Living Contentedly

11 Feb: Visiting my daughter out west of the state and not being able to ride due to heavy rain, was frustrating. I could not wait to get home and at least make progress on setting up for bike packing.  Yesterday I bought three items:-  A stove windshelter for the trangia. I took it out west and on several training rides making oats and coffee and two things happened. One the wind carried off the flames causing heat loss/ wasting fuel. And the flames lashing about presented a real fire risk. $14 well spent on a device that is 250g & stows flat. Bivy Bag : for me a tent seems so not bikepacky due to its bulk, weight & excess comfort. Whereas a good bivy bag can provide weather protection, quick set up, stealthy, light & small pack size. Research reveals that many Silk Road racers used the Outdoor Research type bivy, their particular model is expensive & works in -20°C etc. I discovered the Stargazer model which is cheaper, lighter and smaller, & practical f...

Made it to here Saturday evening and great to see mia. Yesterday she and Zack picked up a ute tray for hilux. I did gardening here, and rested. Good light meal last night and with being well rested, I wake to solid rain and thoughts to head off.  Would like to return soon to render this place! 

Less than a week before Xmas I had posted my Brompton bike for sale. A few hours later aessage came in from a guy just north of here offering full price. He later sent a request for bank details ... I was involved in a rare in depth conversation with my son. Pretty soon after sever requests for information, I became a bit "over it" and distracted by conversation.  Basically, I'd given out too much information to a,very cunning fraud professional. When I checked for the deposit by "Robert Jackson" I saw a withdrawal by someone with a distinctly Indian looking name. As I was gaping at the screen and berating myself, a second withdrawal followed.I did everything I could to shút the account down. It was too late to advise my bank. An auto response came through for me to approve the second payment, I declined. I .made an online report to Fraud Watch (?) and called my bank the following day. i was told they would take best endeavours in a field with few wins. Fortuna...

I missed the opportunity to ride yesterday. I am hoping to ride at least each second day to build fitness and systs prior to beginning bike packing.  Anyway, today I got the opportunity to get out before the heat hits. Laden with a nar roll containing my sleep system and puffer jacket, frame bag with tools, electronics and  bobs, tailbag with galley and rain jacket. Off from my local RFS base, I rode 12k to the base of Duns Creek Road hill, then back via Paterson. The DCR "hill" is a tad epic; it's the type of hill, actually a series of hills, that when you see a cyclist riding up of you think; "they're mad" or "badass". you're guaranteed to be as sweaty as a salami in the sun when you hit the top. The ride down is a screaming sprint that happens too quickly.  At Paterson I bought flat bread, tomato, cucumber and cottage cheese and went to the picnic shelter and adding tuna, ate a number of fresh wraps.   My cats,Patty & Sooty, ...

   Cricket ground, Dungog. Home of Doug Walters. This day last week I was heading to Gloucester to go camping in the mountains and I saw a group ride out of Dungog. Today I rode the train to Dungog as a launch onto Bingleburra and spied the same guys hanging out at the coffee shop. But being a solo rider, I kept to myself.  by the road near the top of B Okay, Bingleburra is a bloody big hill between the capital town of the shire to the neighbouring village of Gresford. I can't fond any elevation figures, but I did spend a good deal of time on the lowest cog. Distance between the two towns is a little over 20k but it took almost 2 hours including a scintillating drop off the top of the hill. At one point, hopping into s blind left corner, I was waiting to break traction. But Krampas was really fast and well behaved, so I tucked up and shot through.  gresford shop I was expecting to be hungry and spent at Gresford, but I only stopped...

2-Feb: PLAN use cooler weather and back to school date to take a long dog walk. WHAT HAPPENED on the way, I dropped the wheelie bins off for collection 1.6k from home. As I got back in the car I asked the dog to get in the back of the wagon. I then drove 60k, just before the destination I stop to leave empty bottles and cans for refund.  As I get back on the car, from 10' away, no dog. I search on foot and behind the wheel for 5 hrs. Meanwhile my daughter is posting on Facebook and calling vets and animal shelters.  I dreaded this, but texted my son; I've lost the dog. ... and copped heavy abuse.  As son arrived home he finds the dog.  retreating from the coast WHAT HAPPENED when I asked the dog to hop over the back, he hopped out the car window without me noticing. HIGHLIGHTS meeting lovely caring people after the dog was found, I bought some steak and had a waterside BBQ, and spied this very interesting little boat.