At risk of repeating myself - 31/07/2011

Yes... at risk of repeating myself, the riding opportunities here are awesome!  I went straight out to the end of West Head today in the brilliant sunshine.  This was the reward at the end...

From West Head looking across to Palm Beach

West Head Road

 ... but the road out there was half the fun.  To all those 6am-ers reading, Horny would be having hot-cakes!!  It's about 13k of brand-new hot-mix with wide clean shoulders, not a bump in the road and hardly any cars.  It's similar to my favourite run (Kangaroo Ground-Warrandyte Road) and if I lived up here it would definitely be one of my favourites here in both directions - especially in a group of 8+ strong cyclists... it would be an absolute hoot.

I had absolutely no intention of doing Akuna Bay on the way back, infact my intention was NOT to do Akuna Bay - but yet again, the draw was far too strong.  I actually passed the turn-off and then changed my mind and went back!  I did the loop anti-clockwise making the climb out about an 8-9% climb in spots.  It's a good one.  I then smashed the descent down into Church Point...

 ... seriously beautiful cruising, and then worked my way back along the coast taking in all the beaches and coastal roads.  This is a shot from North Narabeen, looking south towards Manly in the distance...

From North Narabeen - looking past Collaroy to North Head

I explored Manly and North Head a little on my return and came across this foursome enjoying a glorious day.  This has to be the ultimate Sydney picnic?...

North Head - looking across to South Head, Harbour and Sydney

Another gorgeous day in paradise.  Now to hit the books.  The 'adaptive leadership challenge' (which I've learnt so much about over the last two weeks) is to lead myself to study rather than ride.  Apparently it requires a significant shift in behaviour, attitudes and beliefs.

Not sure it's possible.

Determination Extraordinaire - 30/07/2011

dog·ged/ˈdôgid/

Adjective: Having or showing tenacity and grim persistence: e.g. "Success required dogged determination."

Phil and Joe

I made up my own version of this definition today too...  

  

dog·ged/ˈdôgid/

Adjective: Keeping going no matter what, when you're power to weight ratio isn't quite the same as everyone else and your main engine is your mind and it...  just... won't... stop: e.g. "Pie in the sky and back required dogged determination."

I just met Joe this morning where he showed the grit true cyclists are made of.  No matter what your fitness or strength, you can always go just that little bit harder.  And that...   is what makes you stronger.  When I rode with my son Jack up Mt. Buffalo two weeks ago today (see here), I reminded him often, to put in that tiny bit more effort to take him just out of the comfort zone.  With no previous intention, he made it to the top.  As if I wasn't proud!

That kind of determination will no doubt get Joe 'Around-the-Bay' in October if it continues such as it was displayed this morning.

I headed out with the Forrest Riders today where we ventured to the Pie in the Sky up north along the Old Pacific Highway.  It was a gorgeous morning (albeit a little cold) which turned into a gorgeous Sydney day.  

We headed out through St. Ives, Turramurra and down into Bobbin Head before a nice climb back up to the Pacific Highway where we headed north through Berowra and Cowan.

I was glad to be with local guides and to discover yet more incredible Sydney country-side to ride in.  The 'good ride' opportunities here are never ending - so contrary to my views on my arrival two weeks ago.  

The views down to Berowra Waters were completely obscure but magnificent all the same.  And the fog took some time to clear, providing magnificent scenes as we headed into Cowan.

Phil

The return trip had us pondering how long it should take to fix a puncture as well as how many people are required to do so.  The exact time it should take is arguable, depending on the circumstances, but one thing I can say with absolute certainty, is that the number of people assisting have a direct increasing exponential effect on the total time...

Mike, Joe, Phil - Hmmm... too many? (Set up by Mike!)

A great ride guys.  Thanks for the invite and it was a pleasure to join you.

I left the group at Forest Way and headed north to get in some extras.  At that stage I had no intention of doing Akuna Bay but the draw was just too strong!  I went down through Illawong and Akuna - clockwise this time - and discovered that it's probably the local opinion that this is the easy way.  Not quite as steep a climb to get out in this direction.

Out through Church Point and did the Clarevile loop, once again in the opposite direction to normal, before heading up to Palm Beach, Whale Head and home to Manley direct.  'Direct' because I was smashed!

Phil will probably ring me to ask if I want to come and ride Manly Dam this arvo with him, Gavin and the kids.  I'll probably send him a sycophantic response such as, "No mate... you know I'd love to but I really need to get stuck into the books for this course."

Really, it's just that I'm completely smashed!

150+ ks (I think) on the road bike in beautiful Sydney.  Back to a chef cooked pasta lunch the moment I walk in the door.  Nobody complaining that I'm back after 11.  Nana-nap in the afternoon.  A bit of study and a few beers around tea-time.

"Darling... can we please make these arrangements for when I get home?!?"

