Cold and Foggy

Back to cold and foggy. Very foggy, even along the Dickson end of Northbourne. Cleared by Braddon and the lake was beautiful. A reasonably slow but enjoyable ride in. No rabbits today again.

Somewhere different

After Norwin enquiring about work at NGA I went for a scenic detour to find the staff entrance (where he has to go this morning). Although off road over grass and dirt paths, I really enjoyed meandering in the grounds on my bike.

Oh what a beautiful morning - pity its Monday

It is such a lovely morning this morning. Just a pity it's Monday and I had to come to work. Although I couldn't have taken these photos if I hadn't come to work. So I suppose there is something good to be said about Mondays!

Took the scenic route today through Lyneham again. It took 2 minutes longer today and under 1km longer (the longer route last week was going to Randwick Road and back). It is scenic, but sometimes annoying all the ups and downs, twigs and branches on the track, dogs off lead etc. Probably back to just straight down Northbourne tomorrow.

The pic taken from Barton Hwy shows the beautiful colouration in the sky, again it didn't do it justice, but still beautiful. Lake Burley Griffin, so many more different boats at the moment, canoes and kayaks are outnumbering the rowers at the moment.

Saturday 27/8 - Spring ride with Kathryn

What a wonderful time Kathryn and I had riding around the ponds of Gungahlin together. Firstly Gungahlin Lake, Yerrabi Pond and then the chain of ponds at Forde. Kathryn had an absolute ball and so did I.

We went just after 9.30 so it was totally daylight (unlike my normal rides). It was so much fun and I look forward to doing it again soon.

Took around 20 photos, can't put them all here!

Sunrise over Lake Burley Griffin

The most georgeous morning to ride. I'm annoyed that I didn't take a pic at Nicholls near the school, the colours on the horizon were beautiful. I did stop at Barton Hwy, but alas the light levels weren't good and it didn't turn out well. Coming over the bridge was almost sunrise. Coming down the other side, the sun was in the sky. Riding along Lake Burley Griffin the sun shining over the water. What more could you want. What better way is there to start the day.

The worst part of today. Getting up at 4.30am. Oh well, tomorrow sleep in! Probably 6-6.30am.

The fog and lovely morning light coming over the hills at Barton Hwy (Crace Nature Reserve). Pity the photo is no where near as good as it really looked.

-2, frost and fog

Another lovely crisp start to the day. No pics though, the fog shrouded the lake yet again. Only fog coming along Gungahlin Drive and the lake, the rest of the trip was clear. A beautiful ride. Thinking of taking the bike path through Lyneham again to avoid Northbourne and breathing in car fumes.

24/8 Back to negative temps

Back down to -2 after some comparatively warm days. But how beautiful. The sky was crystal clear, the crescent moon high in the sky. A light mist over Mulangarri Grasslands and then again down near Barton Hwy. Almost took a photo but decided it wasn't quite bright enough. Had visions of a beautiful lake shot this morning. And it could have been, except for the fog heavy across the lake. Oh well, I have plenty of lake photos anyway!

It's amazing how many more boats on the water. We had kayaks, the rowers in 2's, 4's and 8's, a speedboat and something we haven't seen for weeks ... swans!

Another glorious day!

23/8 Back to cloudy skies

Back to cloudy skies. A pleasant ride nonetheless, but nothing spectacular, or even mildly exciting to photograph. Normal ride, normal route, 52 minutes with a southerly around 11-15 kmph.

The difference was amazing

I can't believe how much lighter it was this morning. After the dull cloudy/rainy days last week it seemed so bright basically all the way in. Still not quite sunrise over the lake, but very close.

This morning was also the Convoy of No Confidence. Although I never thought I would get delayed by it, I was concerned about riding next to all these big trucks.

All was going well and I was cruising down Barton Hwy when I saw that Randwick Road was closed. Yayy! At least I won't get caught at the traffic lights. Just as I was approaching they turned red. Police appeared from everywhere. The first convoy of trucks was heading out. After a quick conversation with the officer and realising it would be about a 10 minute wait, I asked permission to cross the road and ride back up to Ellenborough Road. I took the bike path through Lynham etc and came out at ANU on Barry Drive. Then normal route to work.

As the photo shows it was very pretty. Quite the scenic route, but it was around 6 minutes slower and 2.8km longer. I did enjoy the change of scenery and didn't see a truck at all!

