Saturday, March 31, 2007
Sunday April 1st 2007Just in case anyone is still reading...
Planning to ride my motorcycle to Bundeena just south of Sydney (see pictures of the Royal National Park; To get to Bundeena one but travel 30 km into the Royal National Park). These are the cliffs where my friend Brett and his wife Michele got married two years ago.
Otherwise despite saying I'd never do it I signed up for another month o
f bootcamp. It's been fun and because we lost daylight saving will be training in relative light for the next month. By then I should be able to decide whether I'm leaving the area for another city in Australia.
f bootcamp. It's been fun and because we lost daylight saving will be training in relative light for the next month. By then I should be able to decide whether I'm leaving the area for another city in Australia. Otherwise nothing much to report. I'm sure the ride will be a nice one. Everyone tells me so and I've decided it would be time I did a longer trip on my own. I often think of my bike as a mode of transport and rarely do any pleasure rides. I mean when you have to ride it everyday, who wants to go for a long ride on a Sunday.
I'll be back in Byron on Tuesday evening on the 10th.
Have a great Easter...
love
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Friday, March 23rd 2007
Oh my...I've been back four weeks exactly today. Even a month because Feb only had 28 days. Time flies doesn't it? Easter was stressing me out a bit. I have to move out for that time. I had hoped I'd know more about my situation by now and could at least move into something less expensive but so be it. I'm considering riding my motorcycle down to Sydney to catch up with my long time friend Brett and my other friends who will be home during the Easter break. It's a long way and I've not ridden to Sydney yet. It's about 850km each way. Maybe a bit more.
I plan to do it in two days. Leave Wednesday the 4th after 12 and do about 4 or so hours that day. And do the rest the next day. Leaving Wednesday before the easter break may mean that the roads might not be cluttered with people and also that I might find a place to stay that night on the way. I plan to stay in Sydney until Monday the 9th and leave that day to make the two day journey back to Byron. Byron becomes tourist town at Easter. The massively popular Blues and Roots Festival starts on Thursday and the five day festival attracts people from everywhere. Byron has very little accommodation as it is and most people camp at very high prices at that time. Something ridiculous like $550 for the 4-5 nights of camping just so they can attend the Festival. And that's if you are lucky enough to get a camping spot. Most people who have have the same spot every year and reserve it for the next one. And a camp spot is exactly what it means...just a square spot to pitch a tent next to hoards of other similar spots. Waiting lists are long. Traffic is obviously mad at the time as there isn't even one street light in the area.
After Easter...tourist time is over pretty much for the year. Appart from the school holiday weeks when New South Wales holiday makers come up or the Queensland ones come down. The school holidays are different in every state and the four terms of school per year are all separated by two weeks holiday. But anyway, local people here feel that they get their town back after Easter.
More on this as we go.
Bye for now and have a lovely weekend.
Oh my...I've been back four weeks exactly today. Even a month because Feb only had 28 days. Time flies doesn't it? Easter was stressing me out a bit. I have to move out for that time. I had hoped I'd know more about my situation by now and could at least move into something less expensive but so be it. I'm considering riding my motorcycle down to Sydney to catch up with my long time friend Brett and my other friends who will be home during the Easter break. It's a long way and I've not ridden to Sydney yet. It's about 850km each way. Maybe a bit more.
I plan to do it in two days. Leave Wednesday the 4th after 12 and do about 4 or so hours that day. And do the rest the next day. Leaving Wednesday before the easter break may mean that the roads might not be cluttered with people and also that I might find a place to stay that night on the way. I plan to stay in Sydney until Monday the 9th and leave that day to make the two day journey back to Byron. Byron becomes tourist town at Easter. The massively popular Blues and Roots Festival starts on Thursday and the five day festival attracts people from everywhere. Byron has very little accommodation as it is and most people camp at very high prices at that time. Something ridiculous like $550 for the 4-5 nights of camping just so they can attend the Festival. And that's if you are lucky enough to get a camping spot. Most people who have have the same spot every year and reserve it for the next one. And a camp spot is exactly what it means...just a square spot to pitch a tent next to hoards of other similar spots. Waiting lists are long. Traffic is obviously mad at the time as there isn't even one street light in the area.
After Easter...tourist time is over pretty much for the year. Appart from the school holiday weeks when New South Wales holiday makers come up or the Queensland ones come down. The school holidays are different in every state and the four terms of school per year are all separated by two weeks holiday. But anyway, local people here feel that they get their town back after Easter.