Thank God - 28/07/2011

The speaker at my course today spoke with a particularly biblical flavour so I thought I should end the day with an artistic photograph of a church!  He was from the deep deep south of the good old 'U.S. of A' and he used Jesus as an excellent example of leadership in a number of cases - "take a look at the log in your own eye before you have a go at the speck in someone elses," for example.  Can't say I've seen that before but it worked well!  One of the most entertaining speakers I've heard for some time... but I still couldn't stop thinking about mountain biking later in the day.

I ventured out to Middle Harbour today, crossing the busy Wakehust Parkway from Manly Dam - now there's an experience during Sydney peak hour!  It was worth the effort for a few views but the single track I found was pretty washed out and smashed up from all that recent rain.

I headed back for two laps of the dam - one in each direction this time just to mix it up - and ended up back at the college for a late dinner and two bowls of ice-cream (don't tell the chef - I found all flavours in the freezer!).

From the work point-of-view, tonight has been great due to a major assignment submitted this morning. Relaxing, yet already thinking about the next one.

Manly Dam certainly helps clear the mind.  It's a ripper trail and any mountain biker heading up to Sydney should check it out.  Nothing like as good as Melbourne but hey... Sydney's always had that to cope with.

So thanks God!  Thank God for the leadership examples he sent us with Jesus!  Thank God for Churchs like St. Patricks (althought I've always wondered if God would approve of those)!  And thank God for Middle Harbour and Manly Dam.  Without them my brain would be mush.

Making the most of time - 26/07/2011

North Head Wall - Manly

I took a rest day from riding yesterday but headed out for a short run in the afternoon.  I was lucky to get these shots of the wall just with the sun setting at the right time.  Best quality of these photos is at Flickr - I was so rapt with my IXUS; amazing little camera.

Standing on top of the wall - looking east.

The small cape near Shelly Beach - Manly

This morning I got out for a short walk to catch the sun coming up over Sydney and South Head -

And tonight I still managed to get out for 2 hours on the single speed around Manly Dam again.  It's a great hit-out with 2 laps of the course and the return trip.  Did most of it in the daylight this time and the dry weather, although the trails are still a bit wet.  Lovely though.

Believe it or not I am actually working very hard up here too!  I'm very happy tonight, having finished a major assignment to the full-draft stage two days before it's due.  Hopefully not much amendment required.

As expected, I knew I'd still have enough time to get in plenty of exercise considering the time I am not spending running around with children.  I'm starting to miss them an incredible amount now but am enjoying talking to them on Skype at least once a day.  Three weeks without them and Karen is killing me.

But I'm definitely making the most of my time up here in every way I can.

Can I live here? - 24/07/2011

Maybe this,

Yeah... but how much?!?

...is because of this,

... this,

Near Palm Beach - Northern Beaches - Sydney

... or even this,

Church Point - Sydney

 And please?... can I live here? -

Barrenjoey Road, Pittwater

I managed to get out for pretty much yesterday's route again today except I threw a few more ks in by going out via Akuna Bay.  Yet more amazement at the beauty of this area.

Akuna Bay road is through the national park within my red lines above.

I've done what I think is about 120k but I really have no idea.  What I do know is that I'm now smashed.  Today's ride was a lot faster and I pushed a lot harder, not having to stop to orient myself all the time.

I desperately whoofed down the chef's lunch before I even got changed and will now settle down to an evening of study - woo hoo!

If I can stay awake, I will sit and enjoy watching Cadel bask in his glory tonight as he sips on the champagne through the early kilometres of tonight's stage.  What a show!  And what a way to win it.

I'm sure I smashed out a couple of hills a lot harder today with some Cadel inspiration!

How lucky we are (i.e. Australians) - 23/07/2011

I had always had a particular vision of Sydney road-cycling - it
wasn't good.  All I pictured was traffic, smoke and idiots.  Today I was proven very wrong.  I did get a bit of smoke and traffic (right), and I definitlely experienced a lot of idiots, but I was overwhelmingly surprised at the beauty of this place.

I had never seen the northern beaches of Sydney so I was keen to get out and explore.  I discovered they contain as many millionaires as the harbour-side!  Amazing.  The houses, vistas, yachts and beaches provide a fantastic lifestyle for a lot of people. 

I headed out from Manly having studied the local ride routes as closely as I could.  I have driven and ridden in Sydney before and I know how easy it is to get disoriented.  I was right!

Luckily, and yes I am anal, I took the ipad with me, onto which I had loaded a couple of Mike Foster's detailed maps of the regular rides (Dave's brother for those who know him).  I was glad I had them because I had to refer to them regularly.  I also now wish I had a Garmin because I'm not even sure I'll be able to find them the second time.  The following image is the basic route I covered, although I did a few additional loops simply because I saw good opportunities for views at the top of hills or through the roads of some of the gorgeous coves - it's really that nice.  I did a bit more through the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park as well.  I'll definitely get back there before returning home - I'm sure.

Inland side of Palm Beach (where do these people get all this money?!)

Palm Beach itself

Cove just around the corner from Church Point

Waterfall in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park - wouldn't normally be like this but record rainfalls have ensured plenty of water around the bush and on the roads.

