Last Big Ride of 2011

Decided on a longer ride this morning to cap off 2011. A 27km journey around the Gungahlin area taking in Nicholls, Ngunnawal, Amaroo, Forde, Gungahlin, Harrison, Franklin and Palmerston. Had a fun time. Only took photos of areas I hadn't photographed before.

A brisk 8 degrees which to me is too cold for December. Anyway, the ride was great fun. I love my cycle journeys.

Lake Gininderra

What a beautiful morning to ride around Lake Gininderra. It was spectacular, clear skies, light winds ... what more could I want. I even got to see a balloon in the sky and then landing in the fields between William Slim Drive and Barton Hwy. Also a bus, number 31?, parked near Gold Creek on Barton Hwy. I think he was lost. He took up the entire bike lane and I had to go onto the traffic which I was not happy about.

Enjoyed my ride so much I am considering going again later today. Maybe with company next time.

On a glorious morning

It was a brisk 10 degrees this morning, but I had a wonderful ride around the area including adventuring into Forde and taking some great shots. It is a truly wonderful time of the day and the sunrise by Gungahlin Lake was simply glorious.

28/12 Two great rides

As I mentioned yesterday, I was tired of riding alone so I went on the PedalPower Wednesday Social Ride from Kaleen. Although a bit slow it was still lots of fun. We rode around 33km and enjoyed a Hot Chocolate at The Coffee Club in Gungahlin. The highlight for me was seeing the Big Goanna. I think Andrew would love to see that too. It is amazing to think it is so close to home and yet I didn't even know it existed. I need to do more exploring!

In the evening, Erin came with me for a quick circuit of Gungahlin Lake. Again, fun to have company.

27/12 Another cloudy morning

Another lovely morning ride. No hurry, no rush. Just a leisurely cruise around our two ponds. I was very excited today to see some new cygnets. Very late in the season and one very protective parent (hence the photo was taken quickly at a distance!).

I am enjoying my rides, but look forward to not riding alone. Two options I am considering: FiT Girls on a Friday 6.30am or PedalPower rides from time to time on a Saturday or Sunday morning. Or like today, a Wednesday when I happen to be off work!

Christmas Eve and Boxing Day rides

I did a couple of rides over the weekend although I thought I would be killed if I rode Christmas morning - particularly if I was missing in action when the kids wanted to open presents!

Christmas Eve was lovely singing Carols as I rode. Boxing Day was great and I was thrilled to meet Bill as I pedalled around Gungahlin Pond. I also enjoyed seeing Alexander Bunyip dressed for Christmas.

The Last Commute Before Christmas

Today was my last commute before Christmas. It was lovely. Cloudy again, but a few breaks let a little sunlight through down along the lake.

My bike was decked in gold tinsel and my rack bag in pink/silver tinsel. I had been quite happy with my decorations (except I would have preferred that magenta tinsel to coordinate with my pink ayups) but I failed in comparison to the FIT girls I met today at Mint@Forrest in our building.

The bikes were done up beautifully with not only tinsel but helmets with Santa hats (courtesy of cable ties), a Santa on the handlebars and ladies dressed as Santa or angels. If only I had had my phone at the time (but it was in the office, I was downstairs getting my Hot Chocolate). It looked so great.

I had a quick chat to the purple angel/fairy and discovered the slow group leave from Parkes at 6.30am and end at our building at 7.30am on a Friday. My current aim is to meet them in 2 weeks time and have a trial ride with them. I have thought of joining FIT girls before, but time was an issue. Starting at 6.30am and being at my building by 7.30am ... could work! Then I just need to fit in the running and swimming parts. Maybe this would be a way to make a friend! They were all ages from young to old. An opportunity I would be mad to not at least try.

How many more grey days?

Grey and a slight drizzle most of the way in. Despite that I do still enjoy the ride. Loved to see one bootcamp group running on the opposite side of Commonwealth Ave Bridge in Santa hats.

Just another grey day. The balloon down by the lake lifted my spirits. Singing as I cycle also helped, Deck the Halls, Christmas Joy, Joy to the World. Trying to make it feel like Christmas. Something just doesn't quite feel like it just yet.

Some colour on a cloudy day

Another cloudy day, overcast skies but no wind whatsoever. A reasonable ride in 50:27 minutes. Weather a mild 14 degrees. Still in long sleeves, but not chilly. Some summer temperatures in the low twenties would be lovely.

Colour today in the form of the beautiful purple agapanthus along the lake. Spectacular even on a grey day. I also loved the lavender against the green grass and red stones near the National Library. Canberra is a lovely place to live.

A tailwind and record time!

What a change - a tailwind today! Did the ride in 45 minutes. A record I think.

