Sticking with
Wanaka, NZ
It was our first-ever mountain biking experience today. I thought it might be our last.
The bike Ari got was just too big, and the wind so strong, it wasn’t blocks from the bike rental shop that there were falls and big tears and lots of frustration. How would we make it the full four hours of our bike rental?? We decided to split up.
Leo and Josh set off on the intended path up the shoreline of Lake Wanaka, following the Upper Clutha River, into neighboring Albert Town, and back the city way to Wanaka CBD.
Ari and I made it up the shoreline about a kilometer, then the gravel gave way under his bike on a sharp right turn and he landed back on the ground, underneath his bike. “I’m so sorry,” he repeated, through tears. Let’s head back to the bike shop and call it a day, buddy.
As we returned our mountain bikes, I thanked the bike staff and gave ourselves a, “better luck next time.” I asked if, by chance, there was a smaller bike, and he said there were extra small bikes. Boy, I wish they’d have offered that in the first place.
With a right-sized bike, and after stopping for a chocolate caramel muffin and an orange juice, Ari was ready to try it again. At 3:08pm (our rental is from 1-5:30pm), we set off again. It was sunny and cool. The wind felt fresh, but not overpowering. We stopped for plenty of breathers and made it past our new goal, Beacon Point. I was so proud of Ari being able to return to it, stick with it, adjust the measure of success, and meet the new goal.
I still had some energy to burn and couldn’t get enough of the mountain air or the clearest river I’ve ever seen, so I set out for a walk along the same trail along the Upper Clutha River. Four miles in, the wind and rain picked up and went from exhilarating to uncomfortable so I called Josh to come and fetch me.
In the end, Josh and Leo completed the 19km loop, while Ari and I made it up the coast 3 whole miles, then returned the way we came. Both parent-child teams stopped along the way for a sweet treat, which seems to fuel adventures, both long and short. And, I got some hours to myself in the fresh air.
