Morpeth Bike Ride

Rode to Morpeth today for a Sunday ride. Went a total of 80kms. We practised a style of group riding called pace riding where we ride in two lines with the left line riding slower than the other. The fast or pace line leader rides past the slow line leader and then moves left into the slow line. At the back the last slow line rider joins the pace line and moves forward. This circular pattern allows the group to move faster and at the same time give riders a break. We had an hilarious time trying to perfect this with lots of gaps and stuffups, plenty of ride leaders to dictate what should and shouldn't happen showing that we need to a lot more practice and of course get a lot more serious if we want to do it properly.

Whale Watching

Jenny won a whale watching cruise at a function we went to last year and we kept putting it off untill the last minute. So we had to go this weekend or lose the ticket. So we went out to Nelson's Bay and checked out the whales. Actually saw whales but not as galmorous a trip as you would expect.

Easter Bike Ride at Gloucester

Went to Gloucester with the bike group at Easter this year. Camped at the Gloucester Caravan Park and did a ride around Gloucester each day followed by coffee back in town then back to the camp site for beers and dinner. Good fun, great weather and very relaxing. We put up the big tarp and everyone joined us under the tarp. It was very good to meet new people from NCM (Newcastle Cycleways Movement) who you see doing other rides and they turn up for coffee on Sat mornings but you don't say hello.

The Graduation of Kerri Lee Dibben

On Thursday 31st March, 2011 Kerri Lee Dibben graduated from Charles Sturt University with a Bachelar of Arts degree in Design for Theatre & Television. Well done Kezza and congratulations. I had a big day getting to the grad, leaving Newcastle on the 4:10am Sydney train then to the airport to fly to Wagga where Kez was waiting for me. It was a beautiful autumn riverina day, perfect for a graduation ceremony. After coffee at Kezza's work we went back to her house, got dressed and went to lunch at 'The Monestry', a very nice restaurant by the river. We had a pleasant meal out in the garden and celebrated with a wine with lunch. At the universirty it took a long time to process all the grads but was worth the wait to see Kerri get her certificate.

Japan 2011: Hakuba

Our second trip to Japan was shared with our friends Mike, Kez, Rob and Andrew. This time we were there essentially to ski but still had time to enjoy the hospitality and sights of some of one of Japan's largest cities, Osaka; and see some spectacular scenery on the way to, and in, the Japan Alps. This first edition of the Japan 2011 blog is a small edited version as I await for more pics from the rest of the crew. In line for check-in at Cairns airport about to leave for Osaka. Jenny and I in front of a small shrine in Osaka.

Osaka Castle surrounded by gardens. Foraged for dinner in Osaka and came across an 'Aussie' bar. Naturally we were the only Aussies in the bar and after drinking far too much and having fish n chips for dinner we did embarassing things Aussies do when pissed in a bar in another country. "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi."

Had brecky in stand up cafe at the station. Food in the window was plastic to give you an idea of what you are eating. Bit difficult but just had to use your imagination and hope you didn't get any raw fish or fish entrails. This restaurant is very popular for Japanese office workers who eat and run. You even put your money in a vending machine, get a ticket, present to the counter, and hey presto! Your meal is made. Adventurous 6 awaiting to board their first Shinkansen that will be travelling at up to 300km/hr. All very excited.

With some newbies on board, Jenny and I were actually more adventurous (with the food sampling) and gained more confidence getting around Japan. We both had a lot of laughs watching our travelling companions marvel at the same things we liked and found interesting 12 months ago. Like: smoking stations, markers for the blind on all sidewalks, plastic food displays, narrow street malls, the politeness of the locals, the language, the lack of loud people and graffitti and the quietness of the traffic in a city with a population of over 2.6 million.

Travelling on the Shinkansen at 300km/hr

Arrived Hakuba and our lodgings, Aurinko Lodge on Sunday afternoon and had a shopping trip and a trip to the ski hire joint.

View of Japanese Alps from one of the many runs on Happo One.

Long awaited pics courtesy of Rob and Andrew showing more fun and frivolity in Japan.

Markey Christmas Party

NOOSA

Well Jenny has had her 25th birthday twice this year at Noosa. To celebrate we flew to the Gold Coast and saw Em & Steve then Em lent us her car (thanks Em, we didnt really lose the keys) and drove up to the Sunshine Coast via the Eumundi markets. These markets were great but it was bucketing down so we didn't get to do all our Christmas shopping. Found our digs in Noosa which was a great location. A walk through the rainforest to the main street. Most days spent walking, swimming, relaxing, checking out the location. Jenny would move here in a flash.

Oog, Pelican and CD

Finally caught up with my best mates from Ourimbah Public School days. i grew up with these blokes and had some great adventures with them at school, visiting each others places, through the scouts, on our dairy farm and later hangin about in Gosford and Gosford High. Keith(AKA Oog) spent many years in the cleaning contract business on the central coast and now resides at Halidays Point where he is a Yoga teacher. Malcolm (AKA Pelican, big bird or the big flappa) spent many years with the Commonwealth Bank but has recently moved to Bathurst and now is a remedial massage therapist. I, alas, am still teaching.

Vegie & Herb Garden