Yee haa!!!!! Thanks to the wonderful Di Yerbury ($400), to my good friend from Singapore, Richard Ng ($100), and another great Emerald colleague, Keith Howard ($125), Tony and I have cracked the $10,000!!! We won't be stopping there though and will be building on this over the next three (errr two and a half) weeks.
Travelled to New Zealand on assignment yesterday and will be here until Saturday afternoon. In the meantime, I've arranged to go riding with "The Boss", Katie, on Sunday. She's going to do the Bay to Bay with me and I'm hoping that I'll pick up a few tips on how to ride a bike properly in the process.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Sunday, February 25, 2007
VCT Day minus 22
What a great couple of days! On Friday night we got to meet some of our chums we'll be joining on the ride in Vietnam (see Gamza's new profile!), at the Non La restaurant in Surry Hills (yes of course it was Vietnamese). We got to hear from Ruth, one of the Northcott staff who do great things in regional NSW at Tamworth and surrounds, got to eat some great food and drink the wine we brought, and got to see Don's backside, the viewing of which was auctioned by his mate David for $350. We were reminded that there's nothing worn under a Scotman's kilt - it's all in good repair!
Not feeling at all the worse for wear, Tony and I did our "home to home" ride on Saturday - this is a 15 kilometre each way trip between our homes at Toongabbie and Carlingford, which we do in that order (all the hills in the first half of the ride, climbing from Parramatta up the hill to Carlo). With the hot weather about, we took a break at my place with a dip in the pool and a nice relaxing cuppa before we headed off back to Tony's place, doing the two way trip in about two elapsed hours. After being off the bike since the previous Thursday, I was pretty pleased with the effort.
Today, we did our now familiar Bay to Bay run, but with a difference. A south-easterly breeze meant we rode most of the way into the wind. Then, after a brunch of bacon and eggs, with a delicious coffee thrown in, we made our way back through persistent precipitation (my hat and gloves are still wet). I know Katie wanted us to get some experience of these different types of riding but I didn't think we'd get it all in one day. The better news is that we completed the 65km round trip in just over 4 elapsed hours. Our average speed into the wind was 15.1km/hr and on the way back, it was 16.5km/hr, for an overall average of 15.8km/hr, so we were pretty chuffed when we finished and checked the times.
Not feeling at all the worse for wear, Tony and I did our "home to home" ride on Saturday - this is a 15 kilometre each way trip between our homes at Toongabbie and Carlingford, which we do in that order (all the hills in the first half of the ride, climbing from Parramatta up the hill to Carlo). With the hot weather about, we took a break at my place with a dip in the pool and a nice relaxing cuppa before we headed off back to Tony's place, doing the two way trip in about two elapsed hours. After being off the bike since the previous Thursday, I was pretty pleased with the effort.
Today, we did our now familiar Bay to Bay run, but with a difference. A south-easterly breeze meant we rode most of the way into the wind. Then, after a brunch of bacon and eggs, with a delicious coffee thrown in, we made our way back through persistent precipitation (my hat and gloves are still wet). I know Katie wanted us to get some experience of these different types of riding but I didn't think we'd get it all in one day. The better news is that we completed the 65km round trip in just over 4 elapsed hours. Our average speed into the wind was 15.1km/hr and on the way back, it was 16.5km/hr, for an overall average of 15.8km/hr, so we were pretty chuffed when we finished and checked the times.
Friday, February 23, 2007
VCT Day minus 24
End of the working week (ha! ha!) and I'm hoping to get on the bike for at least a little while this afternoon before we meet a bunch of the folks who are joining us on the ride. We're meeting together tonight at the Non La Vietnamese Restaurant in Surry Hills for a nosh and a "get to know a bit about you" session.
In the meantime, Tony and I are well into the $9,000 range with another generous $162 donation from Lynne Mitchell & Robyn Bowcock and all the folks from Granville Rehabilitation Service - thank you!
In the meantime, Tony and I are well into the $9,000 range with another generous $162 donation from Lynne Mitchell & Robyn Bowcock and all the folks from Granville Rehabilitation Service - thank you!
Thursday, February 22, 2007
VCT Day minus 25
Good news is that things are "freeing up" and I should be back on the bike tomorrow. In the meantime, thanks to David Boxall ($100), Tony and I have just cracked the $9,000 mark in terms of donations and pledges, so we're delighted to be at this stage with several weeks to go.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
VCT Day minus 26
Each time I fill in the title for the new blog I become increasingly excited at how quickly the time between now and when we get to ride the roads of Vietnam is reducing. At the same time, I'm getting increasingly nervous at how quickly the time between now and when we get to ride the roads of Vietnam is reducing!
