RIding round

Have been getting out on the bike a little more around town.  Hope to keep it up over the next few months in preparation for THE BIG RIDE in the middle of the year - Land's End to John o' Groats.
Rode along the rail trail from Lilydale to Warburton and back the other day with few friends.  The weather forecast changed after we left home and we rode home in more heat than we had anticipated.
The longest open stretch took us uphill into a shaded path and alongside a welcome horse trough. In need of some relief from the heat I took my shirt off, dipped it in the horse trough and put it back on.  The effect was instantaneous - I was cooler and I smelt like a horse trough.  I should have done the sensible thing as the other did - ran it under the clean water tap.  We all dried fast so no harm done.
I recommend the ride to anyone coming to town, and also recommend that you check before you leave that the Cog Bike Cafe is open as it is good food, great coffee and an excellent bike workshop. Doug built my mountain bike, and now runs the place with his wife, Michelle.

Find them on Facebook : Cog Bike Cafe

Sorry, didn't take any photos of lunch - ate it too fast after getting there.  It is around 38Km/24miles and though we usually do out and back in a day plenty of others take two and spend the night at Warburton.  There is good riding around there.

New Year -no resolution

It is around 100F/38C outside my door so I am keeping it firmly closed today. It should cool down later today. Hope so.  In the meantime I have rebelled and put the washing line out on the balcony against the rules that apply here.  The wind and sun were irresistible today and the clothes dried very very quickly I think before anyone noticed

now who out there can really see my line?

Some years ago I made my ultimate NY resolution, I resolved never to make another. I have successfully avoided any sense of failure or disappointment if I didn't keep to any resolved purpose or goal and am surely the better for it.
I will say that I am looking forward to 2015 with 2 or 3 music festivals planned, along with a tour of Europe and a ride from one end of Britain to the other as summer gets underway in the Northern hemisphere. One needs a plan of some sort to look forward to.
Since I am always resolved to finish some sewing projects I cannot attribute that to New Year. Nor my good intention to stay fit and well. Perhaps that accounts for some degree of success, who knows?
I approach the year with a hopeful attitude for life in Australia, then I remember who is in Government. I feel a deep concern for those who need support of one kind or another, while the current power seems hell bent on setting them adrift - some literally, others figuratively. Recently when a friend said someone in Government describes himself as a Christian I interrupted to comment that he is a churchgoer not displaying any attitude that would be expected from one who espouses Christian principles.  We have far too many people in power lacking compassion. (End of tirade).
If how I spent Jan 1 is an indicator of the rest of the year I am glad I spent it with friends over good food, with good conversation and a good night's sleep. Roll on 2015