Walking is a man’s best medicine. (Hippocrates)

SOUTH WAIRARAPA TRAMPING CLUB
While crossing a busy intersection in Christchurch last week I spotted a banner sporting the message: WALK2freeTHE.MIND. This surely captures in a catch-phrase a credible philosophy.

Throughout the decades numerous walking quotes have been recorded, many of which portray the physical and mental benefits of a brisk or recreational walk in a pleasant environment. Here are some examples:
Walking is a man’s best medicine. [Hippocrates]
Walking: the most ancient exercise and still the best modern exercise. [Carrie Latet]
I have two doctors, my left leg and my right. [G M Trevelyan]
A vigorous five-mile walk will do more good for an unhappy but otherwise healthy adult than all the medicine and psychology in the world. [Paul Dudley White]
The best remedy for a short temper is a long walk. [Jacqueline Schiff]
If you want to know if your brain is flabby, feel your legs. [Bruce Barton]
SO… bin your excuses and start walking this week to reap the benefits of pleasure and the sense of good health and wellbeing that is associated directly with walking. Find someone to walk with or enquire about linking up with a local walking group. Better still, tap into your local South Wairarapa Tramping Club. … Continue Reading

Classic Cycle race includes Martinborough

On Friday 19th January the third stage of the annual New Zealand Cycle Classic will be coming past your front door. This is a five day international road cycle race which will have professional and international teams coming in from Europe, USA, UK and Australia plus some New Zealand teams. This is the only international road cycle race in New Zealand and is endorsed by the Union Cycliste International (UCI) based in Switzerland.

This stage will be from Masterton to Martinborough, with eight laps of a Martinborough Circuit (Oxford, Todds, Hinakura, Martins Puruatanga, Huangarua, Cambridge) and finish in Cambridge Road near the Square. Here’s a bit more on the tour http://www.cycletournz.com/stages-
 
The opportunity is here for you to:
·   Have a bit of fun with the event
·   Get some flags and banners for riders and teams out the front of your business
·   Have a BBQ, drinks or a picnic outside as they come past
·   Make noise – lots of noise
·   Use images and video of having fun with the event on social media
·   Make a week of it to support the event with a week of cycling stuff around your business
 
This event has about 95 cyclists plus support crew and supporters who travel the world following the international tour. Not to mention media!

Cathie Morison steps down

Cathie Morison’s shift from her home town of Masterton to Martinborough in 1981 might not have been a big geographic leap, but it did take her life in a completely new direction. The young girl who’d considered being a nun, raced motorbikes competitively (and has the scars to prove it) and who’s first job was as a pharmacy assistant would go on to become the mastermind behind Brackenridge, Martinborough’s biggest hospitality venue.

Initially Cathie worked at Palliser on the cellar door. It was the early days of the wine industry and people would often ask her where they could stay. “They said it was so beautiful here, but unfortunately there were few options. That got me thinking.” When the Radium Boot Factory worker’s cottage came on the market Cathie saw her chance.

From her own experience Cathie felt she had a good sense of what people would enjoy – a relaxing atmosphere where you could just kick you shoes off, put a match to the fire and pop the bottle of bubbles. “We had so much fun doing that cottage up. I especially loved the creative part.” Soon Cathie was looking after several properties, combining this with raising three young children. … Continue Reading

Another Toast to a fantastic day in Martinborough 

Celebrating 26 years, the popular Toast Martinborough wine, food and music festival yesterday delivered another day to remember for its 8000 strong crowd of festival goers.
 
Toast Martinborough General Manager Anna Nielson said the event went off without a hitch with a high spirited but well-behaved crowd enjoying the mix of food, wine and music at the eight participating winery sites.
 
“I was delighted by how seamless the day was – everyone had a fantastic time, the weather came to the party and some fantastic wine and food was celebrated, which is what this event is all about.”
 
Ms Nielson said new measures introduced to this year’s Toast, including a centralised control centre and Toast app, continued to raise the bar in event management to improve the overall festival experience. … Continue Reading