So see what I mean?!?  It was just beautiful.  It will never equal the opportunities offered in Melbourne, but the exploration of new areas and the oppotunity to see, once again, how lucky we are in this country is very much appreciated -

- as was the Musaka I threw in the microwave when I got back to the college!  How good is it to have a chef to put lunch aside for you so when you get back form 120k you can carb up immediately.

Lucky Rich... lucky country.  Love it!

Time deficient - 22/07/2011

My leadership course in Sydney is ensuring I am absolutely bereft of time for just about anything else! At least I'm getting a few ks in. A summary of life since my last post is therefore presented in a few photos...

One last night ride in Bright with Scott and Brendon

Frozen bird bath in Porepunkah 

Biggest news - Jack riding to the top of Buffalo - Unbelievable!  Check out this vid though!  It's grouse.

Two night rides this week in the pouring rain at Manly Dam in Sydney.

Hmmm... maybe I shouldn't have done that second lap!  Saddle and especially pads are worse for wear.  Manly Dam conditions are absolutely shocking in the wet for the brake pads.  They were brand-new when I started up here and no, I wouldn't normally ride them out to this extent.

Finally got a lap in during daylight hours today - still rained on me a bit but much quicker than getting around in the dark.

A magical day - 13/07/2011

Anticipation

......I spotted him munching on popcorn, slurping on a choc top and guzzling Fanta in Albury cinema No.1 on the opening day of Harry Potter 7.






Our review Monday night of the first part of the last part of HP had us well prepared and we weren't disappointed.  It was a brilliant movie.  JKR is a genius.

The day finished in another magical way as I spent 2 and a half hours screaming through the pitch black bush with a couple of mates on a cold, crisp, clear winter's night.  The words of Queen post came floating back to me again (sorry!)....

A kind of magic,
One dream, one soul, one prize,
One goal, one golden glance of what should be,
It's a kind of magic,       (Queen, A kind of magic, 1986)


Parts of tonight were like riding on an ice rink and trying to stay within a 500mm wide single track barrier.  Nobby Nics are fair dinkum magic!

Here's Brendon, Scotty and the moon - another kind of magic!

(Tonight's route: Punkah single track, Canyon... um... track - past the bottom of Huggins and across to the pines - in, out and every-which way through the Mystic Pines - love riding with Brendon - he has my orientation twisted into absolute knots - up the top end of the 6 hr - up to the top of the bottom of the Mystic DH track - down that - reverse lap of the 6 hr course - offered a beer by Scotty - brewery was closed! - home to Punkah with Brendon via the Richo's)

Sheer delight - 12/07/2011

It's not often I see that look of sheer delight on the faces of my children - but when I do, it's just so satisfying.

It's amazing how happy it makes me feel and it drives me to do things that bring it on again... so I made sure I splashed Katie through the next puddle as well!

We headed out to the Rotary Pines out the back of Bright this arvo with all the Read and Richo kids.  Steve and I are already comitteed - according to the kids - to going back there every day until we go home.



They all enjoyed it so much that I started to worry about the state of Karen's mind when it was looking like four of us coming home regularly covered in mud - rather than just me.

 

Jack, Kate, Georgia, Lucy, Richo

The above photo was the scene of Georgia Richo's 10th crash of the day... you can see she's not too distressed.  She revelled in every one of them and I can assure you none were due to lack of skill; just level of determination!  Everyone rushed to lend a helping hand so a harden-up message and a group shot were in order.  Here's her first crash...

Always smiling!

Someone has been building some pretty cool log runs, barrel cross-overs and narrow boardwalks in the Rotary Pines.  Check these links to see Steve's first hilarious attempt followed by his subsequent succesful one.  Very funny - but determined, just like his daughter.

Cheeky smile!

In order to avoid the wrath of Karen when I arrived home covered in mud with three children also covered in mud, I dropped them off, threw their bikes in the shed, yelled - "get inside to mum", and promptly took off on the Anthem in the dark.

I spent a hard 2.5hrs riding the absolutely beautiful single track of Bright and surrounds, dangerously tuned into Queens Greatest Hits.  I say dangerous for two reasons:

One - It makes me ride crazy and temps me to keep to the beat no matter what the circumstances.  Hence, taking a slightly wrong turn on the Morses track and ending up down some really cool stairs but facing a 10" drop into the fast flowing creek...

Love the Elixir 5s - good stoppers!

Two - It sends me into a bit of weirdness and causes me to write stuff like this absolutey out-there post of a few months ago. 

Bloody hell... Queen puts me in the right zone though!  What a hoot of a day.  I wish holidays would go forever (even though I really love my job).

Now with 30 ks left to go in this stage of Le Tour, I'm off to concentrate.

(Tonight's route:  Porepunkah single, bike track to railway bridge, Canyon... um... track, Morses and 6hr route to top, through the gates, up past the Diggings, Growling Creek Road, Hillsborough Track and down the single to Williams Road, back along the 6hr route, Morses into Bright, Canyon... um... track, bike track to Porepunkah single, home for hot shower - did my own washing!)