Photos from the Saddle

Simon cruizing on his new Specialized Roubaix

Ride stats

Having time to do 'epically' long day or multi day rides is pretty much non existent, so I have been trying to get out for a few mini epics lately just around town. Usually around 3 hours of riding trying to discover new routes each time and covering as much distance as possible mostly incorporating some leg burning hills. Lovely.

Ride stats for my mini epic today circling almost all of north Canberra - 78.6kms in 3 hours and 2 mins.  Average speed 26km/h, Top speed 76.3km/h, Elevation gain 789m, 823m maximum gain, 2263 calories burned, average cadence 79 strokes p/m, average pulse 130 bpm, max pulse 169 bpm (Mt Ainslie hurt locker).

So much info at your finger tips. This definitely helps to get a gauge on how your going after every ride. Thanks Sigma BC 1909 HR and Strava!

You get pretty used to this view on a big ride.

Tura for a few

To break up the monotony of the long summer holidays I took the boys down to Tura Beach to visit the Lanes and dad again for a few days. We all had another wonderful time full of activities. Scootering, Mountain biking, Jumping pillow, Beach, BBQ, Fish and Chips at the water, rock climbing, Nature walk and a McDonalds lunch just before leaving. The boys are suitably worn out and in bed. Jem is also very happy to have them back and for the house to be noisy again! Rich and I also ventured out for another couple of lovely rides. Firstly at the mtb playground that is Tathra - lots of climbs but sections of so much fun, all be it another very sweaty ride!, then my first day ride at Mandeni - lovely. Thanks for an enjoyable few days guys, hope to see you all again soon!

 Instead of posing Lucas desperately wanted to have a closer look at that bench

Cousins rock climbing after bellies full of fish and chips

 The 3 year olds in deep conversation

The kids loving the beach

 The beautiful water at Spencer Park beach

 A lovely nature walk following a lovely little person

 A look out on the walk. I think Josie wanted to take a swim!

 The end of the track having a break before returning

Merimbula bay from a height

Lucas 3 years old today!!

Our little baby turned 3 today! He had a nice morning of opening presents on our bed first thing, then we went to the park for a play. Came home after that and had lunch and a sleep, then woke up to play with our friends Jack and Archie (Simons boys) who also brought him a present, then time for a swim and a play on the Wii. Dinner time with Ben, Kate and James who had another present, and then a mummy baked birthday cake! Busy birthday boy.

Yum!!

Photos from the saddle

30 minutes from home on the bike, on a country lane in the middle of nowhere.

Photos from the saddle

Blundell Cottage. The only remaining original cottage from the early 1900's in Canberra's centre, right down by Lake Burley Griffin.

William in AMB!

I sent a photo of William doing a jump on our laneway a couple of months ago to AMB mountain bike magazine. Today I picked up the latest issue to find him in there! He was chuffed!! Now I just need to send 3 more photos and get them in there or there could be trouble! eeek.

 He is at the top in the middle

Resting

Sammy has a rest and usually a sleep in my bed every other day. He often isnt too happy with having to go to bed but his ever growing body sure thanks him for it later on. 

The pool

The extended hot spell we have been getting in Canberra over the last few weeks has meant the pool has been getting quite a lot of use. Some days it is hard to get them out of it!

'Things' cyclists say 2

I cant get enough of this and the previous video at the moment. Very funny!

Rewards

One of the best things about being at home looking after the kids every day is that you get to be a part of the every day little milestones that they go through as young little people. Ones that dont mean much in the big scheme of things but are the memories that last and make you smile thinking of them.

Today I took the boys to the BMX/Dirt jump track with their bikes for a ride. Jacob clearly wanted to do the big jumps with William but couldnt build up the courage to have a go. After a little bit of coaxing, he went down the slope by himself a couple of times without doing the first jump. Very happy with himself he then built up the courage (with a little more "Your doing awesome " and "You can do it!" encouragement) to do the first big jump, then the second and before long was doing the whole loop! He was so happy with himself, repeating the previously 'Way too hard' loop with ease over and over.

