Vanderpants Oz Tour

Well today was a rest day and i think tomorrow will be too unfortunately. The hamstring is giving me grief and i have a whole year so slowly slowly at the beginning me thinks – it’s a long journey and me old bones aren’t use to lugging this all so far each day. That’s totally fine because (convinces self) if i do it smart – i’ll do it right – i remember in Europe i had the same thing at the beginning – oh how we don’t learn and our mind is stronger than the body haha. That’s ok – i’ll make the most of it. i wandered the whole city and had fun. I did have a thought because i know you peeps love my thoughts hahaha – her we go – i think i seen somewhere but forgot – I keep thinking one of these galahs are going to speak when they are in the air and say ‘hello cocky’ – …….imagine the first person who ever heard a cocky or galah whatever speak a word for the first ever time – you would think you were going crazy right hahaha. Anyway i wandered the city and enjoyed the weather and enjoyed coffee and a beer then another coffee and another beer – i’m just gearing up you know – easing into it hahaha. A few convos were had in the caravan park and I helped an old guy set his bike up as he was struggling. it was one of those $100 jobs and he was trying to get going at 75 again. I had all the tolls so set his seat height right and done his gears etc. We exchanged stories and his was awesome. he had cycled 50,000km’s in a couple years when he was young and was also a bike tourer back in the day. i also visited the museum when i got a surprise text message from my sister and it was my bro in law standing next to my tent – i had to double take hahaha they were on route to another destination and ‘stopped by’. We enjoyed a good convo and another beer and coffee (at the same time) and an eclair haha and that was awesome because I got to say another goodbye (another bloody goodbye hehehe). Thanks for stopping by Fam that made my day

I tinkered with my bike a little more and organised my stash better and threw out some unwanted items and then reheated my dins from last night and now i’m sitting with this view and i am not complaining to be honest

Until tomorrow peeps

Vanderpants OUT

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Ps – how many times do I want to use brackets **shakes head**

 

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Good afternoon readers. welcome once again to my blog. This day started with 14,567 galah’s waking me up – it sounded like a netball match at Priceline Stadium..A pretty good alarm clock anyway so up I was at the SO EARLY HOUR of 7am hahaha. Those of you that know me, know that I don’t mind some yoga from time to time so before i got up, I entered into a pose called Pavanamuktasana (also called the wind relieving pose). it’s funny because this pose was initiated without even actually moving a muscle in my body hahahahaha – I then started to smell something (the effect of this so called pose) and that plus the galahs got me out of bed quick smart :-). I started with making a muesli with my oats and nuts (plus some chia) as I need all the protein I can get with some long life milk (amazing how things taste when yr buggered. I boiled some eggs so I can have them later for lunch as well then used that hot water to clean up and fill up my water bottle (it cools down – don’t want to waste anything right). I packed up (took me an hour – it’s my mission to smash this time every day so stay tuned)

Lumped it all on the bike and i’m still amazed the bike doesn’t fall to bits with all this weight hahaha. I mentally waved goodbye to Betty and Bob and chuckled to myself a little hehehe. Now ive read a lot about dogs that nip at your heels as they love tourers) but never experienced it until today. The minute i turned around the first corner there was a red healer waiting for me – i knew in his eyes he was saying ‘i got you lined up mate and i’m quicker than you’. And that he did – he bolted towards me and started nipping at my feet – i tried hard to softly push him away with my feet but whilst tying to navigate a mothership this was terribly hard. The bastard almost made me roll into oncoming traffic and luckily he let go in time – sounds worse than i type it as it was slow speed but any longer and the pepper spray was about to come out hahaha. It’s impossible to outrun a dog with this massive load. Anyway that went by and then 5 minutes later I purchased a coffee and found this amazing dog….

Meet SAM…..He is 13…..a while ago he broke his back and was on a dual rear wheel harness – Sam is ok now and loving life and i want to take him with me but I think that’s illegal.

Meet his owner ….. ummm **shrugs**. I never remember HOOMAN names or their story cos dogz is loife right.

I wanted to do a shorter day for the next few days as I can’t smash 6 hours of exercise every day – i can already feel my niggles not enjoying it so i want to build it up over a few weeks. The cleats felt marginally better but my body is always finicky so watch this space. The next few hours went by amazingly with tailwind, beautiful weather, awesome songs, polite truck drivers BUT so many god damn flies – in my mouth, in my ears, buzzing around having a fight with other flies inside my sunglasses…so on the fly head net went and peace was found.

It was at this point I thought……Are flies nomads??? Ponder on that one a bit. They hitch a ride on my back for so many km’s and then do they find their way home? Do they have a home? These are the things I think about hahaha. Also – I’m all over the price of roadside eggs, horse poo, chook poo and I tell ya, some houses are not doing their research…some are $5 a bag – some are $10…..mate…..i aint spending 10 when 5 can get me TWICE AS MUCH – maybe I should start a blog on just poo prices hmmmmmm

Although it was only 24 today it felt so much hotter – maybe it was the flies and mossies – i have a feeling flies and mossies are going to be prevalent in the next coming days along the coorong and the lake.

