Upcoming Events

Well I've taken the plunge and entered a couple of events.  The Wombat 50km and the Police & Emergency Services Games 3 Hour.  I have no expectations in either of these results wise....my results are based on pushing myself to finish each event with nothing left in the tank, and to have a great time doing it.  

My brother Gav is coming down to race the Wombat 100 so I thought instead of just 'riding' the 100km, I'd try and have some legs and actually race the 50km, within means of what is possible at a busy time of year.  

Gav and I have a week of mountain biking planned post-race, then I'm entered to race the following weekend at P&ES Games at Officer.  Again it should be about the same duration as the Wombat, so let's hope my legs aren't too tired from the week of riding and that I have something left in them for the race.  It's exciting and motivating having some racing goals, even if they are minor ones.  

I'm loving being on the bike, and after the hectic and demanding days at work I push myself to get on the bike, even for 30 mins, which blows away the worries of work and allows me 'my time' and 'down time'.  A few tunes to sing along to that always distract me from my heavy thoughts and take me to memories from long along linked to particular songs, or songs that make me drive that hill climb, or liken my life to the lovely words and melodic tunes.  I love my bikes and I love my life.

Golden Triangle Epic 50km Race

Roz and I agreed that we would 'ride' the 50km option of the Golden Triangle Epic race.  Being in our backyard we would have been pretty silly to not enter, though neither of us were in any form to actually race the event.  As it turned out, Shelley McColl ended up another great chick to ride with.

In line with our fun approach to the event, it was only fitting that we don the 'flanny jersey' (or Lumberjane as Sugoi call it) ready for laughs and fun comments.  And in true form hairdresser Roz came through with matching colour for our hair!  We were certainly catching everyone's eye, if not in the normal manner that you gain notoriety at a race.

We rode at trail ride pace and had the most awesome day.  We talked for 4 hours pretty much non-stop, which I'm pretty sure is a record for Roz and myself.  But what a great day....laughs, catching up with Shelley, a bit of dribble towards the end, and even a song yelled out loud to get us through the last 5km.  Mind you that last 5km we actually started to drop other riders, so I'm not sure if it was our increased flow and momentum with singing and laughing about it, or if they couldn't stand our singing.  Either way we ended up in great spirits.

Thanks heaps Roz and Shelley - I look forward to doing it next year again.

Roz and myself at the end of 50km - still lots of smiles

Long time no update

 In brief, it's been busy.  The piccies somewhat sum up 2014 so far.  

• 3 tours away with fire going to a different location and doing a different role each time; trying to keep my job under control whilst being away
• Doing a few rides with Roz in between being away
• Finally getting my hardcopy Postgraduate Diploma in Bushfire Management, which Dave from work absconded with and renamed calling me a 'smart arse' (as can be seen in photo)
• Feeling guilty about putting the dogs in kennels for the extended periods of being away
• Trying to locate and kill a brown snake in my backyard that the dogs had bailed up at my back door (thanks to neighbour Jeff for the heads-up phone call)
• Watching my friends at the Women's XCO Round 3 of the National Series at Echuca

My grafitti'd Postgraduate Diploma

An interesting phenomenon - reduced grasses/weeds beneath trees meant lower intensity burning of the foliage

Em Parkes racing hard

Got to spend some time with Em after the race

Dear friend Tory Thomas racing to 3rd position - you inspire me every day, Tory.

Beep not perturbed after interaction with snake - Buzz exhausted