The registration wrist band contained a bar code to register our participation in the event. It was scanned just before the start and at the finish of the event.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tour Challenge Ride
Last Friday I took part in the Tour Down Under Challenge Tour. It was a 134km bike ride covering the same route as travelled by the international pro cyclists on Stage Four of the Tour Down Under. It started in Mannum at 7.30am. We then rode to Palmer, Tungkillo, Mount Pleasant, Birdwood, Mount Torrens, Woodside, Nairne, Callington, Woodchester, Langhorne Creek and finally the finish at Strathalbyn. Terry, Kenneth and Graham and I all rode together, or at least we met up at the start of each town. It took us six hours to do the ride but really finishing was the main aim. Much of the route was up hill and down dale! There was a particularly unexpected hill just outside Woodchester, I thin that took a lot of people by surprise.
The registration wrist band contained a bar code to register our participation in the event. It was scanned just before the start and at the finish of the event.
The registration wrist band contained a bar code to register our participation in the event. It was scanned just before the start and at the finish of the event.
Triathlon - Australia Day 2008
I competed in the 'Australia Day' triathlon on Monday, January 28 at
West Lakes. It consisted of a 1000m swim, a 34km bike ride and an
8km run. I completed it in one hour and 28 seconds. Last year I did
the same triathlon in one hour 55minutes but last year the run leg
was only 7km. So in effect I did it in exactly the same time as last
year.
Nice and calm for the swim, not that you know that from this photo.
The group before I started.
The only one without a wet suit. You go faster in one but they cost
$$.
Grabbin' the bike for the next leg.
Me doing my best approximation of running.
West Lakes. It consisted of a 1000m swim, a 34km bike ride and an
8km run. I completed it in one hour and 28 seconds. Last year I did
the same triathlon in one hour 55minutes but last year the run leg
was only 7km. So in effect I did it in exactly the same time as last
year.
Nice and calm for the swim, not that you know that from this photo.
The group before I started.
The only one without a wet suit. You go faster in one but they cost
$$.
Grabbin' the bike for the next leg.
Me doing my best approximation of running.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Cycling 134km in one day
On Friday, January 25 (and with all things being equal), I'll be riding 134km from Mannum to Strathalbyn (via Mt Pleasant - definitely not the direct route) as part of the Tour Down Under Challenge Tour. The ride is the same route that the international cycling teams will take later on in the day. There are four of us doing the ride - Kenneth, Graham, Terry and me. We’ve been in training for a while. It will be interesting to see if we have done enough. The weather bureau currently has Friday slated for 33 degrees with thunder in the hills. Better than the 37 they were forecasting a few days ago but I thibk we could do without thunderstorms!
Me at work. I had just picked up my offical Tour Down Under Challenge Tour jersey and had to try it on. I took the photo with the self timer using my new wide angle lens.
Me at work. I had just picked up my offical Tour Down Under Challenge Tour jersey and had to try it on. I took the photo with the self timer using my new wide angle lens.
12.10am on New year's Eve . . .
We hosted a nibbles and drinks show at our place on New Year’s Eve. We made a whole heap of finger food - felafel, chicken and pistachio balls, beef koftas, smoked salmon blinis. We never did get around to the cheese plate or the fruit platter.
We sort of had two shifts come through. About half the people came early and then moved on and then a second ‘sitting’ came later and stayed on. We hadn’t planned to do anything special at midnight and the ‘event’ went past without anyone really noticing. We wished each other ‘Happy New Year’ at about 12.10am. Woops.
The downstairs area as seen from the landing at the top of the stairs.
We sort of had two shifts come through. About half the people came early and then moved on and then a second ‘sitting’ came later and stayed on. We hadn’t planned to do anything special at midnight and the ‘event’ went past without anyone really noticing. We wished each other ‘Happy New Year’ at about 12.10am. Woops.
The downstairs area as seen from the landing at the top of the stairs.
