Weekend Bike ride.

Well, I dusted off my Cannondale Synapse with the attitude " Well, it hurts if I sit and do nothing, and it hurts if I do something...so better to do something!"

The bike was covered with dust, tyres flat, and it just looked awful. With a few squirts of WD40 and a rag I had it looking nice again. So I packed the car and took the bike to the "Lowlands" (which I have blogged about before).

Now, I have to admit that I was a little reluctant to push it, but I soon found my rhythm and was humming a long nicely, that was, until a young guy with legs like Cadel Evans shot past me like a car in the fast land on the motorway. It was only then I realised just how slow I had become in the 18 months since I have ridden.



This shook me out of my "Gee I am going well" thoughts, and I hit the gears up and tried to keep up. Well, I didn't.. Buuuut I think with continued effort I will give it a good crack.

The lowlands are beautiful- Polo fields, the river, hedges, turf farms and birds. Its a lot like riding along English country lanes.

After a short 25ks I returned home.

This morning I have woken up a bit sore but I am on a mission to get fit again and will be back Wednesday.

Melbourne

Last week I sold my landcruiser. It felt as if it was part of the ending process that this year seems to have brought about. I will pick my new one up in a few weeks.


I hope to have it set up ready for more travel.



The apartment

Last week I was in Melbourne.



Black swans on the lawn of Albert Park lake.

Birding on the run can be a fun way of avoiding bordom. The trick is to identify without stopping or turning around. It can be frustrating too. I saw a beautiful bird of prey, thought I got all the markings down in my mind, but when I went to look it up, there were a few options. As a esult I cannot "tick it"

The letter winged kite looks almost the same as a black shouldered kite except for the marking under the "armpits". So I was very pleased with that one*. (* After consolation with Tony Dymond Vice president of the Cumberland Bird observers club, I am going to un-tick this. The behavior of the LWK is quite different to the BSK, and therefore I can no longer be certain)

Birds seen- Little Corella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Galah, Red-rumped Parrot, Australian Raven, Litte Raven, Letter-winged kite, Australian Magpie, Australian Magpie, (White backed form), House Sparrow, Masked Lapwing, Australian Wood duck, Black Swan, Eastern Rosella, Crimson Rosella, Grey Butcherbird, Crested Pigeon, Common Bronzewing, Purple Swamp hen, Little Pied Cormorant, Intermediate Egret, Willy Wagtail, Magpie Lark, Silver Gull, White necked Heron, White winged Choughs, Pied Butcherbird, Welcome Swallow, Straw-necked Ibis. Black Shouldered Kite.

On returning I was pleased to see that the 2 bathroom renovation is complete and I can get a wheel chair into the main. which will be critical for a few weeks in December.

Weekend Birds

Glossy Black Cockatoo. (Not my photo)

I saw 9 of these threatened species along the firetrail. Specialised feeders they make a nest in hollow tree trunks. The non native bee also use the same hollow and have been attributed to the decline in numbers of these amazing birds. Over several years I have witnessed the numbers increase in the area I walk.


Eastern Spinebill.(Not my photo)
A honeyeater and a good sign that spring is on its way. Melodious song.


Red Browed Firetail Finch. (Not my photo)

A very busy small bird, with the male brightly coloured, often seen flitting about the sides of the firetrails in groups.


Rainbow Lorekeet. (Not my photo).
A very smart bird that enjoys fruit and seeds and clowns around!


King Parrot.
Bright red and green and quite a regular in the feeder and fire trails.

Its clear that spring is certainly on its way

Meeting Badger

It was some with some trepidation that I had agreed to meet Badger from "Vienna for Dummies" blog. I mean, meeting someone for real can be whole different experience than what your expectations might be based on their blog.

However, with our mutual friend, Jim's, departure, I thought "why not?" It will be interesting to see another persons perspective on all of this.

So, I met Badger and family in Blackheath, (Blue Mountains), on a stormy Sunday afternoon and had a wonderful few hours in front of the log fire with a beer, chatting about friendships and life's experiences.

So, Phillip-thanks mate. Great afternoon.

I look forward to catching up when overseas with them.

Check out Badgers Blog at http://phillipprideaux.blogspot.com/