More on this as we go.
Bye for now and have a lovely weekend.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Tuesday, March 20th 2007I wake up usually to the sounds of Rosellas chirping in the majestic Gum tree in the garden. Australians commonly refer to Eucalyptus trees (of which there are many varieties) as Gum trees. They are usually big trees (depending how old the tree is) with a whitish trunk which sometimes looks green in the rain. The bark strips off the tree is big chunks leaving the wood exposed.
Anyway, last week Nancy and Robert told me that the neighbors were going to take their big Gum tree down to subdivide the lot to build three townhouses. Since then I've been looking at the beautiful tree they were refering to and noticing that usually about 50 Rosellas are in it chirping away and it seems to be their home. So sad to think it will have to be taken down.
Otherwise all is good. It was raining Monday morning at 5am when I rose to prepare for Bootcamp. I knew we were supposed to meet at the Quarry and had heard it was always the worse possible training location. Also that if it rained it was horrible. The sand and soil turn into clay making it virtually impossible to run. Lisa was outside in the rain to redirect us to King's Beach instead claiming it was so dark that it would possibly be dangerous to train at the quarry. So we trained in the rain but on the beach. It was a hard training and she was sure to ask me today if I was feeling my legs. And I did feel my legs today. David the owner of the gym came to talk to me today. Saying that he noticed I was training hard and seem to have good technique and just wanted to know if I enjoyed training there and what I wanted to acchieve. They really are a lovely group of people at that gym.
Easter is getting closer. I need to either move or move out for a week of my accommodation for that period which makes me wonder if I won't go down to Sydney to see some friends during that period.
Nothing more exciting to report at present.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Friday, March 16th 2007 These are a few photos of Belongil Beach where we congregate early morning for training at least twice a week as we train elsewhere at least once a week. It's a lovely spot and even at the height of the day, there is rarely anyone on the beach.
It's normally ok to swim here although a young Japanese woman got caught in a rip only about 10 days ago. Her body hasn't yet been found. The next morning before sunrise the patrols were looking for her on jet skis and a vehicle was going up and down the beach. The seas were really huge the day she went missing and she had apparently only been in Australia for two hours when someone took her for a swim. There are often reminders here of just how powerful nature is and just how respectful we should be of it.
I haven't really had any great news to relate this week which is why I haven't updated my blog so often. I've been back three weeks now and time has flown. This week my body was totally 
used to the new training regimen and I felt great. I had a problem with the regulator on my bike yesterday so I had to have that replaced but I was glad it happened in broad daylight when I could get it fixed within a few hours. I had to push my bike up a hill to push start it on the way down just to get it to the bike mechanic. Apparently these things happen after a number of years.
Had diner wednesday night with Nancy and Robert, the owners of the house. They are a lovely couple and I think they are both 69 years old. Last night I went over to diner to other friends who live just around the corner (a few minutes walk) so I've been doing my social bit.
used to the new training regimen and I felt great. I had a problem with the regulator on my bike yesterday so I had to have that replaced but I was glad it happened in broad daylight when I could get it fixed within a few hours. I had to push my bike up a hill to push start it on the way down just to get it to the bike mechanic. Apparently these things happen after a number of years.That's pretty much all for now.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Tuesday, March 13th 2007
For those of you who enjoyed the stories from Doha, check this article out:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/more/02/21/qatar0226/index.html
Once you get to the bottom of each page go to the next page. It's well written and interesting to read if a bit long. Nice photos too.
Bye for now
For those of you who enjoyed the stories from Doha, check this article out:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/more/02/21/qatar0226/index.html
Once you get to the bottom of each page go to the next page. It's well written and interesting to read if a bit long. Nice photos too.
Bye for now
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Monday, March 12th 2007 Well it's early morning again to meet with the bootcamp crew at Captain Cooks car park this time to do our training around the lighthouse area. After a warm up on the beach we head up on the steep nature trail to get us up to the point where handglidders set off. Those of us who get up early get to do more push ups or boxing drills and sprints before we set off for more climbing to get to the lighthouse. The morning light is beautiful this morning and usually every morning and the training this morning which is focussed on Cardio fitness is great fun. Give me this stuff everyday rather than drag tyres and sand bags on the beach. After more training sprinting and boxing up the top it's a nice run back down the road and board walk. Perfect start to the day.
