pretty. Can grow quite large. Eg the one on Jan & Bob’s deck. :)” *pop* that was my bubble bursting. The one on aforementioned Jan and bobs deck is… large. Good-bye cute pot on my bookshelf and insert google and my little baby is nameless because I really don’t want to get too attached to something I will ultimately kill by deprivation and attempting to stunt it’s growth so it stays cute forever. I’m not ready for this level of commitment and responsibility but I still want a puppy! They’re different, it’s different, I won’t try stunt it’s growth, promise. 

 

We’ve come a long way since this post, my #fitspo (Mum this is an Instagram reference) friends group has expanded, though we’re still all engineers – our chat is brilliant (sucks) and that’s probably why no one else is game to hang with us, concrete and steel anyone? Nope, thought not. This weekends adventure saw us conquer the Sourthern Walkway. 11km of hill and track, predicted time 4-5 hours. Did it in 3, did I previously mention #fitspo, yes I believe I did. Oh and we may have added a few more kilometres onto that… Whoops. Engineers not navigators.

I’m not fully Wellingtonian yet. My paints only cut off above my ankle due to my height and I haven’t mastered wearing a hat in the wind or general designer op shopping, how one rocks double denim is beyond me. I also can’t rock nikes and boyfriend pants at work so I’m naturally doomed. So this is how I spend my Wellington life instead. Walking places in exercise gear because I hear that’s hip too. 

  

 Mt Vic is a generic tourist look out. We may have had 3 arguments on directions to get here. Wellington city council sort your signage out. Ironic tagger “HANDI” just wasn’t that… Well… Handy.

The following is a rather confusing jumble of photos taken both on the correct and on the correctly wrong walking track, thank goodness we bought snacks.

  

If you don’t get that above caption you either; a) didn’t do  a sience fair project on the absorbency of paper towels or b) get sucked into Handy’s catchy advertising campaign.

  
Some kind family having a classic BBQ with caravan and gazebo, for 4, pointed us in the right direction. I’ll have it be known that was the same direction I suggested, thank you thank you.

        
Question: how do they get the rabbits to stay in the poorly fenced field? 

(I wish I had a hilarious response to that question, I don’t I’m just genuinely curious.)

 

   We arrived at the final pit stop of Island Bay in time for a weather appropriate, Tip Top cone ice cream for everyone! But me. I had licorice because (I’m not fun)  dairy.
All and all a successful outing. Now to walk home. 

Kidding we bused we’re not crazy and know the value of flashing some $5 bills at a bus driver.
Next time I’ll write about Vegas… Promise.

L x

Ps hi mum, call me.