Monday 31/10

Can you believe the end of October already! Thankfully I've made a good dent in the Christmas shopping (and Norwin and Kathryn's birthdays). Some more ideas wouldn't go astray though.

Unfortunately cycling did not bring me any brainwaves for presents. But it did bring me much joy. I did really well for time today until the 58 kept stopping at every bus stop in front of me on Northbourne. Then whilst waiting for the bus to move off, another cyclist pedalled past and then I had to sit behind her for a while waiting for a break in the traffic - she was sitting on 26 and I had been averaging around 31 (normally 28-29).

It was another glorious spring morning in the nation's capital. It really is a beautiful city. Not only do I often see kangaroos, rabbits, ducks and swans, I always see horses and cows too.

Took the slightly longer way along the lake. More pedestrians but so pretty. Unfortunately one pic is a little blurry. I think it was the lens fogged up a bit at the sudden exposure to the cold air - just like my glasses do! Only 2 this morning!

What a glorious Canberra morning

After several cloudy and wet days, today was gloriously clear. I had the most beautiful ride around the two lakes.

I seem to have a slow leak in my rear wheel that I need to fix today. Every single morning I go out and the tyre is quite low. Today is the day to test my skills. I really dislike changing the tubes, but it is essential and I need to do it before I get a proper flat out on the road.

Anyway, a great morning to be on the bike. Spectacular blue skies, green grass and fresh new leaves on the trees.

Friday!

After a great day off yesterday, back to work and the usual commute this morning. Not that the day off was a restful day, it was full of running kids around, 4 trips to Belconnen, 1 to Gungahlin and 2 appointments for Andrew. It was great to see Erin run her last two races and I am really thrilled that in between the appointments and trips to AIS I did manage to do a huge amount of Christmas/ birthday shopping.

But today, another cloudy day, but great for riding. I was very excited to wear my brand new Angelwear jersey which is just so pretty. Pity it was covered up by my fluoro vest, but I knew it looked pretty underneath and by this afternoon I will be able to show it off when I head home.

Cloudy and a southerly but I made good progress. The ride seemed effortless. No pics on this drab day, but I was thrilled to see a kangaroo hopping down Anne Clarke St and rabbits everywhere behind Canberra Theatre (plus my usual bunny family at Barton Hwy).

Actually I feel like another ride now. Can I go please?

Hump Day

The middle of the working week. Now that is good. Once we get to lunchtime it will be a downhill run to the weekend (and I have a flex tomorrow!).

I'm not sure if its cold or hayfever, but I have a stuffed up nose and watery eyes and feel urgh! I almost took the bus. I even reconsidered both at the top Kosciuosko Ave intersection and Wells Station but I kept riding. A very slow ride 57:59, but it was pleasant. Heavy cloud cover but no rain, quite cool and a strong SE/SSE wind. Why can't we get the SSE wind going home?

Anyway, the grey skies made the trees look extra green. It's lovely riding through the green tunnel by the library.

Oh and almost forgot to mention - I saw a fox! It ran across the bike path in front of me on Barton Hwy. It was too quick for me to take a photo and I was going too fast down the hill to stop quickly enough anyway!

Morning report

This is the morning report gives you the long and the short ... I've got Andrew's favourite song from The Lion King in my head, but yes, this is my morning report of my commute.

Breaking news this morning is that I wore short sleeves on the morning trip for the first time since probably April, maybe even March! With a low of 16 it was a great feeling. I did, for the first half, wear my raincoat due to the light drizzle and forecast showers. I took it off whilst waiting at Northbourne Ave/Barton Hwy lights as it hadn't rained since Palmerston and I was hot!

It felt like a good speed this morning despite a southerly wind. I felt light and bright and had a wonderful ride.

Lots of runners and rowers this morning.

And I just realised whilst checking the date ... 2 months until Christmas! So much to get done, so little time and that will be another year down. Where is the time going!

Monday again

Monday again after a lovely weekend. The ride in was great but the photos are awful. Don't know why, but very blurry today - time to clean the lens?

Wind from all angles W, ENE and SSW all within an hour according to BoM and it certainly felt like it, but beautiful and mild - around 11 degrees.

Another great day!

A beautiful Sunday morning

Another spectacular morning. Mild (about 11 degrees) and completely still. It was lovely to have a respite from the wind and I thoroughly enjoyed my trip around the two ponds.

Missing days

I did cycle Friday to work, but the net was down and I couldn't publish. Here is one pic anyway without the blurb.

Just realised...

Ross Solly on ABC Radio last week, Grant Denyer on Sunrise this week ... what next!

The main thing is that it is fun! Lot's of fun. I may look awful and I probably sound weird, but to me it was fun.

Also need to get a photo of the bike and me done up with our tiaras. Perhaps one of the girls can take my pic when I get home today.

