The Bicyclists

Thank you to Stephen and Lizzie Bourke for being led by their youngest son Ailbe, so he can pursue (instead of keeping up with school work) the stage, the boards, acting and theatre. When advised Legally Blond  was on at the Playhouse for a two week season, the Bikeriders selected the closing Saturday show on 8th Sept 2019 for the entertainment. Tickets were booked, and instead of trying to sort out a pre-show commercial venue for food and refreshments, Kimber put up the idea of 'curries at home from later afternoon'. And so it was. One of the two curries.   Easy to make, only a few spices, and in the slow cooker, get it going by 1pm and she's ready to feed, with mash potato, at 6pm  Peta and Lulu getting to know each other. "Will you be eating all your duck?" Said Lulu. "No" said Peta. "Why do you ask?" - then they walked hand in hand down to the edge of the garden and the friendship was cemented in love, and food... ...

In a revelation into 1st world problems two significant issues arose, Sunday 5th May 2019. Local man, P Larkey advised, unprompted that in order to clean up bird feathers from he and his wife Annabel's front lawn, he actually keeps a spare vacuum cleaner in the garden shed, and periodically sucks up the feathers (presumably hand picking the broken and crunched bones and leatherised skin). "It won't go away with a normal lawn mowing, and detracts from the look of the lawn" - Mr Larkey, former now retired senior secondary State school teacher in literature told your reporter at the Driftwood Restaurant - Lauderdale, Tasmania. The revelations were clearly a shock to Mr Larkey's companions: see graphic:  Porter, Kozlow and Fitzgibbon debate alternative and more carbon neutral methods of removing bird feathers from their garden lawns. Meanwhile, in other States, with the State Upper House election still undecided, complaints that the candidates had not yet...

This morning we rode out to Mona, and on the way met Bill Shorten. He asked us who we voted for, and we kept schtumm. He offered $50M as encouragement. Obviously there is an amount more than that in it for him if we 'swing' his way. Whilst waiting for the money to flow down from the carbon credits, we kept riding our old bikes. No point spending what might not happen. Report on injuries and incapacities: Porter: shoulder. Should be out for 4 games. Hopes to be back in for the grand final. Bourke: blow to the artistic temperament. Has to spend time in Victoria looking at artwork and museums. Should be back in training on Tuesday at the GFC Lunch. Stats: Today's ride from RYCT to Mona, left about 0930hrs, and return about 1200noon, due to time spent chatting, and inspecting the new bridge over the highway. Comment on that is that it obscures the view of the mountain from the cenotaph, and from the 120,000 cars a day which go under it, visitors to Tasmania. Somehow...

Sounds like a leg transmogrified into an arm, but no, it was simply the jaunt last on Sunday 14th April 2019 from Tony K's house Granary Place, and the Tangara track, between Mortimer Bay and South Arm. A 30 min drive from Sandy Bay, via Pass Rd, Lauderdale, then a right turn to the start of the track. A wonderful day; no wind, warm, and a 9.30am start - easy peasy. Here are the 4 bike riders: Larkey with his head looking straight at us, a light fawn colour, Kimber the black Alpaca, Fitzgibbon with the smart little turned up tail (he was a bit shy, and keeping all bases covered) and Tony stoutly overseeing the invaders to his territory: Image: PK Tony and Karen have a lovely house discreetly just back over the hill, so with a fine view, but not visible from the foreshore track. Image: Larkey and Fitz taking the steps to the water edge, investigating.  Image: Jeff, Peter and Tony on the beach, many a midden, almost constant.  The view from the start o...

Winter is here. 1st June and the pigeons have flown to northern regions. Fitz has taken his long silently suffering to France, where they will again be allowed to speak of the many secret things between couples.  Tony has packed his pedal bike, and shipped it to Germany, where he will tour the lowlands with his daughter, protected by accompanying Karen in the BMW or Mercedes tour vehicle. But whilst some fly way Peter, fly away Paul, others drive themselves back to Hobart from autumn holidays. Larkey returned after the very successful Saint Hill - Man Alive  release in Melbourne: see and listen to clips: Cut and paste into your browser):  https://sainthill.bandcamp.com/album/man-alive With strains of the famous Robert Smith band "The Cure", along with the eponymous Robert Zimmerman, the Saint Hill rendezvous with musical fame is upon us. Larkey will be truly living off the earnings! His retirement from invigilating will be complete. Porter was his reliable self...

Petra to Shag Bay: the true story! With the Marples all married off to the Windsor, and Red Hair again in fashion, it was an ideal day this Sunday (20 May 2018) to travel to the sunny side and explore the northern side of the bridge. At stages the travel was slow going, but the end product was quite a long ride, with sufficient stops and entertainments to make it feel relatively relaxed. The Glenorchy - Casino (why don't they get their own?) walk/run day was on, so there was doubt about whether we would be blocked trying to cross the bridge. With an agreed start at Montague Bay of 10am, Porter and Fitz took the car option, and parked near Rose Bay. Kimber being uncertain about damage to the limo by poking his bike in the boot, rode over from Nixon St.  By 0915 hrs the Royal wedding had been swept aside like last night's rubbish in the street, and people were back egocentrically exploring their own world. No wind, 11 degrees, and a great wash of humanity tr...