Didn't have anything exciting to report on the weekend. I did the usual running in the morning, Pilates class on Saturday, movie in the afternoon, emails, food shopping and skipped my night gathering on Saturday. The owners of the house above where I live hav
e assured me I can stay longer than we first said. We'd said two weeks with an option of three and well, it will be two week this Wednesday. They have people renting the place for the long Easter break and probably need a day to clean up between but otherwise no need to panic. Which is great. Nancy even invited me to diner on Wednesday night and also said to come and have tea, coffee or a beer any afternoon after they return 4:30pm.
e assured me I can stay longer than we first said. We'd said two weeks with an option of three and well, it will be two week this Wednesday. They have people renting the place for the long Easter break and probably need a day to clean up between but otherwise no need to panic. Which is great. Nancy even invited me to diner on Wednesday night and also said to come and have tea, coffee or a beer any afternoon after they return 4:30pm. So anyway at least in the short term the pressure is off.
Bye for now
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Friday, March 9th 2007 - Lismore
We had heavy rains overnight but we were lucky the wet weather had cleared up for the early morning bootcamp this morning. I woke up yesterday feeling pretty much every muscle in my body from the combined: Bootcamp, Body combat class, ABT classes and heavy workouts of the beginning of the week. I was commited to having an easy day thursday and simply went for an run in the morning followed by a stretch. I felt totally revived today. "Sargent" Lisa had us dragging sand bags, tyres, water buckets along the beach and through water competing with the other team to finish first. It's all good fun and a change from running everyday.
At the gym afterwards, the owner looks out the window to my motorcycle and says: "Is that your bike?....What a great bike!" Another two people make comments like: "What a beauty!" Of course, I'm still unbelieving all the attention my bike is drawing these days and almost expecting someone to say: "Smile, you're on Candid Camera." I just don't get it. I mean yes, it's a great bike but I've ridden it for 60 000km over the last 3.5 years so no one can tell me it looks better now. Anyway, it's just funny.
Otherwise I've caught up with someone different everyday this week. And I've also popped into people I know in town. It's amazing how many people I know here. I have another gathering tomorrow night in Goonengarry if I'm can be bothered going all the way up there. I really should. I've spent much time at this house over the years and the owners (a French couple and their children) are moving to town. My friend Sandrine was housesitting this place for over 3 years so I have visited her many times there.
Otherwise no exciting news to share. Just normal life stuff. It's nice to have all the time in the world to do exactly what I want. It's also nice to be within walking distance to Byron so I can occasionnally leave the motorcycle at home and all the gear that goes with it.
Bye for now
We had heavy rains overnight but we were lucky the wet weather had cleared up for the early morning bootcamp this morning. I woke up yesterday feeling pretty much every muscle in my body from the combined: Bootcamp, Body combat class, ABT classes and heavy workouts of the beginning of the week. I was commited to having an easy day thursday and simply went for an run in the morning followed by a stretch. I felt totally revived today. "Sargent" Lisa had us dragging sand bags, tyres, water buckets along the beach and through water competing with the other team to finish first. It's all good fun and a change from running everyday.
At the gym afterwards, the owner looks out the window to my motorcycle and says: "Is that your bike?....What a great bike!" Another two people make comments like: "What a beauty!" Of course, I'm still unbelieving all the attention my bike is drawing these days and almost expecting someone to say: "Smile, you're on Candid Camera." I just don't get it. I mean yes, it's a great bike but I've ridden it for 60 000km over the last 3.5 years so no one can tell me it looks better now. Anyway, it's just funny.
Otherwise I've caught up with someone different everyday this week. And I've also popped into people I know in town. It's amazing how many people I know here. I have another gathering tomorrow night in Goonengarry if I'm can be bothered going all the way up there. I really should. I've spent much time at this house over the years and the owners (a French couple and their children) are moving to town. My friend Sandrine was housesitting this place for over 3 years so I have visited her many times there.
Otherwise no exciting news to share. Just normal life stuff. It's nice to have all the time in the world to do exactly what I want. It's also nice to be within walking distance to Byron so I can occasionnally leave the motorcycle at home and all the gear that goes with it.