Five Nights, Six Days in McLaren Vale
We went for a quick holiday between Christmas Eve until the following Saturday. We stayed in two different places as we couldn’t get one continuous booking. The first place we stayed at was a B and B called The Vintage. Our suite consisted of a large bedroom area that was connected to the living area and there was a bathroom consisting of two rooms and a hallway. Our suite was The Library and it had a wall of books. From the titles it looked like they were bought by the metre from a second hand book shop.
The second place we stayed at was a self-contined cabin at the Victory Hotel. The cabins have an even better view than the Victory Hotel - looking over the whole of the McLanren Vale region and onto Adelaide and the hills - wheat feilds, olive groves, vineyards, paddocks, bits of suburbia.
We dined out a lot. Favourites were Fino in McLaren Vale and the Star of Greece at Port Willunga. Both very different and both magical as the weather was superb and everyone was relaxed and in a holiday atmosphere. We rode from the cabins at Sellicks Hill to the Star of Greece, perhaps 10km, but the farthest David had ridden in quite a while. We had a nice meal at the restaurant and then we decided to sit on the deck just ot further enjoy the place, instead of just finishing up and running away. We ended up sittng on the deck for a further three house talking to people from all over the place - a couple from San Fransisco, people from interstate as well as locals. It was great fun.
On the last night we went to Russell’s Pizza place, a wood-fired pizza restaurant located in a Cornish miner’s cottage in Willunga. We were there for Gary’s birthday celebration and just for a holiday get together. The place has a brilliant relaxed atmosphere an dalthough hot everyone had a good time. The place is truly unique and is only open one night a week.
We also celebrated my 43rd birthday while we were away.
At the B&B just out of McLaren Vale, The Vintage. How else does one pose on a chaise longue?
David on the chaise.
Several of me doing some wine tasting on the fabulous verandah of the B and B. One must use all one senses to appreaciate a good wine.
The pergola/verandah area at night.
Me at Fino about to attack the asparagus with twice cooked breadcrumbs.
Presents - I received a wide angle conversion lens for my camera.
Presents - I bought David these frogs by Adelaide Hills sculptor Silvio Apponyi. They are cast in bronze and have a green patination with some gold accents.
A silhouette formed as the sunset and streamed into the westerly facing window of the cabin. Taken using a self timer.
The second place we stayed at was a self-contined cabin at the Victory Hotel. The cabins have an even better view than the Victory Hotel - looking over the whole of the McLanren Vale region and onto Adelaide and the hills - wheat feilds, olive groves, vineyards, paddocks, bits of suburbia.
We dined out a lot. Favourites were Fino in McLaren Vale and the Star of Greece at Port Willunga. Both very different and both magical as the weather was superb and everyone was relaxed and in a holiday atmosphere. We rode from the cabins at Sellicks Hill to the Star of Greece, perhaps 10km, but the farthest David had ridden in quite a while. We had a nice meal at the restaurant and then we decided to sit on the deck just ot further enjoy the place, instead of just finishing up and running away. We ended up sittng on the deck for a further three house talking to people from all over the place - a couple from San Fransisco, people from interstate as well as locals. It was great fun.
On the last night we went to Russell’s Pizza place, a wood-fired pizza restaurant located in a Cornish miner’s cottage in Willunga. We were there for Gary’s birthday celebration and just for a holiday get together. The place has a brilliant relaxed atmosphere an dalthough hot everyone had a good time. The place is truly unique and is only open one night a week.
We also celebrated my 43rd birthday while we were away.
At the B&B just out of McLaren Vale, The Vintage. How else does one pose on a chaise longue?
David on the chaise.
Several of me doing some wine tasting on the fabulous verandah of the B and B. One must use all one senses to appreaciate a good wine.
The pergola/verandah area at night.
Me at Fino about to attack the asparagus with twice cooked breadcrumbs.
Presents - I received a wide angle conversion lens for my camera.
Presents - I bought David these frogs by Adelaide Hills sculptor Silvio Apponyi. They are cast in bronze and have a green patination with some gold accents.