Grey again and getting darker by the minute. Stopped to put my lights on at Stanford Road. Now at 7.15am, it is almost black outside and raining so hard I can hear it on the roof of the office block (okay I am on the top floor). I arrived at work with barely a drop. In fact no rain until near the Treasury building and then only a drop or two. A light drizzle from Brisbane Avenue on. Now it is bucketing down. I am so lucky I am totally dry!

Decided to put some Christmas spirit into my ride and yesterday, decorated my bike a little. Singing carols as I rode as well.

18/12 Relaxing on a Sunday Morning

A quiet but lovely ride on another grey day. No hurry, no stress, off the roads. Just a pleasant pedal around our two ponds.

Low tide on Lake Burley Griffin

The water on Lake Burley Griffin seems to be getting lower every day! How many years until it is full again? It can be so beautiful down there, but having a better water level and cleaner water would be great.

My ride was great but my mind seemed to be playing the long track version of Montreal Citadel! No idea why, it was just going over and over in my head for the entire 50 minute ride. It's not like I have even played it for 30 years but there it was and you know what it's like when you get a piece of music in your head that won't escape - not just the melodies but the harmonies and secondary melodies. Over and over! Aargh!

Grey again, and I was quite cool with my armwarmers and no jacket and again a SE wind! Headwinds both ways every day lately. It seems to change around midday. Maybe today will be my lucky day!

Beautiful, but cold!

Swans, balloons, sunshine ... what a beautiful way to start the day! It was a glorious morning to ride albeit cold with 6 degrees ... is this summer? 6 degrees is not a usual summer temperature even for Canberra. But there was no wind! A lovely start to the day.

Drizzle, windy and grey ... again

Needed some colour in my life this morning so stopped to smell the roses at Old Parliament House on the way in. Everything else was dull and grey, a strong headwind and it drizzled most of the way. Where, oh where is summer.

Be thankful

After spending a weekend at the hospital with Dad I am reminded riding in this morning to be thankful. Thankful for the health and strength to ride my bike. Thankful for being in a country where we have good hospitals (although half the reason for the weekend's activities was hospital neglect of a patient). Thankful that I have a lovely family. Thankful for the food we have, for our home, for being outside in the weather whether it be good, bad or otherwise. Thankful for the surgeons that worked all night until 4.30am saving people after a car crash, going home for a quick sleep and then returning to operate on Dad.

I really shouldn't complain at all.

On the more specifics of the ride itself, no problems quite a quick trip actually with virtually no wind, just a light easterly breeze. Mild - about 12 degrees. And as the photos show, generally sunny. Now 30 minutes later, no sun or blue sky to be seen, just the grey clouds returned. The lake itself is very low. This is due to concern for the integrity of the dam wall which The Canberra Times reports is being repaired at a cost of around $166,000 per bolt. Although I still love my ride along the lake, I can't wait to see it at capacity again.

Enjoy the day. Don't grumble or complain. Be thankful.

The first agapanthus I have seen.

Gray again

The weather seems to mirror my mood today. I feel just ... overwhelmed ... by so much to do and literally not knowing how to fit it all in. Tomorrow for example Erin - skating, all kids - Little Athletics, decorate Andrew's birthday cake, Andrew's birthday party, visit Dad in hospital (need to include 40 minutes each way travel time) shopping, washing. That's after tonight swimming lessons, bake cake for Andrew's party, make up party bags, visit Dad in hospital (again with travelling time), plus feed the family. And that's after an 8 hour day at work - make that 10.5 hours including travelling and lunch break.

So that's probably why I feel so gray. Just too overwhelming to think of it all and next weekend promises to be worse with out-of-town visitors from lunch time Saturday, staying overnight, plus going out Saturday evening. And it's the last weekend to do any Christmas shopping things that have been overlooked including any food shopping as I don't feel like braving the shops on Christmas Eve and if I do I will be travelling by bus. Parking would be a nightmare.

Anyway, this blog is about my cycle trip to work, not about me and my dramas. The cycle itself was fine really, just lots of red lights on Northbourne - every single one I think except London Cct.

Glad I rode, it gave me time to think. Now just to work it all out and fit it all in.

Grey skies and a little drizzle

It's one of those days when the weather is grey and so am I. I'm not happy, I'm not sad, just sort of feeling indifferent. I felt pretty low yesterday afternoon/evening and this morning I am tired and blah. If only my nights weren't disturbed by children. Sophie again last night and I'm just sick of her wetting her pants and having to wash school uniforms every night on top of Andrew and Dad. Thankfully the others are fairly low maintenance.

Anyway, really I can't complain about the ride. One thing that did cheer me was the sight of four colourful balloons over the western basin and the lovely family of swans: mum, dad and 6 signets. All the action down at the lake with canoeists and rowers as well. This has brightened the grey day and I look forward to a sunny afternoon in more ways than one!