Bye for now
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Wednesday March 7th 2007
Had a lovely few days despite the showers. Yesterday was a great day. I slept in until 7am and had a lazy shower, stretch and breakfast while writing my diary. Went to Spirit Gym by 9:15am for the Body Combat class taught by Lisa. It's a cardio workout to very vigorous music using lot's of foot movement, upper body jabs, crosses, upper cuts, hooks (boxing terms) and kicks. It's a lot of fun for a change from running. Then I did the following class called Dynamic Stretch for an hour. Perfect mix of classes. I powered home for a shower before meeting Karlee in Byron at O'Sushi. We went to the midday representation of "Music and Lyrics" at the cinema (cheap day) then had a coffee and a chat. By the way, it's a romantic comedy and if you like laughing...it's well worth it.
I did a few things in town (emails, errands) and went home thinking I had a perfect day. Sounds silly but I couldn't think of a way I could have had a better day. Meanwhile I'd gotten completely soaked when riding the few minutes back home. But after a night of rain, we managed to train this morning at 6am-7am on the beach without getting wet despite the heavily overcast skies.
I still have no real clue what I'm doing but today marks the beginning of the second week at the unit. I noticed a few things which are quite interesting. Many people (strangers) are commenting on my motorcycle. I have had at least four comments recently. "Geez, that's a nice bike." or two men walking past looking back at me arriving at the bike: "Are you really going to ride that?"...."yeah..." I guess thinking the bike was pretty big. Or "Oh sorry, just looking at your bike". It's strange because of course my bike is lovely but I've had it for 3.5 years now and I'm sure I didn't get that many comments before. Maybe it's the clean up Rodney gave it before returning it to me (what a friend, ey?).
Otherwise the other thing which is worth noting is that people here can talk to you just like that. I went to buy some Umeboshi plums at the health food store after my chinese herbalist recommended I used some. The young blond long haired surfie type man at the register (about 23-25 years old) starts asking me about the plums. Some people in shops may talk to you elsewhere but without real interest but this guy was really interested in the subject or just in talking. "Oh you mean they are salty? that's weird...salty plums". I tell them that Japanese use them a lot in their diet and the label seems to indicate they have some healthful properties. "Otherwise, fermented things are not supposed to be that good for you" he says. I wonder to myself if he doesn't drink beer which is also fermented. "But, some fermented things like Miso are supposed to be good for you although it should never be boiled." I tell him. And so the conversation goes for a while with no apparent concern for the time. There is something really casual about people here. I remember coming back from overseas years ago and stepping into a pharmacy (we call them chemist here). I can't recall what I needed to buy but the lady showed me to the product and then while squatting down just lets herself sit on the floor, looks at me and tells me: "I'm really tired today." and proceed to tell me she went to bed really late the night before, as if she was my friend. I remember thinking that I really liked that about Australia and Australians.
Bye for now
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Monday, March 5th 2007Quarter to six this morning we all showed up near Belongil beach for training. It's dark at that time...In three weeks time we go back to normal time but it's still daylight saving so will remain dark for the next three weeks. Then the last week of bootcamp will be easier as it will be like training at 7am. There were about 25 silly people like me who showed up at this location. Apparently the gym runs a bootcamp in Ballina, Lennox Head, Byron and also in Brunswick Heads. They are all small satellite towns. Ballina is about 25-30min driving south from byron, Lennox is about 15 min, Brunswick Heads is about 12-15 min north. There are plenty of Satellite towns like those. I lived in Bangalow just 12 minutes inland for about two years. I can't believe there are that many people interested in army style training in the morning. I got my month's bootcamp and gym membership at a very special price and the man taking my money advised me that next month it would be back at the normal (almost double) price. "Don't you worry yourself, I'm never doing this again" I tell him.
Today was mostly assessments like running a distance as quickly as possible; doing as many sit ups in a minute as possible; same for push ups; holding a plank position for as long as possible; doing as many burpees as possible in a minute. So we had little time for real hard training. I'm sure that will come real soon.
Otherwise nothing real new. Caught a movie on Saturday for the first time since the one I saw in Doha. "In the pursuit of Happyness" with Will Smith. Well acted, good story but not the best film I've ever seen. Like something is missing...you get to the end and think: Is that it? ok.
It was playing at the Pighouse flicks with is a small cinema which shows movies after they have stopped showing at the real cinemas. Often if you've missed something you can see it here. It's cheaper too and very comfortable. In fact, the first few rows are seat on the ground with big cushions to prop up your feet so you can virtually just rest back in a semi supine position. If you fancy teddy bears, a huge teddy bear lives in the cinema full time.