The rewards of being a parent are unexpected, and like nothing else. Seeing your children who you love more than anything, achieving something new and being so happy about it. Gold.

William and Jacob here doing the 'big' jumps!

Jems Sunday bake off

Jem is a wonderful mum and her boys think she is the best cook! She loves to have a baking frenzy on the weekend making all sorts of cookies, breads, slices, banana bread, cakes and sauces.  She makes a Sunday at home into delicious attack on the senses and has become a sort of tradition for her to have a Sunday bake off.

Usually we start a Sunday with pancakes, yum! The past couple of Sundays I have gone out for a big early morning ride and on return I have been greeted to the smell of freshly made pancakes and coffee! mmmmm. The boys often refer to her home made pasta sauce as "Mums best sauce" and usually when we have any type of pasta they will ask, "Is this mums best sauce??" When the boys have their biccies and milk late in the evenings they generally expect that mum has made them some yummy ones, more often than not they aren't disappointed. 

A mummy and wifey cooking and baking delicious food for her boys is definitely something they will always cherish and I'm sure just flat out expect more and more as they get older! (We need a bigger kitchen!!)

We all love you Jem and as for your cooking, our bellies say thank you!

'Things' cyclists say

I have been riding pretty consistently for the past year now and in that time have become pretty accustomed to the unique cycling jargon heard pretty much everywhere in the pedalling community. This video, if you understand the jargon, is a laugh.

Wondrous

The wondrous little mind of an almost 3 year old boy, a boat and some water.

Visitors

We had Christine and Pete staying with us for the night last night. It was great to see them again, its unfortunately always a while between visits but we all loved having them. Grandad is also here and staying for an extra night which is lovely.

Jump

William and Jacob doing scooter tricks and jumps down at Yerrabi mini skate park. We may get older in age but doing jumps never seems to get old. 

Photos from the Saddle

Black Mt always hurts, but it sure is worth it for the view at the top

Beautiful Lake Burley Griffin again at dusk

I cought up with past Australian Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies out for a ride on a bike that appeared to be very similar to mine!

Concrete attraction

The boys are loving the skate park, especially when they have it all to themselves like the other day. Its one of the few things they can all do at the same time and enjoy, and its free!

New in the old/Photos from the saddle

Sometimes I'll go out and ride a track that I have done numerous times before and love it, not deviating from the regular route at all. Other times Ill purposely get lost to seek out the 'new in the old'.

A random concrete tunnel on a single track I have passed nearby many times and havent noticed before at Bruce Ridge

A deep gulley always gives you a thrill. Suspension integral! Woohoo!

Gangnam Style!

I think every kid across Australia has probably mastered the Gangnam Style dance. Amazingly popular and catching song with phenomenal success on YouTube, that our boys also love, 'yay'!.

As the boys got an ipod from Grandad for Christmas and Jacob got an ipod dock from Santa, one of the first things they put on the ipod was this annoyingly catching song! double 'yay'!. I have heard it on repeat now for the past few days! Whoopa gangnam style!!!

Boys showing their stuff here, although Lucas isnt too impressed!

Photos from the saddle

Stunning evening loop from home up to the top of Stromlo on the road and back. On return passing by Lake Burley Griffin, it was dusk and an array of beautiful colours streaked across the sky and mirrored on the water of the lake. It was so good I had to take a few -

Happy New Year!!

We all went over to Simon and Amy's house last night for New Years Eve. Joe and his family came as well so there were 11 kids including ours. They certainly had a ball and saw in the new year completely exhausted later on in bed. It was a lovely night, I cant believe another year has rolled on passed! Crazy.

Park

The boys down at one of the new parks in Forde having fun.

Lucas talk

He has been picking up a lot of the comments made in frustration or anger from the other boys recently. Comments like - "You dont even know!" and "What is your pwoblem?!" not to mention the old favourite "Your tho thstupid!" - So sweet.