Vanderpants Oz Tour

Km’s – only rode here and there so not worth mentioning but I will quote though. As i don’t have my cards on me (locked away in the ferry carpark i’ll quote something I remember from Alicia Keys)

Quote: And the day came when the risk it took to remain tightly closed in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to bloom – this is the element of freedom.

To me this says ‘love unconditionally without fear’. So easy in words isn’t it?

Hi all,

I’m BAaaaaack – and now more regularly – i’m on the road again. Albeit a bit sick and I think it’s from smashing the last few days and then totally resting and not doing much riding. Yes you read the title correctly – ‘Adelaide’ – Read on. Well what a week and a bit it has been. I want to start off by saying two things – A) this may be a long one so either get back to cleaning your fridge magnets or read on and B) I’m going to start this post by talking about the main reason I’m doing this trip – I say ‘main’ as there are a many reasons but really, if it boils down to it – this is it.

As you know, the last few days before I went on hiatus, I got a call from a friend saying that another long time friend was in a coma. I was setting up my tent at the time behind a backpackers hostel getting bitten by mossies, hungry and tired but as soon as I got this call, i sat down, forgot about food and hunger and didn’t know what to say. I went into troubleshooting and fact fact finding mode and just wanted to get all the info. You know that moment when bad news hits you and your mind freezes and tries to go into ‘ok what to do next’ mode? After the facts were given I called his mum and got more facts and as still in action mode and said ‘i’ll be there as soon as I can’ – didn’t even think about it – just knew I had to get to Melbourne and I was 350 km’s away AND it was 43 degrees tomorrow. My mate was in a coma (pneumonia) and fortunately/unfortunately it timed well as they were going to attempt to wake him up by the time i got there. I was fine until I called Karina and I said ‘hello……..’ that was it – you know that frog in the throat and sand in the eyes thing that happens – yeah – that happened – for quite a while to be honest,. I’ll make a long story short – I booked my flight, smashed almost 17 hours in three days, arrived at my friends house in Melbourne (as you know bloody hot and bothered hehe) at 6pm and flew out early the next morning. Now I won’t go into details as he is home now and recovering but what I want to say is this. This highlights the reason why I am doing this trip. I want to know that if something like this happens to me, that I am happy with the choices I make in life and have experiences and not say ‘geee I’m glad I got that project done’ or ‘i’ll do it tomorrow’ or ‘how did I get here’. We get one shot at this life …. ONE…… now i’m not being all high and mighty saying i’m awesome because what I am doing (I’m just a redhead pushing some pedals and cooking meals) but what I am saying is…gee how lucky am I?…..I am going to appreciate every single moment and practice that as often and as hard as I can. The times I can’t be, be kind to myself and pick myself up and go again but always have that go get em attitude Adrian, look after yourself (mentally and physically) and think about the things positively with an ‘i’m learning’ approach. My mate had to be revived on the operating table and that really hit home for me. I am just so glad that he is ok and i’m back in Melbourne now after a couple days back in Radelaide. Apart from spending a couple days with him just hanging and talking crap, I saw a few good friends (pics below). Tried to catch up with a couple more but didn’t work out, coffees, catchups and hangouts and then flew straight back to Melbourne to my other friends house to spend xmas with his family and prep my bike.

Ok – I got that out the way it’s time to now A) Summarise the last week and a bit without boring you and B) show you what’s in one of my panniers (prying into my life).

A) I think i’ll do some dot points (consider yourself to be lucky it’s not a documented procedure with accompanying powerpoint and spreadsheet for referencing) hahah

• I love love loved Melbourne. Amazing bike paths to assist you getting in and out of Melb/Geelong without a care in the world. lots bike paths in the middle of busy streets just for bikes only, couteous cars as they know it’s a transport state i think and expect there to be a lot of bikes (sorry Adelaide….Melbourne wins on this one), Lots of green lights for cyclists, I adit my beard isn’t as Melbournian as I think but it’s getting there – i’m not hip enough yet. I’ve never explored Melbourne like this before as normally i’m in a car on main highways and i’m in and out but this was awesome. I rode around, walked a lot, saw friends, yoga, park run, cathedrals, coffee shops (you don’t need google reviews to find good coffee here)…just walk out your accomm and the next corner will have amazing coffee, signage is awesome, lots of beautiful parks and artistic places to sit and watch the world go by which I did a lot.
• Hanging out with a couple tourers I met a couple weeks back as they were in Melbourne also. We got along so well (shit Nige even ate my potato rosti the bugger haha, got manscaped, brunched then lunched and spent a day walking around town then parted ways and exchanged numbers – we will be in touch and thanks for a great time Nige and Martina – these guys are serious travellers – i learned a lot from them
  

