Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Views from my Wednesday morning run
Parts of the run course
This is a 4 loop run course. Notice how the course splits here and the finish chute is straight ahead while you need to go left 3 times before being able to enter the chute. Photo 2 you can see the finish line is just 15 feet from the run course.
First bike
Okay, I decided to go out for about 40 today and ride most of the course. Things did not work out ask planned.
For starters, decent roads are not something the Aussie's appear to be in favor of. The coastal highway was the roughest road I've ever ridden. Non-stop vibrations driving up through your arms during the entire ride.
Flatted at about 15 miles out. Maybe a good thing because it took me better than 20 minutes to change my tube since I've only ever had one flat.
Resumed my ride and met up with a couple of other riders who were riding the entire course. I decided to hang out with them so I could learn how to navigate Laurieton and find the turn-a-round. About 30 feet from the turn-a-round, I flatted again. Now, I had brought two spare tubes, but only one CO2. Lucky for me I was with two other riders and they helped. Changed out my tube and inflated it only to have it blow right there. Borrowed a tube and another CO2 and after all 3 of us inspected the tire and rim, got it changed out and inflated. Stopped by a bike shop in Laurieton and bought 3 new tubes and 4 new CO2 cartridges. Geez!
Headed back to Port Macquarie and enjoyed the good vibrations all the way back. All in all, about 55 miles today, but I got to see the entire course, which was a good thing. It's a fairly flat course with just a few steep hills scattered throughout the course, most of which are short enough to power up in less than a minute. It's really the rough pavement that makes this course so tough. I wasn't sure if my bike would hold up today. I honestly felt like something was going to rattle loose out there.
By the time I was done, my teeth hurt and I had a killer headache from the rough ride.
For starters, decent roads are not something the Aussie's appear to be in favor of. The coastal highway was the roughest road I've ever ridden. Non-stop vibrations driving up through your arms during the entire ride.
Flatted at about 15 miles out. Maybe a good thing because it took me better than 20 minutes to change my tube since I've only ever had one flat.
Resumed my ride and met up with a couple of other riders who were riding the entire course. I decided to hang out with them so I could learn how to navigate Laurieton and find the turn-a-round. About 30 feet from the turn-a-round, I flatted again. Now, I had brought two spare tubes, but only one CO2. Lucky for me I was with two other riders and they helped. Changed out my tube and inflated it only to have it blow right there. Borrowed a tube and another CO2 and after all 3 of us inspected the tire and rim, got it changed out and inflated. Stopped by a bike shop in Laurieton and bought 3 new tubes and 4 new CO2 cartridges. Geez!
Headed back to Port Macquarie and enjoyed the good vibrations all the way back. All in all, about 55 miles today, but I got to see the entire course, which was a good thing. It's a fairly flat course with just a few steep hills scattered throughout the course, most of which are short enough to power up in less than a minute. It's really the rough pavement that makes this course so tough. I wasn't sure if my bike would hold up today. I honestly felt like something was going to rattle loose out there.
By the time I was done, my teeth hurt and I had a killer headache from the rough ride.
Monday, April 29, 2013
First swim
Went out for 30 minutes this morning and it was absolutely great. The river is extremely brackish though.
Friend in my hotel
Almost tripped over this "little" guy in the hallway going to my room. He was about the size of my big toe, maybe a little bigger.
Who put the steering wheel there?
Really? What are the odds I'll get through this trip without an accident? I keep getting in on the wrong side of the car and having to get back out and get in on the other side.
Views from my hotel room
Got checked into my first hotel today and the water can't be more than 50 feet from my patio door, not to mention the pool no more than 15 feet from my patio door.
Travel to Australia
Wasn't too bad. A non-event in Seattle with the one exception of Alaska taking 30 minutes to figure out what to charge me for my bike case.
I would suggest flying Virgin from Seattle though if your going to fly Virgin Australia to Australia. Because I came in on Alaska, it meant a had to walk from terminal 1 to terminal 3 to switch airlines. I'm sure there's transportation somehow, but I was told walking was faster and easier and it wasn't too bad.
Customs and Immigration in Brisbane was very easy, but I had to pick up my bags and carry them onto a bus that took me to the domestic terminal and then recheck them there. Not real easy with the big bike case.
I landed in Port Macquarie exactly 24 hours after taking off in Seattle Washington. Here are some pictures of the local airport, or air strip...
I would suggest flying Virgin from Seattle though if your going to fly Virgin Australia to Australia. Because I came in on Alaska, it meant a had to walk from terminal 1 to terminal 3 to switch airlines. I'm sure there's transportation somehow, but I was told walking was faster and easier and it wasn't too bad.
Customs and Immigration in Brisbane was very easy, but I had to pick up my bags and carry them onto a bus that took me to the domestic terminal and then recheck them there. Not real easy with the big bike case.
I landed in Port Macquarie exactly 24 hours after taking off in Seattle Washington. Here are some pictures of the local airport, or air strip...
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