Pre-MAD prep

The MAD Ride is on tomorrow if you've been living in a cave, so it was *finally* time to get the old sponge and Maguiars Gold Class out to give the bike a scrub. And of course, no degreaser to be found. Nor any chain wax. What the hell is going on!?!

So anyway, it was on for young and old with the suds and then it was onto the wheels. I cleaned up the scunge, but haven't gotten around to polishing the rims - I'll have to sneak that in early tomorrow morning.

Nice and shiny

The cibby got a small gift today as well, a touch-up with a paint marker and nail polish and a new decal!

Wheelie girl!

AND if you don't know already: here's the details for the MAD Ride:

SEE YOU THERE!

Back in action

Yep, I'm back. Into fencing that is. I've made a pact with a certain Swedish friend that I'd get back into a bit of fitness routine in exchange for perverse photos! Nah, not really. But I did get that good feeling in Berlin after walking everywhere for 3 weeks.

It's good not feeling puffed after climbing a few staircases. So easing into some fencing over the next two to three weeks should be great. All my friends are there - Chloe, Paul and Nic.

Today consisted of picking Chloe up at 6.20pm and heading over to the gym. We did about 4 laps of the fencing section and I thought I was going to die. I warned her that I hadn't run anywhere in a long time! We then put on our gloves and grabbed a sabre each and joined the faggety foilists in some footwork. It only went for about half an hour and my legs were dead. Like I said before - "ease in".

After that it was back to the oLd SkoOl days where the sabreurs would rearrange their social calendars over chocolate bars and potato chips. Nothing's changed. The only thing is that we're a little older and things are a little funnier.

After all that, I sustained no injuries, did some running, caught up with some mates and bought $12 of grape juice.

Next session is Saturday from 2pm - I'll hope to make it to that one and push a little harder.

http://www.cavaliers.com.au/

Public holiday

It was that time of the year to have a belated Queen's Birthday public holiday - and what a superb day it was.

A quick phone call from Julz got me out of bed at 8am where I got the camera charged up and got ready for the day ahead.

The morning started with a visit to Maccas and the BP down the road for some breakfast and lunch supplies. Which reminds me, that lamington is still in the fridge... A couple of sandies, a bag of ice and some beers and it was all go for the powerlines.

Driving up past Mundaring Weir to Sawyer's Valley, we grabbed the turn off and headed out to the bush.

The track was about the same as last time, but Julz and I weren't so adventurous as previous, for we didnt' have a backup crew; it was just the two of us.

One moment we were heading up a large face, we had the right angle, a little bit of speed... then *scrape*. Julz and I looked at each other and I said, "heaps of room!". We cracked up laughing.

Another funny moment was listening to the new Scissor Sisters song on the radio, something about "I don't feel like dancing no sir no dancing today..." As the bridge of the song concluded with a high pitched squeal Julz says "squeeze those balls" - I nearly lost it.

Lunch was a detour 35km from the end of the track to York, a historical city about 100km from Perth. It consisted of a pint and a pizza at the Castle Hotel, where I actually ate MORE than Julz did. And no Julz, Carlton Black is no excuse for a complete meal :P

The fourby

Maaaaaaayte

A little bit of stagnant water never killed anyone

The course, looking back

A little bit of good ole Aussie flora

Bovines

Julz and his takeaway pizza; YorkYella wifebeater

Meet the family

My cousin Kinga and aunt Marysia have come over from Poland for a 5 week visit to Perth. It was time to catch up with them as I hadn't seen them in 13 years. Last time they were over, I was living in Craigie as an 11 year old. Kinga and I would have competitions on who could hold their breath the longest in the swimming pool. I always won.

Dinner at Pines

Walking around at Scabs

The weather today was an absolute treat and I wished that I had ridden to lunch, but it was a little windy. I saw some fellow riders parked up near the new parking area; I knew they had the right idea...