Neither Tony nor I want to become known as the "bus conductor" and we're determined to ride all day, every day on the tour. That's possible if we can get out and do some more training, but this current setback means that it has been more than a week since I've been on a bike (didn't think I'd hear myself talking about how much I missed the exercise. Thanks to Lucy Brown from Northcott and our own Katie from Inspired Adventures for their kind wishes regarding my little, ahem, medical problem.
Meanwhile, some great people are continuing to support our efforts to get to that $10,000 mark, with Kathryn Thorne ($100), Jodie Sinclair ($100), Barbara Perry ($50), Pter Shelley ($50), and Jacqueline Bracey ($50) the latest to join the gang. With that $350, we are now up to (drum roll) $8,922.39! Not bad for a couple of old blokes, eh?
Neither Tony nor I want to become known as the "bus conductor" and we're determined to ride all day, every day on the tour. That's possible if we can get out and do some more training, but this current setback means that it has been more than a week since I've been on a bike (didn't think I'd hear myself talking about how much I missed the exercise. Thanks to Lucy Brown from Northcott and our own Katie from Inspired Adventures for their kind wishes regarding my little, ahem, medical problem.
Meanwhile, some great people are continuing to support our efforts to get to that $10,000 mark, with Kathryn Thorne ($100), Jodie Sinclair ($100), Barbara Perry ($50), Pter Shelley ($50), and Jacqueline Bracey ($50) the latest to join the gang. With that $350, we are now up to (drum roll) $8,922.39! Not bad for a couple of old blokes, eh?
Monday, February 19, 2007
VCT Day minus 28
Four weeks to go!
A mixed day today as I continue with the frustration of another course of antibiotics and hope for the opportunity once more to get rid of my fluids as easily as I take them in.
On the other hand, Tony and I continue to be delighted by the generosity of our friends and colleagues - Weidong Liu ($150), Bob Ganley ($200), Greg Bamber ($100), Sara Dharmakumar ($100), Armen Gakavian ($20), Rebecca Sheriff ($50) , and, of course, Select Credit Union ($500) - thanks so much to all of you!
I'm hoping that the current setback will be short term and that I can get out on the bike again sooner rather than later. Tony's back at work after some long service leave, but is taking some more time off from March 8th, so we'll see that last stretch as an opportunity to do some more work without tiring ourselves out for the actual ride.
I wonder how our other riding partners who will join us in Vietnam are getting on?
A mixed day today as I continue with the frustration of another course of antibiotics and hope for the opportunity once more to get rid of my fluids as easily as I take them in.
On the other hand, Tony and I continue to be delighted by the generosity of our friends and colleagues - Weidong Liu ($150), Bob Ganley ($200), Greg Bamber ($100), Sara Dharmakumar ($100), Armen Gakavian ($20), Rebecca Sheriff ($50) , and, of course, Select Credit Union ($500) - thanks so much to all of you!
I'm hoping that the current setback will be short term and that I can get out on the bike again sooner rather than later. Tony's back at work after some long service leave, but is taking some more time off from March 8th, so we'll see that last stretch as an opportunity to do some more work without tiring ourselves out for the actual ride.
I wonder how our other riding partners who will join us in Vietnam are getting on?
Sunday, February 18, 2007
VCT Day minus 29
What a last couple of days! Drove down to Wagga on Thursday to present a "Getting Published in Academic Journals" workshop at Charles Sturt University (which went very well), stayed overnight in Wagga and drove home on Friday. Since late Friday afternoon, I've been prostrate with my prostate (a bug that gave me chills, sweats, fever ... probably too much information). What it means is that I've spent the last 48 hours in a much weakened state and just recovering this afternoon - hopefully, I'll be ready for a ride tomorrow, if only on the exercise bike.
Four weeks to go now and so much to do - visas, postal votes (the NSW State election is on while we're away), immunisations, oh yeah and the day job (*grins*).
Four weeks to go now and so much to do - visas, postal votes (the NSW State election is on while we're away), immunisations, oh yeah and the day job (*grins*).
Thursday, February 15, 2007
VCT Day minus 32
Thanks to all of you reading the blog and leaving so many comments ....... ah well, I can dream.
Anyway, hopped on the exercise bike on Tuesday evening for a half hour hill program - that got the blood pumping and the sweat pouring.
Yesterday was off to the physio to continue work on my left achilles, which continues to be frustrating in the old "two steps forward, one step back" as far as recovery is concerned. It's much better than it was but still not there yet. Using the physio as part of the training.
After the physio, it was into the city of Sydney for a couple of very positive work-related meetings and then back home to take our daughter, Fiona, off to see Little Britain at the Hordern Pavilion - what a hoot! Had a good laugh for a couple of hours at a very well produced live version of the TV show.
