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Walking

The world of exploring our environment by shanks-pony (our feet). Also known as bushwalking, hiking, tramping and rambling, depending on where you live. Covers day walks and pack carries and topics that relate to bushwalking but don’t fit into the sub-categories.

Bibbulmun Track Realignment – 18.6 km north of Northcliffe – Wheatley Coast Road

May 21st, 2010
by Aushiker.
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The Department of Environment and Conservation has advised on May 20, 2010 that a track realignment is place on the Bibbulmun Track 18.6 Km north of Northcliffe – Wheatley Coast Rd (Refer to Map 6a).

Track realignment around the road safety barrier on Wheatley coast road will begin at the end of April 2010. A 100 m diversion has been put in place until works are complete. For more information contact the Donnelly District on 9776 1207.

For more information contact the Donnelly District on 9776 1207.

The Power of Touring on a Bicycle

May 9th, 2010
by Aushiker.
2 comments

Whilst Ernest Hemingway is talking of bicycling these words are very much as relevance to hiking.  Having recently completed a tour from Esperance to Perth and then a week or so later driving some of the same route, I can really relate to these words.  The experience on the bicycle is so different and so much more real and so much more vivid. I saw, I smelt and I learnt more on the bike than I ever do in the car.  My appreciation of the environment as experienced is so much greater now.

Ernest Hemigway and Cycling

My thanks to the Adelaide Cyclist for discovering this thought provoking imagery.

Bicycle Touring and Hiking (Bushwalking) Gear List

Apr 12th, 2010
by Aushiker.
1 comment

Having recently my second end to end of the Cape to Cape Track and my second major bicycle tour I felt it was a good time to revise and list my equipment list for bushwalks and bicycle touring.  This list as provided here is based on a eight day road based tour from Esperance to Perth and hence would be modified for a bushwalk. That said there are core elements for both outdoor activities and hopefully it provides a reference point for considering one’s own gear list.

For a lightweight model of backpacking which could apply pretty much to bicycle touring as well check out Mark’s story of transitioning to a lightweight bushwalker. Great gear list given by Mark and something I need to aspire to for sure.

To allow for easy updating and modifying as appropriate I am only providing my gear list as an Excel spreadsheet.  Please click here to download the current gear list – Updated November, 2011 to reflect the preparation for my Dreaming Tour in 2012.

Life on the road in 2010 – Week 2

Jan 14th, 2010
by Aushiker.
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The purpose of this series of posting is to summarise my week on the bike and exercising in general etc.  My week runs from Thursday to Friday, so Week 2 for me in 2010 is from January 8, 2010 through to January 14, 2010.

Date

Exercise

Comments
Friday, January 8 44.97 km on the bike

Two rides:

  1. Quick ride up to the library followed by a circuit of Lake Herdsman. Sir Lancelot’s first ride for 2010.
  2. Varied the route between Canning Bridge and East Fremantle, following the marked bike route, which is not as steep but the climb is longer. Not sure this was the best choice as even though I focused on my cadence I still did not average 90.
Saturday, January 9 106.56 km on the bike

Two rides:

  1. Rode well with the Freo Wheelers for most of the ride, placing third in the Mounts Bay Road sprint but then hit the wall, getting dropped in Nedlands. Never caught up again. Still averaged 30 km/h on the actual ride.
  2. Good ride home. Much better than I expected. I again focused on cadence and recovery and it came through.
Sunday, January 10 20.71 km on the bike Just the one ride, a hard one into the wind (46 km/h) along the railway line from Churchlands to Fremantle.
Monday January 11 74.23 km on the bike Getting back into my normal commute mode this week. Mondays are Fremantle to Joondalup with the wind or a cross wind in the morning followed by a beating back along the coast to Churchlands in the afternoon. More of a beating today with gusts to 50 km/h coming in off the coast.
Tuesday January 12 80.42 km on the bike A reverse of Monday’s ride with the morning going from Churchlands to Joondalup (extended it a bit this week going around the southern end of Bold Park first) followed by an afternoon ride into the Fremantle Doctor to Fremantle. 52 km/h headwinds this afternoon.
Wednesday January 13 75.18 km on the bike Back to Joondalup with a cross wind and then return to Churchlands in the afternoon. Wind eased off this afternoon (32 km/h) but I was not noticing it!
Thursday January 14 56.71 km on the bike. Today was a loaded ride on Sir Lancelot taking to the office a week’s worth of clothes and bringing the old lot home. Took to the coast in the morning for a slow but pleasant ride and then returned by the Freeway. A just want to get home ride.
Totals for the Week Total Bike Kilometres: 

458.78 km for the week;
852.45 km for the year.

