Pedalling on – and on

I have been a regular cycling visitor to Tai Tapu Café Store. It is about a 40 km round trip from home and includes two small hills, the Halswell Downs. Half the ride is on the Old Tai Tapu Road, a delightful Canterbury rural road from yesteryear. It is reminiscent of a country lane found in Britain.

This week I made my first ride to Tia Tapu in yonks. I set off in pleasant weather hoping the Met Service had got it wrong about the vicious southerly change. They hadn’t. It hit with strong gusts when I was two km from Tia Tapu. On the return ride I was soaked, arriving home like the proverbial drowned rat. The only good part was being blown along with the southerly. Sometimes, arriving home to a hot shower is a glorious experience.

The reason for the ride was a worthy one. The Magpies riders were out in force to help one member, Graham White, celebrate his 90^th birthday. Typically Graham arrived in style on his road bike.

Graham was born on the Old Tai Tapu Road 0n January 3, 1927. He was born in a cottage with no running water and no hot water. The midwife in attendance was slightly drunk but as usually happens the birth turned out okay. The cottage still stands. It is close to where Graham lives these days with his wife, Janet.

He recalls the stock driven along the Old Tai Tapu Road enroute to stockyards in Lincoln Road.   Riding his bicycle to Halswell, co-inciding with a cattle drive was no fun, particularly when getting the strap for being late through no fault of his own.

Sometimes stock would break through a fence and wreak havoc is a previously glorious flower garden.

Graham’s father was a milkman. Despite being told he may never work again owing to injuries inflicted during World War One, Graham does not recall his father having one sick day.

As well as producing the milk, his father distributed to milk cans to outlets quite a distance from home.

Graham was brought up on a diet including full-cream milk and plenty of cream. That was obviously no hindrance to his longevity.

He says he was lucky to have never taken up smoking.

He did take up running and recalls running the Milford Track with Ross Bush and Don Cameron. Knee problems had him take up mountain biking. Then a colleague, Graeme Milner (about to celebrate his 88^th birthday) encouraged him to take up road biking and join up with the Magpies.

Thus Graham White, occasionally accompanied by Janet, became a regular at Tia Tapu Café Store. On a pleasant day up to 50 Magpie cyclists, spread amongst the outdoor tables, can be seen enjoying camaraderie. Graham says he and Janet have always enjoyed the company.

``The other cyclists always take an interest in our conversation. We are one of them, not elderly fuddy-duddies.’’

More than 30 Magpie cyclists squeezed into Tia Tapu Café Store this week. Graham shouted the coffee.
One of the group, John Brownie had composed a couple of relevant songs. We all joined in.

Always a bit of a philosopher, Graham says in life one starts out on something and sees how it will turn out. Cycling definitely fits into that concept. One sets out with some expectations but for the outcome, one has to wait and see.