Today it's off to Wagga Wagga on an Emerald related author workshop for the folks at Charles Sturt University and back to Sydney tomorrow. Hope to get a bit of a ride in tomorrow afternoon, ahead of a Tony's place to my place ride on Saturday and the Bay to Bay on Sunday.
Anyway, hopped on the exercise bike on Tuesday evening for a half hour hill program - that got the blood pumping and the sweat pouring.
Yesterday was off to the physio to continue work on my left achilles, which continues to be frustrating in the old "two steps forward, one step back" as far as recovery is concerned. It's much better than it was but still not there yet. Using the physio as part of the training.
After the physio, it was into the city of Sydney for a couple of very positive work-related meetings and then back home to take our daughter, Fiona, off to see Little Britain at the Hordern Pavilion - what a hoot! Had a good laugh for a couple of hours at a very well produced live version of the TV show.
Today it's off to Wagga Wagga on an Emerald related author workshop for the folks at Charles Sturt University and back to Sydney tomorrow. Hope to get a bit of a ride in tomorrow afternoon, ahead of a Tony's place to my place ride on Saturday and the Bay to Bay on Sunday.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
VCT Day minus 34
Where are the days going? Sunday was a rest day after the big ride out to Botany on Saturday (while I try to remember to ride in lower gears) and then Monday was taken up just enjoying a great downpouring of rain throughout the day. Into the final 5 weeks before we go and Tony and now are paid up for airfares and accommodation, so the reality is more and more settling in - we're off to Vietnam!
Saturday, February 10, 2007
VCT Day minus 37
Tony and I did the Bay to Bay again today and, with a little bit of riding around, managed 61km on the ride, so we're quite pleased with our efforts. I finished with sore knees again (although not as bad as last week) and I think I've realised the problem - I'm riding too highly geared so I'm constantly subjecting the knees to stretching effort instead of letting the gears on the bike do more of the work. I'm going to keep experimenting with the gears and the combinations of them and see if I can work it out better.
Friday, February 09, 2007
VCT Day minus 38
Wow, what a great day!
Tony and I rode down to Parramatta Park from our respective homes to get a photo with Glenn Gardner, the CEO of Northcott, for the Parramatta Advertiser this morning. Just before I left, I got a phone call from Wayne Rhodes, the Metropolitan General Manager, Sydney North-West Region, Telstra Consumer & Marketing, to say that Telstra had responded to my flier about supporting Northcott to the tune of $1090 - yee haaa! With other monies that Tony has picked up, we're now well on the way to our combined total of $10,000.
After the photo op, Tony and I rode down to one of our favourite restaurants, Port Bar at the Charles Street wharf, for a very healthy salad and mineral water lunch before we headed off in different directions on the way home. I went out to Rosehill and back along James Ruse Drive, dreading a couple of the hills I had to face, but with the practice, greater familiarisation with the bike's gearing and a determination not to be called the "Bus Conductor" when we get to Vietnam, I got up hills I hadn't before and got further up the hills I'm still yet to conquer.
Tony and I will do the Bay to Bay run again tomorrow (we like that ride) and I'm hoping to get a ride on Sunday with one of Katie's riding groups. All in all, a great day!
Tony and I rode down to Parramatta Park from our respective homes to get a photo with Glenn Gardner, the CEO of Northcott, for the Parramatta Advertiser this morning. Just before I left, I got a phone call from Wayne Rhodes, the Metropolitan General Manager, Sydney North-West Region, Telstra Consumer & Marketing, to say that Telstra had responded to my flier about supporting Northcott to the tune of $1090 - yee haaa! With other monies that Tony has picked up, we're now well on the way to our combined total of $10,000.
After the photo op, Tony and I rode down to one of our favourite restaurants, Port Bar at the Charles Street wharf, for a very healthy salad and mineral water lunch before we headed off in different directions on the way home. I went out to Rosehill and back along James Ruse Drive, dreading a couple of the hills I had to face, but with the practice, greater familiarisation with the bike's gearing and a determination not to be called the "Bus Conductor" when we get to Vietnam, I got up hills I hadn't before and got further up the hills I'm still yet to conquer.
Tony and I will do the Bay to Bay run again tomorrow (we like that ride) and I'm hoping to get a ride on Sunday with one of Katie's riding groups. All in all, a great day!
Thursday, February 08, 2007
VCT Day minus 39
Wow, this week has really gotten away from me! Spent Monday still in a state of some recovery from the Sunday ride. I think Tony and I might have got carried away with ourselves doing "Rocky" at the end of the ride - the adrenalin was pumping and we felt good straight afterwards, but the old bodies rebelled later.