20/8 Leisure ride

Nice to leave in daylight and enjoy a slow peaceful ride along the lake. The sun wasn't out due to cloud cover in the east but a most enjoyable morning. The quietest time of my entire day.

Rain, Rain, Rain

It's raining well and truly. Steady rain the whole way in and not drizzling, nice soaking rain. I really didn't mind it. For the first time I put my hood up under my helmet and it worked well - I was just a bit hot with no airflow around my face/neck.

I really don't mind riding in the rain, I felt snug and warm. It is only when I got off the bike that I realised my feet were soggy and my bum soaking. Thankfully I brought dry undies and pantihose and of course I have dry high heels at work. So now, nice and dry and warm.

My only concern is drying my clothes. At EA I had the heater. here there are no heaters whatsoever, not even a handdryer in the toilets. Although I do have a spare pair of cycling knicks to wear home if necessary and my sandshoes if I am desperate, it would be nice to have my "normal" riding clothes dry enough to put on again.

Glad I brought my raincoat

A lovely mild morning this morning (6 degrees) and had been going to go without my jacket when I saw the weather forecast, rain developing. I put my raincoat (which is also my jacket to keep me warm) in just in case. Well, here not even 30 minutes and its raining! Good call.

Another good ride in. Did my recovery heart rate at a couple of traffic lights (although you only get around 30 seconds but I figure if I drop at least 10 in 30 seconds that's as good as 20 in 60!). Then did a proper one on arrival at the carpark here. Dropped around 30 points. That will keep me happy. Technically (looking at my heart rate data) though I did a harder ride today it took slightly longer. Not quite sure how that works. Anyway, another lovely day to ride to work.

16/8 good to be back on the bike

It's so good to be back on the bike. Friday in Sydney, Saturday sick, Sunday a night away with Norwin meaning a walk instead, Monday sick again - had been planning to ride but 3 trips to the toilet and a big mess made me reconsider! So finally Tuesday and I'm back on the bike.

Left home and got to the shops thinking gee my backpack is light and realised I had left my skirt at home. So back home to pick up the skirt. Ride in was absolutely lovely, just a light drizzle but mild so I didn't need any jackets etc, just my lovely Ice Queen jersey. No pics due to the grey dull day, but I wanted to show off my pic from Sunday so here it is. Taken just west of Commonwealth Avenue Bridge at Yarralumla.

11/8 Why?

Why do I ride to work. Hmm. Lots of reasons: time on my own, exercise, fresh air, the beautiful scenery, allows me to not feel guilty about drinking a hot chocolate (or today the chocolate tart at Sharon's lunch at Ostani). Plus things like reducing carbon footprint, leading an active lifestyle, faster than the bus and it saves parking hassles at Barton/Forrest.

All these things are true, but just look at the pictures I take daily and you can see why in this lovely city it is so great to ride a bike. Walking is wonderful but too slow, driving you are in a metal cocoon and miss it all. Come on everyone, get pedalling there are so many great things about it.

10/8 Another day, another dollar

Phone said -2, computer says -2, BoM says as low as -3, but I was hot, hot, hot on the way to work. ABC said +4 as I rode past and I think that was more like it. I was sweltering in my winter woollies.

Apart from that, another delightful day to ride to work.

A lovely (later) way to start the day!

A different start to the day. Got the kids organised and off to school while Norwin and his Dad went to Tante Elsa's funeral. Left for work on my bike at the same time the kids left for school. We started out together and it was great fun. The kids were dressed up for SuperHero Day at the primary site and Pyjama Day at the senior site. Andrew was Buzz Lightyear, Sophie the School Fairy. It was lovely having the morning with them.

The other advantage was riding in daylight all the way! Heavy fog at the start of the trip getting lighter along Gungahlin Drive but by Northbourne it had lifted totally. Saw so many other commuter cyclists too.

Also proved that bikes are faster than cars getting to the city. Between Wells Station and Stanford Road I picked 4 cars and decided to track their progress compared to mine. They passed me in the run up to Barton Highway, but I passed them near Randwick Road and never saw any again. I passed the 59 and again it didn't pass me between that section of Northbourne and Civic. Who would even contemplate driving a car!