TV Star

Well, who would have thought. Definitely a fun, exciting way to start the day, sitting on the toilet on national television!

I heard yesterday that Grant would be doing the Sunrise weather from Lake Burley Griffin and decided I would go down and say hello. Not only did I call in, I called in wearing a tiara on my helmet and on my handlebars. It was so much fun being interviewed by Grant on live television - I just hope I sounded okay. Doing the royal wave wearing white gloves (supplied by Channel 7). So much fun!

In addition, something else I don't see every day was a kangaroo hopping down Northbourne Avenue at Dickson. I just hope he didn't end up getting run over.

Also, back to the tiara - I got quite a few odd looks when people spotted them. I couldn't help but smile and laugh, or should I say smile and wave.

Another beautiful day!

What a glorious day! Coming along Gungahlin drive looking at Mulangarri grasslands with the layers of fog and hills it was gorgeous. Fog further along at Mitchell then clear over the lake. A beautiful day to be out on my bike.

A little slow today and a bit sluggish but probably something to do with lack of sleep. I overslept by half an hour, made up the time before leaving by rushing and not sitting reading over breakfast or listening to the early news.

Notice the change of season

Riding in this morning there are no more pretty pink blossoms, all the trees are now green. The array of green is beautiful but there is definitely the feel that the warmer weather is on the way.

Okay, you couldn't feel it this morning with 1.7 degrees, but during the day it is beautiful and just looking around, it doesn't have the bare winter feel. Everything is green and gorgeous.

A few patches of fog on the way in and a wonderful day is on the way!

17/11 Back to work

Back to work today and a bit of an effort after a lovely week off.

Used my rack bag for the first time and found the bike to be heavy and a bit awkward, but it was lovely, absolutely lovely, to arrive at work with a dry back!

I think the advantages of a dry back outweigh the weight on the back of the bike!

16/10 Sunday morning

What a lovely morning to be out and about. The birds were singing, men out fishing, people walking dogs. No stress, no hurry. Just so enjoyable.

Another leisurely morning

It's going to be so hard going back to work next week! Oh well, this week has been a wonderful break. Another leisurely ride in Gungahlin this morning.

12/10 Afternoon ride

After Ride 2 Work Day one would think I had had enough riding, but no, I went out in the afternoon with Kathryn and Sophie to feed the ducks. Ducks were the least likely to be fed as the girls loved feeding the swans and their cygnets.

This was a very different ride for me as my beloved bike was at the lbs getting the new rack fitted so I took Erin's bike (my old one). Oh dear, how awkward I felt! It was horrible. I couldn't wait to get back on my good old Trek. The old one was so soft in the seat, felt almost perfectly upright position and so heavy to steer, not to mention the lack of gears!

Apart from that though, it was a pleasant afternoon at the lake.

Ride 2 Work Day

Happy cycle commuting anniversary to me! It is one year today since my first cycle commute. Despite being on annual leave during the school holidays I rode in to the ABC Breakfast and Glebe Park before returning home and meeting some lovely tourists from Adelaide.

A lovely morning to ride in with beautiful weather and no wind! Enjoyed a chocolate muffin at ABC, was interviewed by Ross Solly, chatted to other cyclists and then down to Glebe Park and enjoyed an Italian Roll from Bakers Delight, checked out my bike fit with the physios there and chatted with Matt from PedalPower and many other cyclists before returning home.

Home by 9.15am and it seemed so much later.

On holidays

It is lovely to have a week off. Day 4 today and I really am enjoying not rushing around to go to work and riding leisurely around the area.

A most spectacular sunrise this morning. It was very windy and I actually thought twice about riding, but I really needed the time out alone and thinking space. Glad I did.

9/10 Sunday Morning

A lovely leisurely Sunday morning ride. Just took my time and enjoyed the local scenery.

The Green Light Fairy

The green light fairy was with me this morning as I had continual green lights all the way down Northbourne -- first time for everything. I waited for the green pedestrian light at Sandford St Mitchell then green all the way. My first red was at Kings Avenue/National Circuit. How amazing is that!

Weatherwise, drizzle all the way. But I was dry and comfortable, in fact a little hot in my raincoat. A soaked bum and mud splattered legs, but apart from that the rain is no problem. Okay, don't look under my desk it is cluttered with wet socks, knicks, undies and towel with my raincoat hanging on the coat rack.

An enjoyable ride with lots of rabbits. Adults and babies everywhere, not just at Barton Hwy but behind Canberra Theatre and further around Vernon Circle. Mainly brown but a couple of very light beige ones. They are so cute.

Another day

Ride to Work Day next week and the first anniversary of my cycle commute. It's hard to imagine even contemplating driving a car 5 days a week now. To celebrate my 1st commuting anniversary I have decided to get rid of the sweaty back and buy a rack and rack bag. After much consideration of racks, bags and panniers, I have decided to go for the Topeak system with the rack bag that clips on. How cool is it. In the local bike shop yesterday I looked at the bag (had to make sure it was big enough) and removed the contents of my backpack and fitted them in. They fitted so well with room to spare! I am so excited! I was just disappointed they had sold out of the racks, so I have to wait. They are on order so hopefully I will have it next week!

