InterestGroups

November 2023

U3A Cycling November
This month our 2 rides happen in the same week! Unfortunately, the Friday ride had to be cancelled due to cold wet conditions.
On Monday 20 November we cycled on the Te Ara Otakaro Trail from Swanns Road,
Richmond, to New Brighton. There were 7 of us and we enjoyed the sunshine and quietness of riding through the Red Zone.
We have 2 organised rides each month, on the 3rd Monday and the last Friday. We ride mainly on dedicated cycleways.
New members are always welcome.
Mary

Family History Group
The Family History Group meets on the THIRD Tuesday of the month at 1.30 pm. We are a group of enthusiastic amateurs wanting to discover more of our family’s histories. We help each other with the research and as well looking at various ways to record our findings. If you are interested in finding out more about your family and would like to join the group please email either Carole or Julia

History Group
We begin a new course in January and the group have opted for ‘A History of Ancient Egypt’
This is a new offering from U3Aonline and presents an overview of 2 thousand years of history concluding with the New Kingdom.
Ros

Book Group
The holiday read is ‘Call Your Daughter Home’ set in 1924 small town Carolina this
powerful story is about 3 women who stand up to injustices and shows the power of women working together and the fearlessness that comes from motherhood.
We meet again in March 2024
Ros

cycling

October 2023

Cycling Group October Report

We have 2 organised rides each month, on the 3rd Monday and the last Friday.
We ride mainly on dedicated cycleways.
New members are always welcome.
On Monday 16 October six members rode from Kaiapoi to Pegasus & Waikuku on the Pegasus Trail and the Tutaepatu trail in the Tuhaitara Coastal Park. There were a few trees down after the high winds, but the riders managed to get around them. On Friday 27 October we cancelled the ride due to the weather.

cycling

September 2023

U3A Cycling September

We have 2 organised rides each month, on the 3rd Monday and the last Friday.  We ride mainly on dedicated cycleways.  New members are always welcome.

On Monday 18th September we met near the QEII roundabout and cycled on the Northern Corridor cycleway to Kaiapoi.  There were 9 of us and we all enjoyed the ride plus an enjoyable break at Paris for the Weekend café. 

Eight of us cycled from Motukarara or Kaituna Quarry Reserve to Little River on Friday 29th September.  It was a good ride although the wind was a bit challenging at times.  We enjoyed drinks and a good chat before heading back to our cars.

cycling

August 2023

U3A Cycling August
We have 2 organised rides each month, on the 3rd Monday and the last Friday.
We ride mainly on dedicated cycleways. New members are always welcome.
This month our 2 rides were in the same week, so it was decided to do the same ride both days.
Altogether 12 cyclists came along. We started at the Liffey Springs Reserve, Lincoln and rode on the Little River Rail Trail to Motukarara through wetland areas. It was a lovely ride and after a look around Motukarara it was back to Lincoln for coffee and lunch

cycling

July 2023

U3A Cycling June
We have 2 organised rides each month, on the 3rd Monday and the last Friday. We ride mainly on dedicated cycleways.
New members are always welcome.
On Monday 17 July five of us rode from Hagley Park to Northlands on the Northern Line Cycleway then onto The Papanui Parallel Cycleway to Meshinos for coffee. We enjoyed a coffee and a chat in the sun then we returned the same way back to Hagley Park.
On Friday 28 July we met in CBD and biked to the Tannery on the Heathcote Expressway. It was very stop start with all the lights but on a separate cycleway which was great. We had coffee at The Brewery Café which was lovely and warm as the morning was drizzly and cool! We then cycled along the river to PMH and onto the Quarryman’s Trail back to Halswell. There were 7 of us on this ride. Next month our 2 rides are in the same week so we will organise the Monday ride with the Friday as back up if weather is poor. We are cycling from Lincoln to Motukarara.
Mary

June 2023

U3A Cycling June

We have 2 organised rides each month, on the 3rd Monday and the last Friday. We ride mainly on dedicated cycleways.
New members are always welcome.

This month we only managed one ride due to weather conditions.
On Friday 30 June we rode into the Boatshed Café via the Quarryman’s, Nor’West Arc and Uni-Cycle trails. On the way home we rode the South Express, Nor’West Arc, Southern Motorway trails and then back through Nga Puna Wai to Halswell. There were 8 of us and for some we rode through new areas which is always enjoyable. The sun was out for most of the ride which was great after the many grey days we have had.

cycling

May 2023

We have 2 organised rides each month, on the 3rd Monday and the last Friday.
We ride mainly on dedicated cycleways.
New members are always welcome.
This month we only had one ride as we had to cancel the other ride due to wet weather.
On Friday 26 May ten of us rode from Halswell to Lincoln on the Little River Rail Trail. It was a beautiful morning with a tail wind to Lincoln which was great. We had an enjoyable chat over coffee at The Lincoln Pantry then back to Halswell. Fortunately, the head wind wasn’t too strong on the way home!
Our first ride next month will be from Lincoln to Motukarara also on the Little River Rail trail. Mary

April 2023

Cycle Group
Our ride on Monday 17 April was a local loop. Seven of us started in Halswell and cycled on the Southern Motorway Trail towards Middleton then joined the Nor’West Arc Cycleway towards Pioneer Centre then onto Worsleys Rd and up to the Adventure Park for coffee.
We had a strong NE wind to contend with on the way but the sun was out and we enjoyed our outing. We headed back to Halswell on the Quarryman’s Trail.

Our ride on Friday 28 April was from Ferrymead Park to Sumner. It was a beautiful morning when 8 of us set out towards Sumner along the Coastal Pathway. We encountered roadworks along the way but otherwise it was a good ride. Scarborough Fare café was a good spot to enjoy a chat and a nice coffee before heading back.

We have 2 organised rides each month, on the 3rd Monday and the last Friday.
We ride mainly on dedicated cycleways. New members are always welcome.
Mary

cycling

March 2023

Cycling Group March Report

We have 2 organised rides each month, on the 3rd Monday and the last Friday.
We ride mainly on dedicated cycleways. 
The ride on Monday 20th started at Kaiapoi. We rode on the Pegasus Trail to Woodend and then on the Tutaepatu Trail to Pegasus. It was a lovely day with very little wind. There were 5 of us. 
The ride on Friday 31st started on Stanmore Rd/Swans Rd corner and we rode through the red zone along the Te Ara Otakaro Avon River Trail to New Brighton crossing the river several times on the beautiful new foot bridges. It was a chilly but fine morning and the 6 of us enjoyed coffee and chat at the Hot Pools Café.

February 2023

Book Group

This month’s book is ‘The Widows of Malabar Hill’ a Mystery of 1920s India. Inspired in part by the woman who made history as India’s first female attorney.  This is a richly wrought story of multicultural, 1920s Bombay, as well as the debut of a sharp and promising new sleuth.
We meet on the 2nd Monday of the month.  April is the start of a new year’s subscription to the Book Discussion Scheme.  We are a great group with lots of discussion about the books and would welcome one more member if interested. Ros 

History Group

We have had our first meeting to discuss the Introduction to China in Translation.  This course is about China’s slow but relentless transition from sleep at the end of thousands of years of dynastic rule in the early 1900s into one of the most powerful economic, and military, players in world affairs today.   Promises to be a very interesting course.  Currently 14 members so a very tight squeeze in my home. Ros