Harvey versus Ailsa: The Rematch

On Australia Day (January 26) I competed in the longest triathlon I have attempted so far. It comprised a 1km swim, a 34km bike ride and a 7km run. That's getting close to the Olympic distance.

Ailsa was back to do battle again this time and Terry from the swimming group was there too. (Ailsa used to swim with us too before she moved to Mildura to single handedly resolve Australia's water crisis.)

The conditions were perfect. The vaguely 'off sardiney' West Lakes was calm and flat like a swimming pool and there was a light breeze but it wasn't a problem in either the ride or the run.

And the results? I completed the triathlon in 1:55:10, one minute ahead of Ailsa. (Woo-hoo, quietly.) I did better times in the swim and ride but she wound that back in the run. It was a close run thing. I can now conclusively claim the World Series Triathlon Harvey versus Ailsa This Time Around crown.

Below are the published results. Click on the results picture or any other picture for further enlargification.




Swimmers head for shore


Terry finishes the swim


Ailsa emerges from the water . . .


. . . like Boticelli's Venus from the clam


That's me. In the larger size you can see my number - 921 - same one I've had all season


West Lakes doesn't taste real good


Just out for a ride. Be back after 34km


At the start line


Ailsa whizzing along


Ride finished. Now where do I put my bike?


Ailsa heads out on the run


Run, run, run . . .


Ailsa finishes


Trying to look like the real deal at the finishing line

Don't mention ze War

Achtung! On the Sunday that hast been begonen now fur ein veek, we gedrived unser freund's neu MercyDoze Benz, a 1989 S Class. In return, Rod gedrove unser MCS JCW. It war fun. But nicht mention ze war. Photographen enlargen ven sie klick on zem. Viedersehen.

Das bin David gedriven Rod's Mercedes Benz durch tunnel

Das Mercedes Benz am Mount Lofty Car Parken Kuchen

Wir Maken Deal. Ich taken Poland. Du Kann vertaken Austria

In ze Mini

Ze Mini auf Mount Lofty

Lycra and Shaved Legs

No, the title does not refer to me! I've been told! I'm not to shave my legs! As for the wearing of lycra - well that's compulsory!

No the title of this post refers to the riders in the Tour Down Under. The third leg of the race was held at Stirling just across the freeway from my work, so I went over and took some photos and a short video of the start. Conditions were great for photography - overcast - so no problems with vast dark shadows as is usual with taking shots in the middle of the day in summer. A couple thousand people came to see the start and by the time the riders were five minutes down the road, the place was deserted. I hope you like the pictures.


Agritubel team member. I saw them riding on Kensington Road practicing last week

Interviews

Team Jacques Chocolade

Members of the New Zealand team waiting for the start

Navigators Insurance team members

Navigators team members and behind members of the Ag2R Prevoyance team from France

Barloworld team member

An Agritubel team member heads for the start line

Set to go at the start line

At two minutes to go

Below is a link to the 30 second film I took of the start of the Stirling stage. The original looks really good - it loses a bit of quality on the website. I've found that the film starts straight away. You don't have to wait minutes for it to download (on broadband). You will need to copy the link and paste it into your web browser.

http://harvey.saint.net.au/displayimage.php?album=31&pos=1

Adlayed@Night

A few months ago, as we wandered around, I took some night time shots around town. (By the way for youse out-of-towners the place is called Ad-Layed or Ad-Laid, Not Ad-el-ayed or Ad-el-Aid. If you pronounce it with the 'e' it shows you're definitely not a local ((and possibly immune therefore from being the target of bizarre serial killers)) ) Three of the pictures are of the new law courts building in Victoria Square and one is of the interior of a bar in an old pub on King Wiliam Street, The Crown and Sceptre. The photos are bordered by rusty galvanised iron - because.
Click on the photos for enlargificationarianism

Coloured glass panels make up a significant proportion of the law courts building's facade.

A water feature and the state's colours (red, yellow and blue) adorn the building's entrance

This helmet like structure in copper adorns one side of the building. Perhaps the former owner was a very large Greek warrior with three set of eyes

I think this set of shelving was available at Freedom. Here they look very chic against a nicely lit mirror

Amanda Queen of the Desert - Partification Photopictures

Amanda celebrated her 40th birthday last Saturday night at Lobethal. Held at her parent's house, the theme for the 'Amanda Queen of the Desert Turns 40 Party' was Outback Glam. It was a fun party.

David in outback mode. The glittery beads supply the glam. Definitely exhibiting a bushie past . . . anyone reminded of Harry Butler?

Me doing my best Chesty Bonds impersonation. Both pics prior to the party.

Sandy looking classy.

Amanda, the birthday girl plus long lashes, sequins, glitter, high heals and feather boa.

Harvey, David, Jeff and Jacqui

Who needs candles when you have sparklers?





Around Aunty Jean's cake. Amanda with Mum and Dad - Gloria and John.

Phonics versus Graphics

Below is the invitation I designed for our friend Amanda for her 40th birthday party which was held last Saturday night. She has lived in Alice Springs for the past number of years and decided that the style of the outback should come to Lobethal, where the party was held. The invitation asked guests to dress in Outback Glam. This was interpreted in various ways as you can see from the photos in the post above.

Burra Pilgrimage

On the last Saturday night of the year and the penultimate day of 2006 a group of us made the pilgrimage to Burra to dine at Francis and Putu's White Cedars Cafe. We initially converged at Neagles Rock Winery and Restaurant at Clare and then, in convoy, we drove onto Burra, half an hour further north(ish). We stayed at the Burra Hotel, which one of our friends would undoubtedly call "cheap and cheerful". Dinner that night was a fabulous banquet of Balinese and South East Asian food prepared by Putu - just delicious!

On the five-star balcony above the main street of Burra attached to the two-star(?) Burra Hotel. From left - Gary, David, Keith and Ellen.

Gary, David, Keith, Ellen, Liz and Peter.

Dining at Francis and Putu's restaurant, the White Cedars Cafe. We had a lovely banquet. From left Ellen, Peter, Liz, Gary, David and Keith.

After coffee at the White Cedars Cafe the next day. Ellen, Keith, Peter, Gary, David, Francis and Liz.

Tri Photos

Here are the photos David took from the most recent triathlon. It's only from the start as we've had immense battery problems with the camera. . . don't know what is going on. The 'so-called' rechargeable batteries just don't hold their charge.


Waiting for it all to start

Bobbing up to show my number

In transition. New bathers - Christmas present