Swimming

Took Jack and Josie to the local swimming pool today, Jack loves his swimming and it was Josie's first dip (she also loved it), so I'm sure we will have many more trips to the pool in the future.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Jackson is constantly singing to us with his ever expanding repertoire of songs, his favourites are 'A, B, C..', 'Ba Ba Black Sheep' and 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star', although he has been known to break into a bit of 'Humpty Dumpty', 'Raining its Pouring', and 'Jack and Jill'. Here is his version of 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'.... (note the morning hair!)

Red Bull Air Race

On Sunday we had a lovely day out to see the Red Bull Air Race, which included a train ride into the city .... all very exciting! Jack was SO excited to see all the planes, Josie was just happy to smile at all the people there.

Here is a short video of Jack's commentary of the event...

Time for solids

We have introduced Josie to solids (...although at the moment they really should be called mushies). So far on the menu has been baby rice cereal, sweet potato, carrot and apple. She seems to have enjoyed it all.

Bike Build- Part 2 The Finale

The saying goes- things are never as simple as you think they are. Words I have really understood whilst finishing off the single speed bike I have been putting toegther. You think "need a cool blue chain. I'll get this from the internet" then when it arrives it is too short! (Anyone want a blue single speed chain- going cheap).

Also had some issues with the front brake not fitting the frame but with a lot of help from my local bike shop it's all done. Pretty happy with the result- will look out for a cheap blue bike seat to get the blue thing happening a bit more and if I ever find a blue chain that fits I will add that to the beast...

Went for a short ride before the rain arrived here- it rides suprisingly well. Very old school and with only one brake I will be cruising most of the time.

Now- just have to convince Em of the merits of this piece of art and that it too (along with an old surfboard) needs to be in pride of place on the wall of our house!

Equation for fun

4 hour Mountain bike race + nice single track + lots of dust! + good people = LOTS of Fun (and a little sore Richard!)

Bibbulmun Track

The 'Waugal'

I’m not a fan of golf. Never have been and cannot ever see myself taking up the sport (or leisure activity?) I have however, found myself sitting in front of the tv watching some golf tournament and before I knew it, one hour had passed. I was watching some over paid blokes, dressed very nicely and walking around following a white ball for over an hour and the time just seemed to disappear. It’s funny how time works like that. I get the same feeling walking in the bush, before you know it you have been going for two hours, chatting away, catching your breath as you reach the top of a climb, thinking about how close to 90 cm your stride is and then trying to mentally calculate how many steps in 1 km... you know, the usual stuff.

Dad and I spent two days on the Bibbulmun Track, a long distant walking trail that meanders for around 1000 km from Kalamunda in the Perth hills to Albany on the south coast. It is a well set out track, named after one of the Nyoongar clans (aboriginal peoples of the south west), with campsites at regular intervals and ‘Waugal’ markers making navigation simple.

Our walk began with a 6.30am start at Brookton Highway (thanks for the lift mum!) with the plan to head north, perhaps walking over 70 km in two days to make it to Kalamunda with the option to cut things short and finish in Mundaring, 17 km earlier.
There was a chill in the air as we began making our way to Mount Dale. We passed an ‘end to ender’, heading south on day three of a 60 day journey to Albany. There appears to be plenty of people who walk the entire track in one go. There are even ‘end to end to enders’ who walk to Albany and back!

We stopped off at Beraking campsite for lunch. After dad had a mishap with his water bladder earlier in the day we found out that the matches had been wet- so no hot coffee over lunch! From Beraking we made our way to Waalegh campsite. We had covered 30 km and with heavy packs fatigue was beginning to set in. We decided against trying to make the next 10 km to the next campsite and stay here for the night. Waalegh sits atop the range over looking CY O’Conner lake, making for some nice views. We were lucky enough to find other walkers there who gave us some matches, allowing us to make a fire and get our stove going- hot food and coffee.

Waalegh campsite

The up and downs of the next morning justified our decision the night before not to press on. Hills make for great views and this would have to have been the most scenic part of the walk. We met a few more walkers heading in the other direction and one who was fast asleep on the side of the track (one hill too many). It wasn’t long before we reached Mundaring hotel and the end of the walk- just in time for a beer and lunch!

Walking in the bush is seen as therapeutic by many and I can see why. The time goes quickly with each forward step, yet it felt as if we had been away for so much longer than two days. Things are simplified- walk, rest, eat, sleep - with no reason apart from making your way from one place to another. Maybe that is why I won’t take up golf- the ball makes things too complicated.

Dad is keen to be an ‘end to ender’ in sections- so you do the whole walk over a number of smaller walks. I hope I can join him. I also hope that in 30 odd years I’m as fit as he is now.

Overlooking Mundaring Wier

Whiteman Park

Had a lovely morning out at Whiteman Park yesterday, followed by lunch at Elmars Brewery.

Jacksons face when you ask him to 'smile'!

Josie enjoying her time at Whiteman Park

Early Morning bike ride

Each Saturday morning I try to get out for a longish bike ride. Often I join a group for a ride but sometimes I like to get up super early (yes, the first photo does show it is 4 am!) and get a ride in. From home I head down the coast to Fremantle, then along the river and up towards the city. Then it is back to the coast and heading north for home and a coffee. Getting up early means that I can ride for 3 and a half hours and still get back home for breakfast.

Here are a few photos- it's a pretty city first thing in the morning.

96 km before 7.30am!!
A ride and then coffee- Perfect!

The Easter Egg hunt....

... Jackson enjoyed his Easter Egg hunt on Sunday. Now we have enough chocolate to last him (and us) until Christmas!

Josie enjoying her bath