Living Contentedly

Wednesday: WORRIED I head off with dog towards TRISLED, Victoria to check out a used Rotovelo 1. I haven't seen a velo on the flesh let alone ridden one, so the 1100k drive may be for nothing.  I sleep on the front seat of car overnight and vow " never again".  Thursday: HOPEFUL, We motor through the scenic Yarra Valley, 3 hours to TRISLED.  I see an orange RV1 in the corner, all dusty, but looking beastly tough. Its aided by sharing its stable with a famous green RV1 owned by Mark Doble and ridden twice across Australia in the IndiPac Endurance Races. Rebecca helpfully gets me going and I pedal the rugged backstreets of Morwell. The surface is uninspiring bit there's enough on this velo'ing thing to tickle my interests. I later meet Ben, The Ben. I'm inspired by his gentle ways and inspired lifestyle. He helps me, The Orange Velo is in the back of the Sooby as we motor away.  I spend another night slumped on the front seat, even more tightly and v...

Today's colour is brought to you by the colour blue. While the image looks more grey, in reality weak UV rays piercing layers of cloud shed a cool blue hue. Almost marine, like being in a massive goldfish bowl.  My new 6am pattern continues & today I introduced a cold shower. After running & being midwinter, that was a shock that kept giving. Perhaps I will do longer next time? Today, after "discussions" with my pet minding son I have "decided" to begin my road trip tomorrow. Apparently, I am staying away for the weekend. My latest iteration is taking my smaller trailer sailed. This will add adventure, the privacy of "offshore" camping & greater storage. 

I've been watching this BBC TV production over the last 2 days. Its quite engaging considering its fiction . :))

Hit the deck at 6 today. Being monday I was well rested after a day off. Gulped coffee and took off up the hill. Was really pleasant conditions, low light but good visibility, the valley floor had small pillows of fog laying there, but on the way back down the hill, the pillows were rising and expanding.  As I ran basically from my door, I added 0.5k  to my usual 4k run. Cuddy dog loved it and despite there being a heap of roos he never chased any. Another bonus of the early start was that it was quieter; no residents off to work cars, and no dogs let out for their morning pee, so no barking mutts.   fog pillows, everyone still in bed.

When I travelled to the doctors for eye surgery followup, I used a train and folding bike combination of transport. I'd used the same bike and various trains to ride in stages from home to convents in Merewether and Coogee in Sydney's eastern quarter. Its a but magic. And yet, I don't count myself as a cyclist, more of a bike rider . I'm also a walker, nearly 12 months ago I walked 1145k on pilgrimage across Spain. But I'm not a hiker, just a walker.  My motives for walking or riding, even riding motorcycles, stems from a green soul. Since little I was tuned in to the planet and the many ways we are destroying it.  So, yesterday, a little early for the doctors, I ducked into the nearest branch of the Maitland libraries, and walked out with this book. Essentially its about how two eco-conscious parents and their two children travel on bikes, camping and foraging for food along Australia's eastern seaboard and hinterlands.  After skipping to the good b...

After an easy running week due to my eye op. I set out to run 10k this morning. As usual the morning light was especially beautiful improved by my vision.  The usual numbers were present and despite my hoping to arrive a little early so I could get a half lap in, I began as usual. I missed The Doctor today, but the bulk of faces are here.  The lake looks nice, a fresh SWr stirring early. I finish easily at my Slow Jog pace in 32min. and immediately head out for another lap. I'm feeling better than I was to start with, but midway through my third (half) lap I feel soreness in the quads. Good! Prolong the pain. I sm stoked to rerun the finish line as the PR elders and regulars are packing up in 1h12m. With a 2-3m lapse during sign off, I'm about the same pace as earlier. Funny, I have trouble stopping. My usual treat follows, a small apple turnover and large flat white, and a gnome.  Feeling grateful.