A silhouette formed as the sunset and streamed into the westerly facing window of the cabin. Taken using a self timer.
Triathlon - Sunday, January 13
This triathlon was the same distance as the past two, however the first two were run under perfect conditions. On Sunday it rained as we waited to start, thyankfully it stopped and the wind dried out the roads before the bike ride. The lake was really choppy, so it was interesting swimming up waves and down the otrher side! Riding into the wind was pretty interesting too. The run was the least effected but even then you still have extra resistance going into the wind. I completed this one in 1 hour 12, about 30 seconds faster than Graham who is quickly improving. Everyone recorded a slower time than the previous triathlons.
You can see it was windy as the red flag is waving in the breeze.
Terry fighting with his wetsuit.
Me finishing the swim.
On the run into the wind.
Grahm on the run leg.
Across the line at last (but not last).
You can see it was windy as the red flag is waving in the breeze.
Terry fighting with his wetsuit.
Me finishing the swim.
On the run into the wind.
Grahm on the run leg.
Across the line at last (but not last).
A Very Schiller Christmas
We had the Schiller Christmas early this yeart on the Sunday. It was held at David and Julie’s house in Lower Mitcham. David and I made some nibbles for appetisers and David and Julie Webbered up a feast of roast meats and vegies. There was a traditional plum pudding for dessert too.
If you click on the photos you go to my Flickr site where you can see larger sizes.
Wiskey being cute.
Jack. Member of the Australia Youth Orchestra. He plays clarinet and bassoon.
David with his present from Mum. A selection of condiments.
Mum trying on the beaded scarf we gave her for Christmas.
Wiskey flat out. Being cute again.
Alex with water pistol. A score from the bonbons.
Meghan trying on one of her presents - a necklace.
Christmas Dinner. Round the table: Meghan, Ken, Jack, Julie, Alex, David, Hayley, Yvette, Leigh, Mum.
David showing the picture of him that was used in a magazine for the building company he sub-contracts for.
Alex again. Talented cricketer and soccer player.
Leigh. Chemical engineer.
If you click on the photos you go to my Flickr site where you can see larger sizes.
Wiskey being cute.
Jack. Member of the Australia Youth Orchestra. He plays clarinet and bassoon.
David with his present from Mum. A selection of condiments.
Mum trying on the beaded scarf we gave her for Christmas.
Wiskey flat out. Being cute again.
Alex with water pistol. A score from the bonbons.
Meghan trying on one of her presents - a necklace.
Christmas Dinner. Round the table: Meghan, Ken, Jack, Julie, Alex, David, Hayley, Yvette, Leigh, Mum.
David showing the picture of him that was used in a magazine for the building company he sub-contracts for.
Alex again. Talented cricketer and soccer player.
Leigh. Chemical engineer.
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Swim Group Christmas Breakfast
We has a special breakfast at the last swim session before Chrsitmas. Everyone brought along some food and we shared it among the group. The coffee was popular as were Peter James-Martin’s waffles. I made our Coach, Kathy, a T-shirt that said “Coach” on the front written in pool water and lane ropes with drop shadow. Kenneth also tried out his bathers, that we bought for him as a present. It was a cooler morning, one of the few before the onslaught of the late December and early January HEAT.
Kenneth wearing the bathers we bought him for Christmas.
Tuckin’ in. . .
Kathy with her gift - wrapped.
Unwrapped.
Kathy showing off her gift.
Terry with waffle piece.
The big building is the gym of the private girl’s school next door.
The Twins? Actually Peter & Andrew.
Peter James-Martin; Leanne; Peter & Andrew.
John Skewes; John, Heather, David
Kenneth wearing the bathers we bought him for Christmas.
Tuckin’ in. . .
Kathy with her gift - wrapped.
Unwrapped.
Kathy showing off her gift.
Terry with waffle piece.
The big building is the gym of the private girl’s school next door.
The Twins? Actually Peter & Andrew.
Peter James-Martin; Leanne; Peter & Andrew.
John Skewes; John, Heather, David
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