Keen LesandCassinOz readers will recall that in March we decided to cycle three-quarters of the way around Port Phillip Bay in three days. We based our route off a bike ride called Around the Bay in a Day, which I declared "crazy" people here in Melbourne did once a year. We took it fairly easy, averaging maybe four or five hours a day, and although we were tired, it was nothing too strenuous. Well, we have decided to become crazy people.
Yes, Les and I are going to cycle all the way around Port Phillip Bay, a distance of some 210 km, in a day. Actually, the true Around the Bay in a Day ride is 250 km, but all 2000 places available for the ride are sold out. So we are going on a slightly shorter version, which has a shortcut (unfortunately, the shortcut cuts out easy breezy flat coastal riding and none of the hills). There are three versions of the 210-km ride, and one of
those has already sold out as well. So that is at least 4000 riders in Melbourne who know they have what it takes to tackle this mammoth task, and the ride isn't until October. The ride costs $125 per rider (given to charity), so as soon as we have the money we are going to sign up for one of the 210-km options, provided that thousands more deranged Aussies haven't snapped up all the places by then.This is quite a task, given that while we both cycle every day, neither of us goes very far. We've started going on long rides at weekends, two hours or more, to get used to long distances. Bicycle Victoria, which operates the ride, seems to think it is possible at this stage for people like us to train for this ride. If only we could just
play some inspirational 80s music and do a few seconds of various exercises, and then it would be October and we'd be fit and ready.The other big piece of news in our lives is that we are coming home for a visit. Leslie flies out tonight for Ireland, and I will be joining him on Saturday. He'll stay through July 11th, but I'm leaving on the 6th for New York and will be there for four days. We're very excited to see many of you soon. And I have learnt my lesson and will not wear every piece of clothing I own on the plane. It was not a smart way to fly. This time I will take as little luggage as possible and bring books and magazines on the plane, not more socks and boots. That is, if either of us actually gets to fly, given the current Qantas strikes.
It will be especially good for Leslie to have a vacation, I think. He's been working insanely hard this semester - up late most nights, working all weekend. He's come up with some fantastic photos for his assignments, and I'm going to put some of them up on the blog so you can see
what he's been up to. But it'll be good for him to have a bit of a break - he only has to do three assignments while in Ireland. You all will see him much more than I have in the past few months.
