I’ve actually been back on Terra Firma for some time now, a few days short of a month! Crikey time flies. So you can see what I got up to on the ship at the SIPEX voyage website, if you navigate to ‘blogs’ and look for my entry there.
So, what have I been up to? Well, where to start. I got back and couldn’t walk right for a day, which was quite funny. Then I went back to work for almost a week before heading off to the north island for a ‘holiday’. Intending to visit some mates in Canberra and Sydney I accidentally did a 24 hr mountain bike race. So, I spent quite a while on the bike, and almost an entire day in bed recovering. Not really the most social thing to do, but I think I’m forgiven! Many thanks to Murray for helping heaps in preparing Rosie the DMR for the next part of riding epic…
So after my day in bed I jumped on Rosie and pedalled off to see my uncle, aunt and cousin, then pedalled back, loaded Rosie up and embarked on a ride to somewhere near Sydney! I made it to a random creek about 110 km away from Canberra on day one, tired, sore and in the dark. I had a great sleep in possibly one of the worst campsites ever – I didn’t care. Eatsleep. The next day I woke up early, ate a fine brekkie and pedalled along through Nerriga, then Sassafras [cool name for a place], flies dust and heat, all the way to Nowra. And there I stopped, camping at the traditional spot in the animal park, eating an Andys burger for dinner and washing it down with cold beer, a hot shower, and an awesome sunset!
The next morning I gave up on more biking and went for a climb in the morning, then caught the train to Sydney. It looked like a nice ride, but I was too stuffed. Ah well. Sydney came with all its craziness – after finding Harriets house [and another hot shower] I headed out to a swanky wine bar where Amelia works [an old classmate from honours days] and enjoyed an awesome dinner. I love dirtbagging in swanky places. Its fun. Met my bro Ben briefly before he was sucked back into corporate dinnerland, then cruised home for another round of long sleeping. I didn’t actually see Harriet until Friday, when we went for a beer and dinner. I crashed before Sydney even gets started, and had another good long sleep. The rest of Sydney involved lots of urban biking, a walk in the blue mountains, a play, some sculptures and loads of good, glorious sleeping. Ahhh.
…and now I’m home! And even better, I have a home, complete with the beautiful Bel, who hasn’t quite forgiven me yet for running off to Antarctica and the north island in quick succession. Anyway, I’ll find a way to make it up, I’m sure. We’re off to Cradle Mountain this weekend… Bel is working, I’m gonna have a little adventure.
Ohyeah I nearly forgot. I did a 6hr solo race last weekend and didn’t come last. yay! Rosie is grumbling though, she needs some lovin’ after all that hard work…