Weight:

100.2 kg; Lost 800 grams this week;
Total weight loss for 2010: 2.8 kg.

BikeJournal Rankings:

On the weight front, I started the year in a less than healthy position at 103 kg and I ended the week at 100.2 kg, so a small start on getting myself sorted.  My target for the month end is 95 kg, so still 5.2 kg to go.  I know I really need to work on changing my love of food to get this one sorted once and for all.

Life on the road in 2010 – Week 1

Jan 9th, 2010
by Aushiker.
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The purpose of this series of posting is to summarise my week on the bike and exercising in general etc.  My week runs from Thursday to Friday, so Week 1 for me in 2010 is from January 1, 2010 through to January 7, 2010.

Date

Exercise

Comments
Friday, January 1 36.83 km on the bike

Rode to Fremantle. First ride after a week off playing Dad.  I found it hard to get rhythm along Melville Waters. Warm riding into the winds all the way to Fremantle.

Saturday, January 2 129.12 km on the bike

Prison Break Audax ride (100 km). I rode from Fremantle to the start and back again. A very hot ride which had a strong impact on my performance. Pacemaker kicked in a fair bit which did not help either.
Sunday, January 3   Rest day
Monday January 4 53.55 km on the bike

On holidays so an extended commute home from Fremantle. South into the south/easterly for awhile before swinging north on the Kwinana Freeway PSP. Rode Russell Road which was a mixed experience.

At a cross roads heading east (primary road) I had a car pull up besides me, no left hand indicator, so I assumed it was going right. It wasn’t. It suddenly started to turn left on me, I yelled and braked full on, the driver realised they where going to take out the island on the road to the left and took evasive action to miss the island entering the road on the wrong side. There is no way the driver could not have seen me and knew what they where doing and I suspect new they had done wrong as he or she did slow down after the incident as if they where checking all was okay. Unfortunately I didn’t get the licence plate.
Tuesday January 5 99.28 km on the bike

Two Rides today:

  1. South Perth Rouleurs Moderate Ride: Dragged myself out of bed this morning to have a go with the South Perth Rouleurs moderate group which rides the river, starting at the northern end of the narrows. The warm-up up Mounts Bay Road has hitting 40 km/h + and it went from there. I got dropped on the Mosman Park hill and then picked up the group at the re-group. I stayed with them till the Stirling Highway traffic bridge at North Fremantle and then was pretty much on my own from there. I am not ready yet for their pace.
  2. Churchlands to Fremantle River commute:  Hot ride into the wind pretty much all the way to Fremantle. Felt sluggish on the early part of the ride and then found my rear brake rubbing against the rim! Sorting that out made a difference :)
Wednesday January 6 74.89 km on the bike

Two rides today:

  1. Fremantle to Churchlands River commute:  Slight variation on my normal river ride. I bypassed Fremantle town, coming out on the river at the intersection of East Street instead. Winds where not favourable with a fresh north-westerly for the ride today. This combined with the heat made it a harder ride than normal. I focused more on my cadence this ride which was good for me.
  2. First ride with the South Perth Rouleurs novice group in Kings Park. Found it much harder going than I expected due dead legs, dead roads, headwinds and climbing five times.
Thursday January 7   Rest day
Totals Total Bike Kilometres:

393.67 km for the week;
393.67 km for the year.

Weight:

101 kg; Lost two kg this week;
Total weight loss for 2010: Two kg.

On the weight front, I started the year in a less than healthy position at 103 kg and I ended the week at 101 kg, so a small start on getting myself sorted.  My target for the month end is 95 kg, so still six kg to go.  I know I really need to work on changing my love of food to get this one sorted once and for all.

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