It was then off to The Saint in Innaloo. I'd never been there before, but I really liked the place and I'll be going back for sure. It was a wicked atmosphere and it felt like a coastal establishment, but with no beach. You walk upstairs, so you're away from the road, the sun was setting, the drinks were a bit pricey, but there were no just-turned-18's there unlike the OBH on a Sunday sesh. It was a little bit funky, and with the warmer weather, it was a sunglasses parade! The food looks pretty good too, so I'll review the place again down the track.

The sweet sounds of the 4-hunj

It's been over 4 weeks since I had been on the good old 400. She's been sitting next to the BBQ quietly, gathering dust (and a few ants) whilst I had been at play in Eastern Europe.
Since I woke up at 3pm today I figured I should at least make the most of what was left of this marvellous weather and take the motorbike for a spin.

I knew the poor girl would be running on three cylinders and I was quite sure she wouldn't start at all, but there she went; second go. I let the choke do all the action. Chug-chug, put-put and a pop and she was all ready. Bugger the oil and the tyre pressure, I just wanted to go for a ride. I knew I had to take it easy for a little bit, but when I hit the freeway...

Accelerating to an undisclosed speed on the freeway on-ramp, she was singing. 12,000 rpm and she was loving it. Even more so than me I think... but damn I missed that sound. Up a few gears and back to the regulated speed limit, I passed a few cars and dropped a gear to blow some more of those cobwebs out. That Roo Racing pipe is mint, even after 3 years.

I headed into the tunnel and did the same thing; made her howl. I'm sure there would have been a few irate car drivers with a note resonating though their heads and bellowing out the other end of the tunnel. Up onto East Parade and back into the tunnel for another go. It must be something with Sunday. Who enters a merging lane at 60km/hr when the limit is 80? Damn Corolla driver. Just another obstacle left in the side mirror.

Back upthe freeway and a 5-lane change over to Vincent Street for some more weavy riding through Perth's northern burbs. Up Oxford Street and around the bank, I dropped her into first instead of second and she went a little sideways on me, not enough to worry about, but mental note for next time: don't be doing 50+ and putting it in first *roll eyes*

Easy does it back home, just working the bike up and down the gears and rev ranges. A quick ride, but a nice one. Should have tied my hair up a little better too, I have knots in knots!

This week she'll be getting a good ol scrubbin' for sure!

Everyone's happy =)

A few thank you's

It's been an interesting week. Coming back from an awesome holiday in Eastern Europe, meeting some fantastic people and seeing some beautiful cities.

This week has been up and down. First of all, I *still* have killer jet-lag. I've been exhausted all week and haven't been sleeping too well. Or too well. Last night I got 14 hours, but tonight... well its nearly 2am and I'm awake.

Big thanks to Ben for my wonderful birthday gift (Dior forever baby!) and to Julz who took me out to dinner and entertained me whilst I nearly fell asleep in my sushi, and came along to the Fear Factory family reunion. Cheers dude, you made my night so much fun.

On a side note, I found out today that the drags are now $40. I'm not poor and I'm not rich, but to me that's getting a bit pricey. I'll still go, but not as often as I had hoped to go. I really thought the price would stay at $30 for one more year. Oh well. I'm hoping to get low 13's consistently. I also saw that there's a new concept (funded by entry fees no doubt) - the reaction challenge; where you win money if you snap a really low reaction time. Good idea. Still too expensive. /rant over

Anyway, time for some more sleep. Good nite world :)

FEAR FACTORY - Have left the building...

You may recall that I was so slightly excited by the fact that Fear Factory were coming to Perth in my post here, well there were in town LAST NITE!

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The gig TOTALLY ROCKED OUT and I went absolutely mental when FF played Archetype, Lynchpin and Dog Day Sunrise. Of course, can't go past Edgecrusher, Scapegoat and Self Bias Resistor.

To top it off, Julz and I bummed around a little bit and Julz managed to catch Raymond Hererra's drum stick (which I quickly snatched from him - sorry dude)!!! A great night all round. Thanks for tagging along Julz.

The evidence