I haven't been counting, but it must be eight or nine times around that lake by now. Anyway this time it was cool, windy and wet at times - a far cry from the burn-to-a-crisp experience of 2008. All in it was a good do with 11,000 odd riders and the usual good vibe with heart kids beaming across the line and people slaying personal demons left right and centre. Gabrielle was heroic in the face of a raging sore throat and we downplayed our lack of training to good effect. Again Paula and Jane Battersby were the hosts par excellence - big ups to you both! And of course no visit to Taupo is complete without an excursion to the crow's nest.
