First Trip Back. Fail!

I had been anticipating my return to the adventurous world to be a little more sympathetic. But I was wrong!

I've wanted to take on a particular trip for a while now, one that started from my front door.

The plan was to ride up to Kalpower, QLD. Then onto the BBIRT (Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail), and from there we'd see.

The route started from home, Wallaville, and worked up through the back of; Horse camp, Nearum, New Moonta, Wonbah, Geata and onto Kalpower.

The main reason for this route was to ride the Nearum and Goyan Road section. After this, the Wonbah and Geata Roads section was another desired route I had planned to ride.

The day started late, much later than I wanted. I rode about three kilometres from home, realised I'd forgotten something important, went back and well, yeah. (Mistake 1)

The heat of the day had already hit. I was flustered, then became anxious, and that isn't good.

It wasn't long before the Garmin was showing 46C° on the black top. This is of course what I call "Reflective Temperature". Probably not it's scientific name. But it is the temp that we feel, especially when labouring in the sun.

After about eighteen kilometres I found I nice little bus shelter, it was way too inviting.

I wasn't in a rush so I thought I'd stop and call it a day. This was just to regroup, calm down, relax and to start afresh a new day. (Mistake 2. Sounded good in theory).

I had anticipated roughly six days before I saw a shop. Freeze dried veggies, rice, soy protiens and then snacks. The good old snacks...(Mistake 3. What I took as snacks).

I had also made allowances to carry 10.5 litres of water, allowing for 5.25 lt per day. (BIG Mistake 4. The biggest mistake).

Now let's get back to riding...we've scrapped Day 1. When camped, an elderly gentleman pulled up to where I was camped. He saw the bike and stopped for a chat. He told me of a creek, or small river, that had great water and even a platypus. Without checking where he was talking about, I assumed it was the way I was headed. 

My plan was to enjoy a great day of relaxed riding, stop to filter water, eat, rest and continue on. Because of all this I didn't ration, or pay mind to my water consumption. (All this combined...Mistake 5).

Now let's digress from the agony and heartache for a moment...Nearum and Gootan Roads...

This section of road is up there as some of the best I've ridden, especially after all the recent storm activity.

You come onto Nearum Road at the junction of Tablelands and Doughbouy Roads. The first thing you see is a sign saying Local Traffic Only. This is always a concern as I've found often there awaits a locked gate at the end.

After speaking to a local, she assured me you could go through. There were gates but to leave them how I found them.

The roads start as standard road base but eventually turns to a more forestry road. It does follow a creek for quite a way, a bloody dry one of course.

The surface ranges from compacted road base, loose rocky gravel, large rock fillings across creeks, and sandy sections. The 27.5"x4.5" tyres of the fat bike ate this all up.

The route is scenic, running down over dry creek beds, looking out over pastures, tree tunnels, and forest. It has it all and before you know it you're faced with Mount Perry Road. 

This was the end for me, New Moonta. Yes, I made mistakes that I shouldn't have. But out of practice I underestimated a lot of things.

I struggled eating the snacks I took, and even the prior night. My stoma blocked up and well... There are a whole lot of would've, should've, could've but it is what it is now.

I knew when embarking that I had bitten off more than I can chew, but it was also a testing ground for many things. One of which is the Perenial Hernia repair stood up to a heavy bike being pushed up hills. This was my big worry, and now a big relief.

I will make some changes to my dietary supplements, make room for more water, take a deep breath and relax.

Cheers all.

Plenty of pastoral views

Overgrown  

Norco Bigfoot 3 😁 

A beautiful road ahead. Shame the creek was dry.

                      A bit how I felt     

 

Days Are Getting Longer.

As the Queensland winter disappears, and Spring shines it's lovely head, the days are getting longer and longer. It's not just because of the change of seasons, but as I switch between laying and standing, time drags on.

Although I started with a whinge it isn't all that bad. The healing process is doing it's thing.

Pain is subsiding and mobility is returning. Even though the simplest of tasks can be exhausting, it feels good to be able to move around easier.

Although, I have to say that bending can be extremely difficult as everything is still tight. 

I've found that getting up and doing some light house chores helps. I've gotten out into the yard for walks, a good thing about living on an acre of land. I've even dragged my hammock out of storage and set it up with my new Altons tarp. 

It has been a tumultuous couple of weeks. There was the difficult run home from hospital. Then bad news, my mother passed away. This meant a flying trip, well snail paced trip south for the funeral.

After we returned home I did an unspeakable thing. My 5 kg weight limit was forgotten as I lifted Chief onto the lounge. Chief is the smallest of our two dogs, a British Staffy. Whilst smaller, he still comes in at a chunky 17 kg. A little too much for this Old Bum to be lifting. Sharp pain ran down my left buttocks cheek and down my leg. My abdomen was also in a great deal of pain.