On the positive side, Kathryn's bike was efficiently serviced and although 20 years old (it's my really old one I haven't used since Wattle Grove in around 1992) it is running really well. After picking it up she wanted to go for a ride but alas if I'm a magpie magnet, Kathryn is the Queen of Magpie Magnets -- she and magpies go way back. So we decided on night ride. What fun we had. Only a short ride around the local bike paths but all dressed in our fluoros with our lights we had a fun time and she is thrilled at how smoothly everything is working again.

Morning commute was non-eventful but I had Andrew's favourite song in my head "Morning Report" from The Lion King. It's still floating around up there and won't go away!

The morning was fairly dismal with some light drizzle but there was colour on the lake in the form of dragon boat crew decked out in red and yellow. Couldn't resist the photo opportunity. And of course, there is the sign for Ride 2 Work Day.

If there is one thing I could say is just try it -- Ride 2 Work on your bike. Don't just do it once and say "it's too hard" or "I'm not fit enough". It takes time but it can really work. Also remember here in Canberra we have a great bike'n'ride system on the buses. Catch the bus partway. But get active. Save dollars (parking and petrol), save greenhouse gas emissions and save your health!

Trolley Wednesday

Trolleys everywhere this morning. I must be the Trolley Tracker Queen I report so many - pity I have never won the $1000 grocery prize. Scattered in locations from Nicholls to Barton I am constantly amazed at the odd places they are found. From experience Big W is the most common trolley I find followed by Coles and Supabarn. Amazingly the areas I ride don't have many Woolworths trolleys.

Apart from that, just a pleasant ride in. Coming along Gungahlin Drive is often a highlight and today it was covered in a light fog providing a great feeling of fresh cool air. By Barton Hwy it had cleared but the paddocks of the Crace Nature Reserve looked like a child had coloured in patches of white but the colour underneath showed through. If only the capture could accurately capture that.

The lake was spectacular as usual but lots of boats this morning: rowing sculls, kayaks and not quite sure what - it actually was a surf lifesaving boat - a little out of place on LBG but had a group who looked brand new to the water - awkward and uncomfortable - but as long as they were having fun.

Again great to be out and enjoying the beautiful day before work.

A lovely lunch

A beautiful day out there and so I visited my husband for lunch and some child-free conversation. Apart from the 50 million Floriade visitors all taking their time strolling on the bike paths (and often blocking the whole width) it was a great ride across to Acton and back.

Saw swans with their cygnets - the first I've seen on LBG. They were on the grass but I didn't want to disturb them by taking their photo. Mother/father swans might get a bit upset!

On the whole, a great way to spend my lunch break and I felt so much better being out there cycling.

Daylight Savings

I had been dreading this morning with the change of the clocks. My 4.30 wake up would become what was 3.30am last week and it would be dark.

Well after the most awful night's sleep I have had in ages it was a beautiful ride. I had been almost falling asleep in front of tv when I went to bed and then wide awake for over 2 hours. Just dozed off and in came Sophie after wetting herself in bed again, finally dozed off again and it seemed like every single person in the house had to use the bathroom and I was awake for it. Then the clock showed 4.30 and then 4.35 so I thought I really should get up.

No school lunches to make was wonderful! Just me to worry about.

Left in the dark and noticed a very light frost, but it was not too cold. The ride down Gungahlin drive was wonderful - a southerly but not too strong -- but the main thing was the lightening of the sky in the east. The amazing colours.

Barton Hwy looking east was spectacular with mist on the hills and a light fog on the road in the frost hollow. Looking east past Randwick Road I could see the racehorses doing their training runs in the early morning light. It was fabulous. I would have loved to have taken a picture but realistically would have needed a good camera, a tripod and long exposure in the partial light.

A good run down Northbourne despite stopping at almost every set of traffic lights and for the 58 bus.

The lake, as usual, was spectacular. The highlight of my trip. So many joggers it was not funny and my bell got a workout, but I just love the leisurely pace riding along the waters edge.

1/10/11 Magpie Magnet

Saturday morning aargh! The magpies went nuts and bombarded me time and time again. I had decided to ride somewhere different -- over to Casey, Springbank Rise and Broadview to check it out. Well, I'm not doing that again for a few months. The magpies! Not just swooping but hitting my helmet time and time again. I am sure I was hit 15 times in 10 minutes or less.

I must have looked quite a sight waving my arms over me head shouting "Go Away!" Didn't work though, they just kept coming. I would no sooner get out of one's territory then I'd enter another and he would start.

Couldn't get home fast enough! Certainly didn't stop to take photos.