A bit shaken up

I have been in Kona for the past 6 days and am about to depart for a week on the mainland. I am flying tonight to Chicago via Phoenix which is not going to be fun as it is a red eye flight, but it has to be done. I have had a good few days training here, my longest bike was 160k which I did on the second day I arrived. I have slowly adapted to the heat but on that day I felt like my head was going to explode like the volcano. I was drinking and drinking but just could not drink enough. The positive thing was of course that I could bike for 5.5 hours and not need to stop for the toilet. In fact, it has been lucky none of the drug testers have been here as they might have had to sleep over much to their dismay! But now after a few days I feel pretty normal again. I absolutely love swimming here out in the sun out doors, nothing better. As for running it is nice in the early morning!
On Thursday I had the shock to come back from my run and Hilary my flat mate here told me about the major earthquake back home in Christchurch. I was very very shocked and immediately tried to find out what was happening and if my family were all alright. Thankfully they are. It was a 7.1 magnitude quake which is BIG and was centred just 30k from the city and not at all very deep. As youngsters were always told that a quake would come, that we were 150 years overdue for a big shake up and should always be prepared, but you don't really think that it will ever happen. We have had numerous small earthquakes but nothing big. And then it happens when I am out of the country. Not that I am jealous. I hear it was absolutely petrifying to be woken at 4.30am with the whole house wobbling about and we are so lucky it happened at that time, and therefore no one died, it's quite miraculous. I am not sure what I will come back to in October. It will take many months and years to return to normal. I am very sad to hear that so many of the old heritage buildings that I grew up with, and that make Christchurch Christchurch are destroyed and apparently 20% of homes need to be demolished. I guess we all have to have our homes assessed to find out if they are safe, they say that some homes look fine but they aren't actually structurally safe. Brett says our home looks fine, and the best thing is that my animals and family are all accounted for.
So to all my Christchurch friends and family, I'm thinking of you all and wish I was back home. Kia Kaha.