Living Contentedly

. I didn’t know anything about vision quests in those days — the Native American rite of passage — fasting and going solo in the wilderness in search of a vision.                            Lloyd Khan Ah haa. So by walking two Caminos, solo, and eating essentially once a day, I inadvertently entered a Vision Quest!  Whatever happened the impact was/is, profound.  

Okay, I am here explicitly to rennovate Mia's home. This mostly means addressing the symptoms of rising damp. So removing damaged bricks, raking out crumbly mortar, and repairing the damage using lime mortar. Going into the job, lime mortar was an unknown, but a fantastic eBook about traditional bricklaying and rendering walked through the process of mixing and application. Happily, the effects are top knotch and although there's still a lot to do, Mia seems pleased and relieved with the results so far.   I must say the work is very enjoyable, meditative and productive.  Meanwhile, my son Joe has a few revelations of his own. One, his girlfriend of some months has been revealed as a Korean national, only here as an exchange student. Obviously, she will be returning in the future. Third party reports care that he is very happy and his statement to me a couple of days ago expressed an intent to leave his job in coming months. I may be pulling blindly at too many loose strings, b...

Monday 6 Apr '26 As of this afternoon I have the carbs fitted and its running.  Needed for rego :- Horn Mirrors Speedo (NB won't know if speedo actually works) Test ride to rego.

5 April: After too long spent screwing around with my chopper build, I finally got the carbs in and the fuel line connected. So I decided to have a lunch party only to realised that the cupboard was bare. So out with Rastus and panniers. Today I kickedcoff from the local school. What with me being tired and hungry I was going to chicken out and drive halfway. But, I'm really aware its only 20 days till my first Gravel Event and I needed to get miles behind me.  I forgot my speaker and wasnt wearing a vest, so to listen to the footy I had my phone in the lolly bag. I listened to my favorite team playing the locals. The locals came last last year, my team won the minor premiership. Guess who won? The ride was into a stiff breeze, but the aero bars helped a lot. The roads were mostly quiet, but you can never drop your guard. I had my mirror working, in the upright position only, and was ready to abort at short notice.  I arrived at ALDI at 23k and despite online info that they wo...

Some cyclists ride daily, each second day, or "every Saturday come rain, hail or shine". Ive noticed many touring riders, commute daily or hardly ride between tours.  Their basic riding purpose varies widely too: fitness, ecological, social and  practical. While their higher purpose may be; to collect (information, big things, historic sites etc), to avoid air travel, curiosity and so on.  That's all I want to think about now. 

A fog that rises to my front fence erases all manmade structures. Below and beyond the nation is engrossed in lethal doses of petroleum and chocolate. Here, a clarified air carries rich doses of oxygen and the cackle and screech of honeyeaters, king parrots and lorikeets. .