Cycling Tragedy

I know this is supposed to be light and funny, but life isn't always like that. I heard about a lady in her early 50's tragically passing away on a bike track I frequent. (To see a photograph series of articles on the track, click here to start with part 1. ) I went out on my usual ride and found the spot because flowers had been left there. My sympathies to the family and friends.

The surprise I got was it is at a spot a week or two earlier I nearly collided with a tree. The terrain slopes down, then turns over a culvert and then turns back again, making an S shape. It used to be a ditch which made me slow down, but with the drain installed you don't have to slow down now. I was going a bit too fast, took a line that was too much to the right and then quickly had to correct my line as this tree beckoned. A little skidding and I missed it by about a foot (30cm). No big deal and I carried on, but then to find that very tree with the tribute around its base was a surprise.

I went to the local council afterward who manage the track and explained what happened to me and wondered if that was what happened to the lady. Apparently her situation wasn't to do with colliding with anything, just a medical misadventure. They promised to look at a slight realignment of the track. The pictures of the site are below. they are over exposed bit it was hot and bright at the time.

The culvert that twists the track

The tree!

It doesn't look a problem in the photos, but the photo makes the distance look much more than it is. Allowing for that, going too quickly, taking the wrong line, then suddenly breaking and changing direction was a wake up call. Cycling should be safe and caution is essential. If a track is changed, then over familiarity can be an enemy.

Blenheim, New Zealand

Blenheim is the main town in the Marlborough region. It's not too big, but has plenty of stores to choose from and a sunny reputation.

This is the modest town clock in the centre of town but there is a larger one in Seymour Square nearby. The forum and rotunda are somewhat obscured to the right by trees.

This shot looks back the other way and from a height. Looks rather empty today, with just one young lady enjoying the sun.

Main St is not easy to photograph effectively. The hanging baskets look nice.

Just to the north of the city centre is the Taylor River, looking eastward. The new sculpture rotates in the wind, both the leaves spinning and turning over with the wind that the town is famous for. The temporary fencing at the lower right of the photograph contains the new theatre centre.

A closer view of the sculpture.

Here is the theatre under construction. It will seat 700+, and be completed by May 2015.

Trafalgar St, Nelson, New Zealand

This series of pictures starts at the top of the street and works down, sometimes looking one way and then the other. They were taken early 2015, on a warm summer's day in what is proving to be a hot season.

First up is the Church Steps from Trafalgar Street up to the bell tower of Nelson's Christ Church Cathedral can be seen to the right of the picture. A bar and eatery are to the left.

I swivelled around and took this photo in the opposite direction, looking down the main street.

From another intersection looking back up Trafalgar St again.

Again swinging around and looking the other way to the last pic.

Finally, looking up the street from further down the road.