This One's for Fred!

Sunday 8th April 2018: after a bit of dithering (good word that) due to the prospect of rain, hail and shining, we postponed the usual 9am start, elected an 11am on Sudnay morning. Weather reports came in from Marieville Esplanade, Sandy Bay's 'golden mile', the Anglican Church Glebe, and St David's Park (who was there and why I don't know).

We also had the prospect of the Leader of the Heart Foundation (Tasmania) Mr Graeme Lynch Esq OHS, however he called in sick with a sore finger.

The crew who took to the road: Peter Larkey, Jeff Fitzgibbon, Stephen Porter and Phil Kimber.  The sun came out, the road was dry, a warm wind slight from the north, and we headed out from the Royal Yacht Club toward Mona.

Gentle but consistent riding (as the actress complained to the bishop) with an average of close to 20 km/hour, and we were at Mona before two shakes of a lamb's tail.

The car park at Mona was chockers, and their were punters everywhere. We engaged, first, with a bloke from northern NSW - Lismore.  Happy holidays Bill!

Then with coffeee in hand, we took up at one of the long tables, and had the enjoyment of company from Fred, see pictured in the graphic below, on the port side as those pictured look out.

Fred hails from California, in the valley. I didn't ask which, but expect it was the one where John Steinbeck wrote - the Salinas Valley. Although Fred has a Phillipines background, he has been his life in California. Debate raged on the prospect of war with the Russians, the mindless determination of foreign policy by Trumpian Tweet, and the fact that here we are, in the safest place in the world, yet still some people grizzle.

Fred introduced us to an early girlfriend of his's daughter, Jacquie.  I'd say Fred has managed to keep friends notwithstanding departure from proximity. Jacquie lives in Melbourne with her young child and husband and they had all recently spent a day on the quick tour of Bruny Island - and will be welcome back again.

The trip back on the bikes to the city went smoothly. A slight tail wind pushed Porter and Kimber well, although there were comments mistakenly attributing less competitive spirit to Larkey (by Porter) rejected as 'hurtful' (I suspect that means truthful, but preferred not to have heard).

So endeth that week.

Commeth the day: Sunday the 15th April 2018; the 'fivecast' was terrible, so a little chatter on the airwaves deceed  - no ride today - and a coffee at Little Lola's (at the Jet Servo, Maning Ave) instead at 10am.

Here is the picture of the Mount Wellington today: well, it is from a camera pointed in the direction, but it is blacked out for security reasons.

 Here is a picture I took mid week (below) looking in the same direction, but with the moon over the mountain, and clear blue sky.

There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad selection of clothing. There is no such thing as a day of bad weather in Hobart, all you have to do is wait 10 minutes and it will change!

Your writer took the MV Amity with brothers Karimisoff and Dickie McCure for a jaunt overnight from RYCT to Cadbury Peninsula (about 2 km north of Mona on the Derwent River) and we had excellent enjoyment wish casserole lamb, red wine from South Australia, and a warm night on board sheltered from the wind and rain. The temperature dropped from 18 degrees to 9 overnight, and snow is on the mountain to the 300 m mark.

Still the sun shines - outside, through the windows and in our soles.

As Peter Cook said "the Americans have their soul singers, and we, the British have are sole singers".

Another Peter Cook one:

So; keep well, ride fast, avoid cars, and see you on the track.

El Kimbros