From Bright

Australia Day!

Sabina is amazed to see all the people with Australian flag tatoos (temporary ones), Australian capes and hats. Of course she wants one too!

We pack up, depart our accommodation, and drive straight up the hill to Fiona's. She's got three girls Sabina's age - great play time for everyone. We sit on the deck, watching the trees on the nearby hills. We're pretty much in the middle of Bright, but because we're a bit up the hill, you wouldn't know the town exists.

Later we drive to Milawa for lunch, where we pick up some cheeses from the renowned Milawa cheese factory. We're barely back on the main road, when Sabina says "I already want to be there!". We laugh.

Some of the length of the journey is eased by me singing. Everything from Polish folk songs I used to sing in a choir, to Polish Christmas carols, to anything else that comes to mind. Sabina sings along with me, which leaves me proud as pie.

The Recovery

Today is recovery day, and the boys compare notes and reminisce about the ride. They show off photos and tan lines.

We take a short drive down to Wandilligong, and go into the hedge maze. The maze has us totally puzzled as we wander around the same region of it for about 1/2 an hour. Finally I put my foot down, we apply the right hand rule, and with amazing ease complete the maze. Lunch follows.

Today is also Peter's birthday. In the afternoon we setup for afternoon tea outside. (Yet another hot day.) Two chocolate cakes, and two schnapps decorate the table. Friends roll in from all directions. The adults dig into the delicacies, the kids jump in the pool.

In the evening we pop out to a restaurant for dinner. Afterwards we wander over to the Bright Brewery. It's owned and run by our friends, Scott and Fiona, and we get involved in drying the dishes (in our Sunday best). But it's good to chat and catch up. As always, Fiona has some out left field ideas.

The Audax

The alarm rings. My alarm. It's 5am. You see, it is the job of "da wife" to wake up "da husband" so he is on time for the start of his ride. Sheesh. I am sure this wasn't in my wedding vows. Or was it?

Pete is gone before I know it. I am sure that ouside the world hums with multi-thousand dollar bikes, but I sleep on.

Sabina and I enjoy a lovely girls day out. First shopping for a present for Papa's birthday, then the obligatory cappucino, followed by shopping for afternoon tea delicacies, water guns and a surf mat. It is 30+ deg C again today. And we go back to our accommodation for a dip in the pool. The water guns and surf mat are a hit.

I get the odd update from Pete. "At Falls". "At Bright". Then I get one from the ride organisers - "Peter has just reached Mt Buffalo". We get out of the pool, and into town, where we stand cheering just before the finish line. (Was cheering part of my vows?)

Finally Peter finishes his ride, and we race after him. Sabina ignores all barriers and jumps into the race finish with Papa, proudly holding onto his bike.

In Bright

The little town of 2,500 people is buzzing. Over 30,000 visitors have descended on the town for the long weekend. A large proportion of them will be participating in the Audax Alpine Classic. The Audax (as it's commonly known) is a gruelling bike ride (push bike) any way you take it.

The short distance is Bright-Tawonga Gap-Mt Beauty-Tawonga Gap-Bright. 64km. You may be tempted to ask why isn't it just called "Bright-Mt Beauty-Bright"? When you have cycled up Tawonga Gap, you'll know why.

The other short distance is Bright-Mt Buffalo-Bright. 70km. From Mt Buffalo you will be able look back on Tawonga Gap and laugh.

Then there is Bright-Tawonga Gap-Falls Creek-Tawonga Gap-Bright. 130km. The only time you'll be laughing here is when you finish in Bright and realise, that the rider behind you is doing the 200km.

Then Bright-Tawonga Gap-Mt Beauty-Tawonga Gap-Bright-Mt Buffalo-Bright. 140km. See laughing instructions for the 70km ride.

Then there is the real McCoy, the original Audax, Bright-Falls Creek-Bright-Mt Buffalo-Bright. 200km. Over moutains. Laugh only when you finish.

And finally, the new special for this year, the ACE250. Bright-Mt Hotham-Omeo-Falls Creek-Bright. 250km. Over mountains. It's no laughing matter. It even has qualifying rides in order to enter.

So what are we doing here? Well, of course, Peter the bike riding endurance junkie, is doing the realy McCoy Audax 200km over mountains. His friends have more sanity, and they are only doing the 140km. Nice. Sabina ... well she's just ridden the 1km into town for an ice cream, and quite frankly I've been dragging her bike for the last 200m while she's been skipping along beside me.

We sit down at a cafe with our ice creams, and enjoy the hot day. 30+ deg C. The place is crawling with lycra lizards, dogs, children and bikini beauties. Bikes, bikes and more bikes are everywhere. And they are expensive machines too. Most of them standing in bike racks, or leaning against light posts. Unlocked. The waitress comments that they are running out of food.

Well, we're not! The cycling boys (men, perhaps) are so hung up on getting their carbs before the big day, that we've got more pasta, and more meat sauce of various kinds, than you can poke a stick at!

After dinner the boys double check their bikes, and pack their bags. Questions like "one spare tube or two?", "magnesium drink or protein drink?", "gel or pre-mixed drink?" are dominating the conversation. Everyone hits the sack early. I find a good book on the shelf. It swallows me whole. I finally manage to free myself from it just after midnight.

To Bright

We're taking a break from our farm this weekend, and heading up to Bright. We're supposed to leave at 7pm, but these plans always seem to slip. Especially when children are involved.

Then we get a call from Pete's mate. He is already up in Bright, and he's forgotten his cycling shoes. Can we please pick them up from his house? Thank goodness we're late.

Sabina wonders how can he put the shoes on the front porch if he is not home?

We pick up the shoes and drive off, into the night, up the Hume Highway.

Sabina is very excited about the trip, and attempts to stay awake the whole way. "I already want to be there", she moans. We look at each other and smile. "It's a long way", she comments. All day I had tried to prepare her for the long drive. I failed. Eventually she falls asleep.

We drive into Bright, and head to our accommodation. Our friends are still up, enjoying a drink or two.

After the storm

Last night there was a massive storm with strong winds, thunder and lightening and very heavy rain. We have two shining gums growing near our front gate, and one of them dropped a branch on the fence. Right on the stay. The stay was broken, the post snapped off. The wire is kinked, but amazingly, not broken.

Pete's day is taken up with fixing the fence while Sabina and I bring back soil and fill in gaps around the new path.