I've broken the $5000 mark! Thanks to all my wonderful sponsors, especially my good friend in Hong Kong, Tommy Liu ($500), David Pring ($500), my mate from the Academy of Management, Professor Denise Rousseau ($300), and Julie Owens, MP ($250), we're doing great things for Northcott Disability Services. Please inspect the list of sponsors - these are great, generous people.
Tuesday and Wednesday flashed past in a blur as I try and keep up with my "day" jobs as well as getting organised for Vietnam. Margaret Dunne sent me an email to say she'd read the blog and thought that I'm managing the psychology of training for this event very well - that's as may be, but the body is still coming to terms with it! :-)
So to today, Thursday, and I will definitely get a ride in today (I'm going to ride down the "hill" from Carlingford to Northcott to drop in the latest range of cheques and credit card vouchers in for processing). Still plenty of other things to do, but the riding must be a constant. Less than 40 days to go!
I've broken the $5000 mark! Thanks to all my wonderful sponsors, especially my good friend in Hong Kong, Tommy Liu ($500), David Pring ($500), my mate from the Academy of Management, Professor Denise Rousseau ($300), and Julie Owens, MP ($250), we're doing great things for Northcott Disability Services. Please inspect the list of sponsors - these are great, generous people.
Tuesday and Wednesday flashed past in a blur as I try and keep up with my "day" jobs as well as getting organised for Vietnam. Margaret Dunne sent me an email to say she'd read the blog and thought that I'm managing the psychology of training for this event very well - that's as may be, but the body is still coming to terms with it! :-)
So to today, Thursday, and I will definitely get a ride in today (I'm going to ride down the "hill" from Carlingford to Northcott to drop in the latest range of cheques and credit card vouchers in for processing). Still plenty of other things to do, but the riding must be a constant. Less than 40 days to go!
Sunday, February 04, 2007
VCT Day minus 43
Back in town after a couple of days away - business in Melbourne followed by enriching the soul yesterday. Kerry, Fiona, Jane (one of Fi's good friends) and I travelled down to Canberra on Friday night and then visited the National Gallery yesterday to see the Egyptian exhibit from the Louvre - not too much bike riding but a most rewarding experience nonetheless.
Tony and I went for our Bay to Bay ride again today and we're very happy with ourselves - a faster time and we rode up "Rocky" at the end! There's a hill in the middle of the Louise Sauvage pathway at Olympic Park that Tony and I call the "Rocky" hill - it's our test of how well we're doing in terms of hill climbing. Last Sunday when we did our ride, we could only ride past "Rocky" at the end. Today, we climbed that bugger and felt great about doing so. Stiffened up at the end of the ride though and I'm still hearing about it from my knees and other joints, but aerobically at least, we're good. With 6 weeks to go from tomorrow, we have to make every post a winner in our training but now, it's time for some celebratory Chinese dinner!
Tony and I went for our Bay to Bay ride again today and we're very happy with ourselves - a faster time and we rode up "Rocky" at the end! There's a hill in the middle of the Louise Sauvage pathway at Olympic Park that Tony and I call the "Rocky" hill - it's our test of how well we're doing in terms of hill climbing. Last Sunday when we did our ride, we could only ride past "Rocky" at the end. Today, we climbed that bugger and felt great about doing so. Stiffened up at the end of the ride though and I'm still hearing about it from my knees and other joints, but aerobically at least, we're good. With 6 weeks to go from tomorrow, we have to make every post a winner in our training but now, it's time for some celebratory Chinese dinner!
Thursday, February 01, 2007
VCT Day minus 46
Well, I was reasonably good last night but a lousy sleeping night got in the way of a ride this morning. Hadn't anticipated blogging today, but found a few minutes before I head out to the airport, so I'll go ahead. The achilles is healing well and should only be another week in treatment; with the bike riding continuing and not aggravating it, that part of the body should be fine for Vietnam (not sure about the old bones though *grins*).
Got some nice photos of Sue and Marc Napoli, that I've added to the "rogues gallery" - one common theme I've noted with pleasure is that we all seem to like a drink or seven, so our celebrations should be good fun. Also got another $100 from my good friend Ross Free - thanks Ross!
Off to Melbourne now and looking forward to a good ride on Sunday when I'm back on deck.
Got some nice photos of Sue and Marc Napoli, that I've added to the "rogues gallery" - one common theme I've noted with pleasure is that we all seem to like a drink or seven, so our celebrations should be good fun. Also got another $100 from my good friend Ross Free - thanks Ross!
Off to Melbourne now and looking forward to a good ride on Sunday when I'm back on deck.
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