Moving on i stopped at Wellington and setup my campsite in the caravan park (i’m not remote yet although it kinda feels like it already) – and headed my way up to the pub to do some stuff for my sister, rest, have a beer and blog – all whilst having this disgusting view………

Until tomorrow peeps – i hope you’re enjoying the blog – if you have any sugestions of what you want to read, see or hear – sing out and I’ll listen to everyone and follow noone hahahaha

Vanderpants OUT

 

 

Shit – these quotes are pretty fitting and i’m just picking them randomly. Ok so todays morning was met twith mum cooking omelettes, tomatoes toast and cheese – holy crap – YES PLEASE. I went shopping withTonnie as I need to stock up for a couple days and get some of the recipes I needed. I am using a cooking book sometimes when weather permits and I can be bothered and it’s from a couple that toured the world for a few years and I bought their cookbook as I need all the tips i can get. Bicycle touring can be pretty hard to motivate yourself to cook food at the end of a hard day plus you gotta think of recipes etc etc BUT I said to myself – i want to try to smash some recipes out and make it a bit exciting when possible. ANYWAY….. Purchased a few items and went back and spent like an hour reorganising my panniers hahaha. WTF I hear you say – well it takes a few weeks to find your groove and i’m only starting so give me a break ok 🙂

Breakfast was soooo good THANKS mum. It was time to set off (another goodbye). i didn’t think about all the goodbyes i’d be having and I won’t lie – they were realllly difficult. Especially saying good bye to Mum (love you mum). Saying goodbye to mum made me think about my youth and time with her and growing up in the house – it was so weird – you know, when i’m doing something so big – the thoughts just expand so big as well it’s crazy. It was the second emotional day of two so far.

It was forecast rain BUT i was so lucky that the clouds opened up and gave me sunshine all day with a tailwind. I don’t know if I could do these k’s so early on in the piece without wind in my favour to be honest so i’m very grateful.

I knew i had about an 80km day so i though victor was a good place for lunch. Found a spot overlooking the beach and cooked some eggs and had a egg and cheese burrito with chilli and S&P. Plus a nutella and peanut butter one too (why not – you only live once and I DETHERRRVE IT). After making one of my brews (pic below) it was time to pack up and head another 30kms to Milang. The dark clouds started to roll over a little and rain was looming. After riding along the encounter bay bike path which was soooooo frikkn amazing all the way to middleton it was time to head inshore a bit. As i was riding along the bike path i do remember feeling very lucky for what i am actually doing and watching the waves crash and the sun come out and then in my ears comes the song ‘dont you forget about me’ by Simple minds and of course i was in this awesome mood as the right moment came along – out pumps the fist as the laaaaaa laa la laaaaa starts playing (those of you from the 80’s know what i’m talking about). yup it was that cheesy – DEAL WITH IT.

As I am 40 years of age, I do suffer some ailments and this bike ride will not be all roses. I have a bung knee from football, two bulging discs (i said discs…but two would be awesome huh hahaha) and terrible hamstrings but I have learned how to deal with it all. Especially when touring…my legs want to smash a higher gear and go faster but my back says no as it shoots pain up my spine half the day … i learned to ease up one gear and take it easy. I am trying to do this tour without any pain medication as last tour i was using this stuff and it made my stomach not feel right – lets see how it goes. I’ll keep you posted.

Moving along – the day was superb and so was the cycling….I made it to Milang caravan park and feeling a bit sore still and my right knee is playing up. I played with my cycling shoes a little and moved the cleats (the metal bit at the bottom of my shoe that clips into the pedals) so see how that goes tomorrow. This caravan park is from the 70’sFOR SURE….it was funny because the as I rolled into the office I first saw what look like skelator from he-man but a female version. She looked 90 years old, drunk as a skunk, hiccuping every 2 seconds and the place smelled like cigarettes. I love it already – all the better my blog will be (that’s how I think now) – the weirder, the better, ALWAYS……anyway – then the husband walks in and they introduce themselves as BOB AND BETTY (of course it is)

Conversation went like this

Me: Hi can i please have an unpowered site for the night

Betty: how long (cough cough)

Me: One night please

Betty: (looks around to see what i’m driving)

Me: oh no i’m on a bicycle

Betty: you’re fukn crazy mate where you from

Me: oh Adelaide but i’m trying to ride around australia

betty: coughs again…..looks at Bob ……..

Bob: That’ll be 8 bux for you mate bcos you’re crazy i’ll give you a discount

Me: well thanks heaps i appreciate it

Betty: the code to toilet is xxxx and etc etc etc (then bob and betty get into an argument because the codes don’t work anymore and just open the bloody door and she’ll be right)

Me: Ok thank you i’ll work it out

Betty: I LOVE YA…YA MAD BAARRRRRRSTARD

Me: (awkward laugh) and gets the HELL outta there quick smart hahahahah

lotsa LOL.

Moving on – I cooked dinner and attempted my bean salad (corn, capsi, tuna, beans, cumin, S&P, honey) it was delish and then fried up some caramlised banana – holy shit it tasted soooooo gooooooood.

I’m now sitting in the bloody BBQ area with a million mosquitos around me (but i found an old burning mossie thingo which i cranked up – it’s helping)and now time to tuck in and enjoy my tent and mattress for the first time….seeya tomorrow peeps – Netflix and chill time for an hour and then time to zonk.

Vanderpants OUT