Willie Coast

 Sunday was a rest day of sorts. Actually now that I think of it there was alot more catching up than originally planned.  We went for a ride first thing as the day was getting filled up. We went as far as the athletic track as I wanted to see what state the rings were in. There is a caged one and an open one and the toe board is in place for both. Hooray. This may be another venue for some practise. We called in to the chocolate shop on the way back. This is where I went the day before for the coated ginger but we stayed for coffee this time. It was time for a quick gardening spree when we got back, particularly the rose bush out back and the beds out front. We seem to fill the community green bin everytime. Debbie had time in the afternoon for visiting 98 yar olds in Port Melb and a stack more of the 90+ brigade in the four houses across from us. Phew! 

Ride with Bomber

A sunny calm day presented itself so I got the bike out for  a slightly longer ride. Along the foreshore heights I could see the diggers down below, once again trying to keep the boat ramps clear of piled seaweed.  I kept a steady pace and decided to go down the main drag to get back. I don't do this to often and now I remembered why when the swooper swooped. It must be at least two yar ago when a bird sent me crashing into the gutter. This is exactly the same place, as I could see the same barriers looming as I was under fire. Three times it came down and it must be the same bird for I have read they can recognize people from a long way off.  I was not going as fast this time and backed off even more. So I let him do his thing which was thudding against the helmet.  It has nothing to do with protecting young in the middle of Winter, this one is just a bit crazy.

boats beware of rocks, weather and tractors

East Point Ride

 I got one of the hotel bikes out for a ride around the coast line to the East Point Reserve. I also did the loop through the Military Museum which added a few km. There are many points of interest, like knowing where all the sunset facing eateries are. There are plenty of good beach areas and park areas along the way with people in the water so they do seem concerned about anything that can bite. The military emplacements are huge, bigger than any of the German ones I have seen in France.

Hot Aussie day

 Last years Aussie Day effort was so good we decided to repeat it almost exactly. It was probably an hour longer but that was an improvement as we had a long snooze under a tree at the other end of the ride at Rippleside beach. We also parked higher in the gardens area to see a much better yacht race vantage up there. We did not linger too long and rolled into Geelong to stop at the yacht Club for lunch. There was also the wandering among the yachts to pick out which one we would get at a later date. Ha. Back on the bikes we stopped again at the tall ships pier. There was a crazy boat there made out of plastic pipes and this guy bobs his way across all the oceans of the world. Eventually we got to Rippleside for a good two hour rest and swim before riding back to the main Geelong pool and our last traveller high on the hill overlooking all the action. As we got back home the neighbours sent a message that they have left eggs and apricots for looking after their bins. Hooray!

Dinghys?

We could try this one

the pipe boat

racing 

Distant Tassie Boat

fruity eggs

Drenching Ride

I waited around yesterday, the weather was poor so it was mostly an indoor day. Today I decided I was getting the bike out no matter what. I could see large blue patches in the sky, so this looks ok. 30 minutes into the ride I am standing under a tree half dry half wet. I did get some photos earlier of a merchant ship across at the naval dock with the You Yangs nearby.  I started off again and the heavens are opening. I have heard tell that Summer is starting tomorrow. On the way back I veered off to our beach friend Jill's front door which has a verandah roof.  For the next hour it bucketed down. I have heard of Spring rains but this is out there.

Hey You Yangs

threatening

Drysdale Ride

 I was up early to get to the Gull bus by 7:30am. I noticed quite a few riders around and probably training for the Round the Bay.  So I got the bike out as well when I got back as it has been idle for some time. Someone should have reminded me it was Saturday morning.  I have never had this many U-turns in front of me and each one under estimated how fast a bike can go and I was slowing down. Also throw in the Car and Truck show at the local school and traffic is everywhere.  At least I stayed upright.

always trying to clear these ramps from seagrass

Year Ago Ride

One yar back we were on the Cadel Ride but instead of 60km today we settled on 15km this morning.  This coincided with Sarah Gigante riding in the women's however since she is in recovery mode this year, we will go to the men's tomorrow. I have hatched a plan to do it by bike but we will have to cross the route in two places and that could be a full stop.  We are trying for the Challambra Live Site which we have not been to but in this case riding between that one and the other site at the finish line is about 10km apart.  You can only try.

