Todays middle distance New Zealand Orienteering championship was held at Maerewhenua, it is in the opposite direction from yesterday and the walk-in across open farm paddocks and arrival at the arena surrounded by old farm buildings slumbering gracefully in the early autumn light gave us hope that today would be more restful that the Long Distance.

Our hopes were soon dashed, the complete absence of the Junior Squads cake stall (They had sold out) was but a precursor to disappointments to come. The actual terrain was not all that different. Steep, gully’s full of brambles, steep, thick pine forest, steep, and damp and soggy underfoot and to top it all it was a bit steep.  I managed a lot better than yesterday when I overshot a control because my glasses were covered in sweat and I had to go back for it loosing 30 minutes. Today was better, finishing nicely mid field and no mistakes which is all I aim for at this level of competition.

Home to a nice warm fire, sausages chips and salad and a quiet evening drying off my shoes and to prepare for the relays where in my absence my teammates James and Wayne elected me for the leadoff leg. I hope they take a cut lunch because its the fourth event in four days not including this evenings Short and Sweet sprint and I plan on being in bed in a minute.

Me, I’m having another “bacon butty” from the kind folk from the local Vets who have turned out with a fund raising sausage sizzle. I had to do some hard negotiation to get them to “add a sausage”.

“You mean put it in the bacon butty?”

“Yep, its an Aussie thing and don’t forget the sauce”

Pete.