Living Contentedly

For today's ride I parked up at Bunnings Heathbrae and got ready. While I was there a fellow, looking rough and driving a Lexus hit me up. I sussedthat he had a drug problem rather than a "left my credit card at home and need pertrol" problem. So I suggested he go to the pertrol station across the road and make an arrangement. Tellingly he said " no they won't help you". This tipped me off  to  a body on the outer of society. So I made my excuses. Soon after, a guy walking towards Bunnings with his girlfriend fell for it. As D&O thanked a guy in a nearby campervan tipped off the Donor that he'd just for had. This pissed Mr Downandout and he Camperman, calling him an "effing dog"  before going over and slapping him around. They went at it for a while, but it was mostly verbal with the odd slap, until they parted noisily. Mr D&O then drove off still yelling abuse at Camperman. A small group of onlookers, including myself, went over to off...

I chose the ghostgum bike shop because of a previous positive experience and because it was tiny and all about bikes.  The owner, who I later learned was John or Maizy was a bike but, a Sydney refugee of some standing and who owned most bikes on the shop. An on-trend "shopping bike" was prominently displayed. Steel framed, Brooks, swept bars and front rack, mudguards and tan sidewall city tyres. What I call a shopping bike, one you often see European bike nerds zipping along congested city streets to visit their favorite cafe or catch up with a mate. It was all new components and John said "too good to ride". Alpngaide, slightly lower on the stand, also with pedals removed for security reasons, was a Surly. It was a similar spec to the shopping bike though tougher looking. It could handle a trail, but only for a short run in dry conditions. Most components had been spec'ed up, Cube rear set, flashy rims and hot pink head bearing housings and swept ba...

OK, I'm officially fed up with this crap about T Rump. Yeah, I know that's what he wants, by creating a smorgasboard of side issues he hopes people will lose their focus on Epstein.  I just listened to a guy that describes himself as an "independent thinker". He describes these unprovoked attacks by US-Israel upon the civilians of Tehran as a suicide mission. His words: " Trump is casting America into meat grinder with no way out". He's predicting the biggest war ever. My fear all along was that as T Rump got forced into a corner he would turn on massive stink leading to the deaths of hundreds of millions of people. A retaliation? Or is he makng the statement,, that right never wins over might driven by evil bastards?  

Today's route was Taylors Beach, One Mile, Zenith, Soldiers Point then back to Taylors Beach.  Shortest distance 40k, add detours to Fingal Head and Tomaree Trail passed Box and Zenith Beaches.  Corps worked OK for only a few k, then maybe due to me poking it to maximise the nav screen, it went into some kind of lockout mode. This evening I downloaded a QR Code app and it seems to like this rather than via Google. Here's hoping. So 40-40k all up for about 3hrs out, including stops to eat, take in the sights or drink a coke and coffee. My goal was to just put time into the saddle, carrying kitchen, tools and wet gear. So this was achieved, happily. I can't recall having a bike that I enjoyed racking up the miles on, than this Krampus.  I had some bike hiking on the Tomaree NP, but coming off hills she scoots. I hardly felt the weight. Totally besotted! No photos, cos I just wanted to ride. Beautiful views of the water; Fingal, Shoal Bay, Nelson Bay, Dutchies, and sections ...

Rear Drybag (Purple) Kitchen (burner, gas, billy, lighter, cutlery)  Lantern (holder, t candles )  Food staples (tuna, noodles, oats mix, peanut butter, crackers, coffee, oil, chocolate) Wet & Cold Gear (puffer, spray jacket, thermal pants, buff) Clothes (Ls shirt, pants, 2 socks & undies, camp thongs) Swim Gear. (budgies, towel) Half Framebag (yellow) Tools ( Allen keys, tube, patches, pump, knife, levers, cord & chain lube) Valuables (cards & cash, keys, documents) Electronics (phone, cable, battery, headlight, headtorch)  Meds & Hygeine lip balm, teeth & bathing gear, pills) Bar Bag (green) Sleep System (bivy & hoop, pad, liner, pillow)  Water (blue) 600ml bidons on forks   Other Coros Dura   on bars for navigation Climbers Powder Pouch  on bars (lollies, phone, glasses) Extras Leatherman (heavy) Sleeping bag   (weather or season dependent Camelback worn to carry extra dep. on route, season...

The Alarmist just boarded this train. Two days sgo, pumped along the platform on rake thin legs that he raised a little too high, wearing a too small hat propped high on his head, and announced that the next train had been cancelled. None of the regulars flinched. The train arrived just as he scampered off the platform complaining about the people that run the trains.  He's  just boarded, same hat, floral pink and lime green shirt, carrying a shoulder bag with short straps so it sits uncomfortably high by his long neck. Reading Don Quixote keeps me on the alert for Knights Errant, & I suspect he's one.  The Knight With The Tiny Hat did not create enough fuss to stop our train & we arrived at Newcastle station. The coastal temperature is milder,  a gentle seabreeze channeling through the train terminus. After a short spin I see the ferry leaving the dock  allowing me time to ride further to Customs House. Back at the terminal, i wait on a flo...