• Walked 20km’s all around Melb
• Yoga was bloody hot. I did Bikram which is pretty much yoga for the military hahaha. I definitely was dehydrated from my last few days of riding and walking around the city that the last two minutes I was getting woozy and I shit you not, I saw the instructor turn the heat up to 50 degrees. I was about to walk out and the teacher stood in front of the door and said ‘Adrian don’t leave and sit back down, you can do it’. I tried to summons my manly voice and say ‘no thanks’ in my best sean connery voice and slide past her but in the end I said in a little boys voice…… ‘OK’ hahahahahaha. I ended up finishing the class but i needed an hour after including a cold shower to really get back to this planet. Loved it though – I needed the stretch
• Went to a ParkRun – whoever hasn’t done a Saturday parkrun anywhere in the world you need to – it’s a free 5km timed and volunteered even all around the world – lots of fun and makes you feel part of wherever you are
• Went to a comedy show – the acts were good but due to happy hour, there were a few drunk youngens that ruined it a little i.e went up to front stage and dropped his dacks – welcome to melbourne Adrian hahah apart from that it was pretty awesome.
• I hung out with my Mate and his fam for xmas and had a blast. Lots of talking around the table, catchin up on old time (yes the old school year books came out) and just absolutely loved how welcomed they made me feel. Thank you for letting me share it with you and your amazing kids – such a great time bushwalking and playing games, having a few and seeing your life. I must say I have two highlights
  • The bushwalk and park with you and your kids
  • Picking grandma up in your bloody so called HOT ROD hahahaha that was hillarious ..check it out

• Also met Con – he rode up to me in the park and said ‘Mate…i’m curious…what are you doing and what is all that gear’ hahaha. We talked all things from bike gear to solving the worlds problems. Con is going overseas to hopefully sort out some family stuff and Con, mate – you’re courageous and have a zest for life which I totally dig. Keep the rubberside down and good luck on your quest mate.
  

Well all – thanks for reading once again and until tomorrow hopefully – first day on the Tassie road this is Vanderpants signing OUT!

WHAT’S IN MY REAR RIGHT PANNIER – Breakdown 1

1) 10ltr water bag for when towns are more than a day away plus my MSR water purifier (can drink straight from a stream or water source or pump into a bottle – i’ve needed this when camping and questionable water source is only thing available and water is required due to distance to next town)

2) Tubes and spare tyre

3) Hard copy full contact list of my phone contacts just in case i smash my phone (im thinking of getting a spare phone maybe)

4) Clothesline cover with clothesline inside

5) Charging cables for all my devices plus batteries for various things plus iphone usb’s

6) Winter jacket (kathmandu softshell windbreaker)

7) First aid kit including snake bandage, saline, eye drops, burn gel, various bandages, sling, elastoplast, prescription for antibiotics, pain relief, spare ventolin, chain lube, mossie repellant, thermometer, space blanky, splinter remover, gloves. All of this is not only for me but if i see anyone needing help also.

8) Spare parts and tools – tent patches, chain, cassette remover tools, string, hose clamps, spare bolts, pannier parts, tube bits (use these all the time for so many things such as to stop things bibrating on bike wearing it out), velcro, spanner for my bike racks, gear and brake cables, two sets of brakes and the parts, spare front light batt,spare spokes

9) Bathroom stuff, microfibre towell, spare bags for rubbish and food storage, spoke adjuster, tire boot(to put inside tire if i blow it out and need to limp along), self adhesive patches, chain links, dyno hub parts, spare electrolyte tabs for hot days, 5m extension cord(dont laugh tourers this thing is weighty but so damn good – if im in a caravan park i top up all elec devices over night in my tent), socket to remove bolts from front wheel (stupid bolts and not a quick release)

See you tomorrow peeps