Although overcast I couldn't resist taking a photo or two. Arrived at work for a 9.30am start. 9.30am - 3.30pm hmm I could get very used to that!

8/8 Raindrops keep falling on my head

A light misty rain this morning that was not unpleasant. The only unpleasant part is now with the wet bottom. Whilst all my clothes arrived at work dry, my knicks got wet (splashed up from the road). I took them off to dry, but my undies and pantihose are still wet. A hot chocolate will solve most of my problems!

Also saw a huge kangaroo on Gungahlin Drive. Although I was on my bike, it still stood easily as tall as me.

Take the long way home or should that be work

Another glorious morning riding to work. Barton Hwy was too dark to take photos, but the colours of the nautical twilight were just beautiful, especially with the mist over the paddocks.

Took the long way to work this morning. Instead of turning up past the National Gallery, I continued along the lake until the bike path ended at Kingston opposite the Greek Orthodox Church. Crossed the road at the lights and rode up through Telopea Park. It was lovely. Won't do it regularly but if I'm in the mood and the weather is beautiful it is probably worth coming this pretty route.

4/8 Update

Just an hour or so after typing my last blog I heard the news of the murder on Northbourne Avenue. I rode right past the body and didn't see it. I feel awful. They found him at 6.40am, literally no more than 5 minutes after I rode past there. I probably passed the person/people who made the discovery. At 6.40am I was sitting at the lights at Northbourne & London Circuit (I checked my watch due to my wonderfully good run of lights). It's really quite scary.

4/8 Calm and clear

Another glorious morning. How blessed I am to be fit and healthy enough to ride and enjoy this magnificent part of the world. And its not just the beautiful lake.

I enjoy almost every part of my ride (except Palmerston!). The rabbits, the light mist over the fields, more rabbits again on Vernon Circle and not the slightest breath of wind.

Even Northbourne Avenue. Look there's the 58, aah, the 56 (see I beat you -- after I passed it at Gungahlin). Looking into the Hotels to see people having breakfast at the restaurants. Joggers, other cyclists. There is something good to be said for every part of my trip.

Today I even had the amazing coincidence of not stopping from Sandford Rd Mitchell to London Circuit. A couple of times I slowed down to stop and the lights changed, but I didn't actually stop until London Circuit. Purely amazing. I love my morning commute!

3/8

Aargh! Just lost my post. Not sure why it does it and it autosaved just as I realised it had deleted itself!

To start again but in brief this time. Great ride in. Enjoyed suburbia, the grasslands, Northbourne and of course the lake. A mild 5 degrees. Nondescript grey morning - no photos.

High of 21 expected today. Not the sort of weather I want to wear my warm things home in. Tomorrow might try short-sleeves with arm-warmers in the morning and just the short sleeves in the afternoon.

I am not kidding myself though. I'm sure winter woollies will return next week.

2/8 Another day, another dollar

Well I put my heart rate monitor on this morning, the stress of putting it on raised my heart rate to 94 but it soon dropped again. Between getting the monitor on and detecting my heart beat and leaving I forgot to press "start" and hence when I arrived at National Circuit I discovered it hadn't worked! As I really wanted to test my 1 minute recovery I put it on then (opposite AGD). The wonderful news is that at the entrance to our carpark I stopped for one minute, 144 down to 98. Not bad!

Apart from that, an uneventful trip. Absolutely pleasant at 1 degree. A little overcast, but still lovely. A leisurely ride as I didn't want to stress myself after only 4 hours sleep. Went to bed by 10pm, had Sophie next to me coughing and was still awake at 11.40. Then eventually got her to sleep, then I slept well until 4am when I had Sophie again but thankfully not coughing. Then, obviously I stayed awake.

1/8 -- Another month already

Can you believe how quickly the year has gone! August ... that was quick!

Anyway, a foggy morning this morning and an almost balmy -2 (well 6 degrees warmer than Friday!). A consistent fog. Usually I lose the fog when I turn onto Northbourne with just a bit between there and the lake. This morning it was lightest at Nicholls and heavier as I went along. Crossing Commonwealth Avenue bridge I couldn't even see the water beneath me. Eerie, but exciting riding through the bare trees near the library.

It is such fun which is how it should be.

Must say though the thought of riding in short sleeves again is wonderful but I think it will be a couple of months yet.

No photos, I've got enough photos of just white.