Fatbike On The Fly

 Took a gap in the weather as an invitation to go for a ride. But I left my helmet at home! Refusing to drive another 30km, I pout on a bucket hat and hoped for the best.  As I headed ESE I, discovered a strong wind,  from the ESE of course.  But after a few days couped up in the cabin, I stuck my head down and kept riding.  At Duckenfield I pulled up at the old stone shed for a 'nana,  muesli bar & water.  After ""lunch" I took Wharf Road and risked my life with a savage dog while my kicking leg was clipped on, only to find the road finished nowhere near the water. I had to go back past Tiger.  A long gravel road with another fleet-footed mongrel and what appeared to be a locked gate next it's far end (it wasn't locked) took me too the main backroad between Maitland and Raymond Terrace. The traffic here was horrendous,  so after seeing a patrol car, I walked part way beforehand to relax my numb hands and render butt. At the base of a down slope & bef

 My plan to ride the Central West Cycle Trail is to leave home on the first Friday in April and cover 370km* and drive back the following Wednesday.  (* I won't be doing the "detour" that  includes Mudgee.) A train commute is possible but leaving Sydney at 3am would mean camping at Central Station overnight.  The trip would take till the following afternoon.  So I will probably take my daughter's little buzzy Hyundai.  My bike of choice at this point is Surly Long Haul Trucker with gear to stealth camp & gather food and water en route. Setting as though my max daily distances are under 100km and my Surly's gears are being uncooperative,  and I haven't done m no u than one night bikecamping ... there's work needs doing. 

 61 today.  Sixty bloody one! I look at people or photos of people and think "oh they're old" only  to learn they are only fifty something.   I still feel like a young man,  a kid sometimes.  Except for when i get indigestion from eating junk foods,  or hobble a bit of I've sat to long.  I'm much diet now than i have been since the early 1980s when i practiced to compete in triathlons.  I remember After my 30 year marriage abruptly ended and i took up mowing and gardening to pay the bills.  Each day I'd feel worn out and ached a lot.  It'd scoff chips and burger,  because i fees i didn't really feel good about myself.  But i do now, feel good about myself.  Yeh there's more weight to lose and a harder resolve to develop,  but i am proud of how far I've come. In February last year i traveled to the Northern Beaches and picked up a used Jamis  Coda- Sport touring bike  I've since bought a fatbike to ride on the beach and a famous touring mode

 I don't hold to the idea of resolutions on new years because i develop new ideas each day.  Myall Lake swimming spot.  I've never heard anyone say they wish to do more(pa it's) work.  Most are nursing or health from being overworked,  or accommodating to working,  or just want to do mow of their e activities.  Every day i want to do more cycling,  gardening and quality writing. I 've been drawn to the dazzling lights of movie quality YouTube videos.  But when i learned about the amount of time this people spend working to pay for the equipment, not  riding but setting up shots or flying drones and then while days editing. Frankly,  i'm perplexed by the tomfoolery & curious as to the motives of those people (cyclists,  egotists, self-promoters, or content as fill for advertising)  While i am tryong to video my adventures,  the attitude is vastly different.  I am motivated to portray simply certain aspects off the terrain or my experience, not to compete against

  This year saw me take up regular cycling.  This is Jamis on one of the first rides to Woodville. On this 30k  ride I would have suffered in the legs and rump,   Here's my second serious bike Kona on the Central West Cycle Trail.  I had time only for a Sub 24 ride,  but I did camp out.  This year I did a lot of local rides.  During September I rode 500k  for children's charity.   Apart from regular local road rides I rode over Mt Johnstone and here,  after my first Covid shot I rode the mtb trails at Dungog.  It was fast and furious, my reactions were a little slow,  but I got about and had an absolute ball. 

 This is my Land Rover in sparkling form. This year I sold it to my daughter Mia.  I still use it but my preferred transport mode is a bicycle.   I also use the train & discount Opal card to commute to Merewether.