Bye for now
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Sunday March 4th 2007
I won't make you sick with yet another beautiful beach photo today. Was running up the lighthouse way early and surfers were already out on the water or even some were finishing and going back to their car by the time I got to Wategoes Beach which was between 7am and 7:15am. To the surfers, nothing must come between them and a good wave. Up early most are out scouting the different beaches to see where the best surf might be on any given day, occasionnally giving up to go back to bed if the surf is not up. To the keen surfer, surfing becomes close to a religion. I've never surfed so do not quite understand it.
Had a lovely gathering in Bangalow last night at Jannelle's. It was a celebration of the few Aquarians we know (there were only two) and it was a great opportunity to see a few friends I hadn't seen yet.
The amazing thing about coming back to somewhere you've lived before is noticing those things which have changed not so much on the outside, ie in the environment but on the inside, within yourself. Because, faced with a similar environment, the difference of feelings and outward response generated quickly shows where changes have occured. I am the same and yet I am not the same. My whole relationship to myself has changed in a subtle but very real way. Subtle changes create amazing changes in responses and attitudes.
And as I sit here waiting a little to find out what wants to happen next in my life, I'm not really concerned. I'm so confident that life has always done the right thing by me even when I didn't know what the right thing might be. Even when the right thing seemed like the wrong thing at the time. As I said before, you lose something and you gain something. In other words, one door closes and another opens. Having a world of possibilities can be quite exhausting as one doesn't know how to focus oneself. I'm as free as I can be right now. I have few limits and yet limits are not a bad thing. Finding balance between discipline and creativity is an art. Freedom is probably best appreciated when there are some limits in one's life.
6am boot camp tomorrow morning...ouch! That is definately called discipline...
Bye for now
I won't make you sick with yet another beautiful beach photo today. Was running up the lighthouse way early and surfers were already out on the water or even some were finishing and going back to their car by the time I got to Wategoes Beach which was between 7am and 7:15am. To the surfers, nothing must come between them and a good wave. Up early most are out scouting the different beaches to see where the best surf might be on any given day, occasionnally giving up to go back to bed if the surf is not up. To the keen surfer, surfing becomes close to a religion. I've never surfed so do not quite understand it.
Had a lovely gathering in Bangalow last night at Jannelle's. It was a celebration of the few Aquarians we know (there were only two) and it was a great opportunity to see a few friends I hadn't seen yet.
The amazing thing about coming back to somewhere you've lived before is noticing those things which have changed not so much on the outside, ie in the environment but on the inside, within yourself. Because, faced with a similar environment, the difference of feelings and outward response generated quickly shows where changes have occured. I am the same and yet I am not the same. My whole relationship to myself has changed in a subtle but very real way. Subtle changes create amazing changes in responses and attitudes.
And as I sit here waiting a little to find out what wants to happen next in my life, I'm not really concerned. I'm so confident that life has always done the right thing by me even when I didn't know what the right thing might be. Even when the right thing seemed like the wrong thing at the time. As I said before, you lose something and you gain something. In other words, one door closes and another opens. Having a world of possibilities can be quite exhausting as one doesn't know how to focus oneself. I'm as free as I can be right now. I have few limits and yet limits are not a bad thing. Finding balance between discipline and creativity is an art. Freedom is probably best appreciated when there are some limits in one's life.
6am boot camp tomorrow morning...ouch! That is definately called discipline...
Bye for now
Friday, March 02, 2007
Saturday, March 3rd 2007 The beach on the left is Tallows beach. I can walk there in 5 minutes from where I'm staying currently. It sits facing east as it is below the lighthouse and the most easterly point. Beaches facing east in Australia are fairly dangerous beaches to swim at. Lovely to walk on and sit and watch daylight break or set but not great for a swim. The "rips" are really powerful. Rips are strong currents which will drag you out at sea no matter how good a swimmer you may think you are. If ever caught in a rip, the best option is not to resist and to let it take you away until you are out of it. Otherwise you will exhaust yourself trying to fight it. You may be miles from the coast once you are out of it but at least you can leisurely swim back or someone may come out to save you.
Otherwise the beaches on the north side of the lighthouse like Clarkes beach or Wategos are all facing north so are totally safe to swim at. The second photo today is of Wategos beach.
I don't have any fascinating news to share today. I've enlisted with the March Bootcamp starting Monday with Lisa my friend and one time personal trainer. It was the best option to join the bootcamp for a month (three mornings a week 6am to 7am at the beach) which gives me a monthly access to the gym as well. And it's cheaper than the monthly access to the gym on it's own. I may well regret the move on Monday morning at 6am...
Bye for now