You Yangs and Cactus

coffee stop

next train project

Reverse Circuit

Yesterday I was holding down the fort while the maintence man was hard at it. Fiddly time consuming jobs took another 8 hours solid but we have gates that open and shut and a clothesline that holds clothes.  I woke this morning to thunderbolts and lightning at 7:00am. I promised myself yesterday I was going for a ride today.  There was a break around 10:30am so I got the bike out. I have had a dodgy back for a week but it was time test it out.  I did a reverse circuit to the loop I have done in the past. Almost seems like a totally different ride when you see it from the other direction. 

flipper with broken heal strap

treed section of bike trail

palms and posts

Lake Geneva

 Last night the Tour de France was riding around Lake Geneva.  We did the same thing and it is hard to believe it was 10 yar ago.  On that ride we carried what we needed in two small panniers each, for six days.  The tour only covered a short length around Montreux and then headed away up into the mountains. We stayed with the shoreline and kept as low as possible all the way around.  They showed iconic places last night and talked about the Montreux music scene. I haven't finished riding around European lakes, we just have to get rid of these bugs that are flying around.

Chillon Castle

The Lake Geneva route was a mixed bag of roads, paths and some dirt but when you get foreshore paths like this we'll take them.

15km run

 All the memories about marathon training have come flooding back with Daniel's entry into the Melbourne marathon this year.  There are four months to go to get to 42km and today it was 15km in reasonable conditions. It rained during the night but was dry this morning. I paved the way on the bicycle and there was no way I could have run 15km. The pace was decent at between 5 and 5.5 minutes per Km on our undulating circuit.  Bianca  did her own circuit of 6km while Asher was entertained by Nana.

before

after

Debbie took the only photo after my Melbourne Marathon. This was back in 1983. I needed to lean on Carol O'rourke to stand up. After 2 hours rest I was fine. I think that T-shirt is still around somewhere.

Ride Swim Sleep

A pleasant day after yesterday so we started out by riding the Drysdale Circuit.  This time we stopped at the cafe in Curlewis.  Two other tables got their coffee first who ordered after us. We were told that the serving of tables is not necessarily in the order of who orders. If you know what I mean.  Doesn't sound right to me.  We proceeded onto the train station, then the Train tunnel and back to Drysdale. I also immediately went down to the beach with the new snorkel. This time I had it positioned better so the breathing was freer.  Lots of suspended grass though after last nights wind.

Curlewis Lookout

Pyramid Teabag and one Martha (Muffin)

Bellarine Express

This is a value for money $13.00 concession ride to get you to Docklands.  On the way over it was a calm pond on the way back 40 kph winds started up and we were rocking and rolling and trough plunging.  We have souvenir throw up bags but they were not needed so our boat skills are improving. Not sure if its enough for Heide to take us out yachting yet.  I guess we also need to get a yacht first.  Its so different getting home these days. Instead of a drive to Essendon its a boat to Port Arlington then a drive thru the country.

RMIT revisited

Went for a ride to get the circulation going and ended up at RMIT. They are still squeezing more buildings into an ever decreasing space.  But at the same time there seems to be more green lawn around than I remember.  They have taken over Melbourne Gaol for one thing. We were at the gaol for a Christmas Party a few years back and there were no students lounging around so it must be a recent development. A previous expansion of RMIT into the gaol's space unearthed 13 bodies in unmarked graves originating from the gallows pole.  It was always a good story when we went into the building they put there.

Marquee for Gaol House Rock

More Grass

Sand Ride

Haven't ridden along the beach for a while.  Time it for 30 minutes before the low tide turns and you will get the best run. We only staggered once close to the surf club at Point Lonsdale. It is the slightly courser sand that you need to look out for and if you weigh a bit more then you will sink in. The ride back via the road is getting quicker.

Point Lonsdale Surf Club

Reef Ride

Often I think I have been down every road on the peninsula however we went by bike looking for the reef near "Cottage by the Sea" and have found some back roads with three story mansions looking over the bay and with direct access to the beach. Some of them were for sale as well. We were talking to a developer who spent 10 years building two houses on a block near the river in Barwon Heads. He sold one for $4 million and lives in the other but is still in debt.  These homes by the bay must be worth at least $6 million in Queenscliff.

The General Store

Take a ride in a Birdcage

Yes we drove for an hour into the centre of the island on some very narrow roads with blind corners, crumbling edges and steep hairpins. Then we worked out there was another road. However after taking the birdcage we went back down the same road which seemed easier going down. The Birdcage is a unique ride that takes about 30 min to go up. I did not use the walk down strategy this time.

Caged Birds