Living Contentedly

I'm wondering where adventuring will take me next. But I have an  adventurous life, perhaps a micro adventurous life, most days I do novel things, mostly related to building fitness. But last year's Camino taught me that getting in a grind for a month or more, doing one thing everyday for an extended period has significance beyond daily life. You achieve something that makes you go wow and takes you to a new level in life. A packaged travel deal experience is glossy and artificially positive. Many people enjoy that form of travel, but the fact that you leave as the next batch of holiday makers arrive and it costs a fortune, really make the experience very hollow. Lacking depth of experience and personal meaning. I now know that suffering is important.  On the other end of the scale is super adventurous travel. Again, this can be canned adventure, like a 7 day hike to Everest Base Camp, or even to the top of Everest. But, with respect and although these outings are mega ac...

Today was to be my return to the surf with both eyes working. I took my longboard to Merewether and abouts, but the waves  had really poor shape and weighing up benefits of a joyful return to surf with two eyes against risk of an eye infection, safety won out. So I went running instead so I drove to Hickson Street and popped on my joggers. I walked carefully down goatrack hill looking after my ankles and began hoofing along the sand towards Merewether.  Intending to then run up the Scenic Highway back to Suby, but I thought this wasnt long enough. So I did a u turn and headed to Leggy Point which was covered in 15minutes, so probably just under 2k. The conditions were fabulous, pretty clear skies, coolish and low tide. By this beach's standards it was busy. I passed about 7 people, walking or swimming, and there were a few surfers at two different breaks. I moved well and before I returned had decided to do two laps, this would put me at 7-8k (est) in under an hour...

I'm really drawn to Summer Hill Road for training rides at the moment. I first rode it last week and my initial thoughts were: " this is way longer and way more hilly " than when I travelled it by Land Rover. So I was really impressed by completing a loop from my local fire station.  As is common among cyclists is, that we are drawn to complete ever-more-difficult activities. So off we went.  But after working on my chopper all day and a bit of procrastination, I had run short of time, so I drove to the Eaglereach access road, cranked up my Flow speaker with football and jingled off. Unlike when I was jogging here a on Friday, the weather was glorious; cool, pretty calm, light cloud.  I had changed my peddles out for clipless and found the hills less daunting, even faster. I got to the T-intersection marking the end of SHR (9k) and needed more. Glendonbrook Road, normally a rat run for coal miners and farm boys, seemed quiet. So I rode towards Gresford (5k). More folly hi...

I'm in a routine of making each second day an "active" day for running, riding and so on. On the other days I work on the house, property or vehicles.  So today's biggy was getting the Bullet inspected for registration.  As expected she flew through, but there' are always a few nerves. On the way back I was thinking " one more year of living dangerously", that is   by riding a motorbike. anyway, I really enjoying the Bullet. while her grip in the gravel is not so good, on the road she is faster and as always a real character. I am actually thinking of her being a part of my next step towards " car-lite " living.Fitting a sidecar to the Bullet would open the door to selling my car. I've always wanted a sidecar. Apartfrom the quirkiness ans fun factors, i carrying tools, a dog and gear for swimming, fishing or  camping and the weekly groceries would be cool. Just like a car but just for me. Joy, economical and environmentally friendly.  One ...

26 March: Hooey! Today's outing began in the rain. Earlier I'd procrastinated due to sun, a  home work project that really needed completing, and so on.  I got so far as to take my Royal Enfield Bullet for a rego check; the town's main mechanic had semi-retired so was unavailable today. I then went to his son's workshop and he was closed too. Hrrmph!  At home I got set to work on my other bike, my chopper, that I need to get ready before the lapsed rego period of grace expires. I picked up the battery drill and it went flat on the first hole. I'd used it earlier, and thought it had more charge.  So I pulled on my NBs, coaxed the dog, filled a bottle with Powerade and headed to Summer Hill Road.  There were some serious clumps of rain-dumping clouds to the SW of our destination and we copped loads for brief peroods on our drive. But it wasnt windy or cold, so no risk of death.   I felt driven to return here after riding by a few days ago, the rolling gr...

23 March:  Home life has been pretty full on, so I actually lost two days to just resistance training.  So today I was busting to stretch my legs. Rather than head into town for groceries and run the gauntlet of busy roads, I hit local roads that are not well used. The recent death of a pedestrian on roads that i frequent has really made me timid. He wasnt riding, it was a freakishly unlucky affair, but still, it seems to have  involved a careless motorist. Anyway, today's ride was pretty hard. The temperature was good, it wasnt too sunny, and the wind was OK, but today it was hills. They werent monsters, but there were a lot of them. It was a case that you seemed to be going up or down, rarely cruising on flat ground. But, that was too because I really wanted to push myself a bit. Mission accomished.  A novel element for today's ride was a Bluetooth speaker. As soon as I got going I cranked up "100 Greatest Reggae Songs". Wow, it made the ride really enjoyable and I...