I panicked for a out 3 days whilst the pain slowly dissipated. Luckily there doesn't seem to be any damage, but I was waiting for my bowels to drop out onto the floor...🤣

I suppose I should explain what has been done.

I suffered from a massive Perinial Hernia. The Hernia is a result of my APR (Abdominoperineal Resection) I had in 2020. It had been repaired once previously but I was told it would never be a permanent fix.

With an APR, the rectum, sphincter and anus are removed.  They then basically just sew your butt cheeks together. Nothing fills the hole where one's anus used to be.

Over time the bowel pushes it's way back down where it thinks it belongs. After months of radiation and chemo it damages the skin in that area. The skin has no strength and does nothing to hold back the bowel. The bowel eventually pushes through and out. The skin with no structure stretches, and the Hernia protrudes.

The procedure I had was a Myocutanious Flap. It is a muscle graft that is essential an anal comb over, a hammock like thing that helps hold it all in.

They slice the muscle from the butt cheek and fold it over into the cavity that was once my anus and rectum.

The muscle stays connected to the donor site as it needs a constant and fresh blood supply. They then graft skin over the top, and voile, my Ken butt returns and I no longer have a 15 cm tail hanging out.

They did use a bio mesh that dissolves over time. It is designed to help hold up the bowel while the graft takes and forms a permanent (🤞) bond.

It can be a difficult procedure,  especially in men. The prostate is in that area, making it difficult to sew things in. Also my size didn't help the issue either.

Along with the perinial hernia repair I also suffered from a Parastomal Hernia. This is a hernia behind the stoma. It's not something they rush to fix as they are common. 

This hernia, again was quite large. Everything has been poked back in and mesh applied, and all seems to be holding.

I've list 7 kg since hospital. I still struggle with appetite and this could be a reason behind feeling as though I have no energy. But that is improving.

If I do too much I seem to get sharp pains in the stomach. It's not stoma or repair related, but, pain, ouch, whoosh, bowel movement. At least my bowels are working without the need of gastro goop.

All in all the recuperation is going down the right path. I'll continue to take it easy, and probably will have to for the rest of my life. As long as I can push a loaded bike, carry a pack and launch a kayak and boat, I'll be happy. 

Following are some pics of the perenial hernia repair. They're not pretty but will give some idea of what happened.

The Perenial Hernia

Just out of surgery

The Donour Site

Mike Tyson's Training Bag

The results of a Parastomal Hernia repair.

3 Weeks In

Again, The Donour Site

All still seems a little puffy and swollen, but it is improving as time goes on.

One Week On

Ok, ok, let's not get caught up in semantics. I know it's a little over a week. A recuperating man gets busy you know. There's the resting, and then there's more resting, a toilet walk, a drink walk and more resting.

The week home has melded into some kind of mega day. I'd make a movie about it, but Ground Hog Day covers it all.

As the wounds heal, the pain is subsiding a great deal. There is of course still the muscular pain, which is like the pain you get when you exercise too much. That is something I'm not used to.

The stitches have all fallen out, and the need for bi daily dressings has ceased. My mobility is improving, although I am still not sitting, which I can't do, because it's naughty to do so. 

Sitting is something that I am missing right now. Laying or walking constantly is a pain. I've mentioned my little front porch, well it's not the same as going out and sitting. Funny how little things are missed.

Driving in the car is no easier, albeit a little less painful. It is still a matter of laying across the back seat, with seatbelt somehow entwined around me.

With a lot of time spent in bed I have become somewhat of a novelty for our cats. One has always liked to lay on our bed, but it appears that it is now a case of how many can we fit. Hopping on the bed, no problem, using as a wrestling mat or zoom pad is unacceptable. No matter how I show my outrage, the buggers don't listen.

I'm hoping that next week I'll be able to venture outside a bit. The problem that has been to date is that after standing, or walking for a while I get sore, nauseous and very tired very quickly.

I plan to start back on meal replacement meals next week. I've eaten a full and varied diet, now I'll focus on less calories for a while, at least whilst sedentary.

That's pretty much it this week, like I said, repetitive. Hopefully a little more excitement next week.

First Day Home

It's cold, wet, and with enough breeze to put that extra chill in the air. It is an absolute cracker of a day to be stuck in bed.

I slept like a log last night in my own bed. I awoke whilst it was still dark and instantly thought, "Oh no", a thought that runs through my head regularly. But soon after I heard Sharon's alarm chime, I knew a full night's slumber had been had.

I did wake earlier on in the night as Sharon came to bed. I got up changed a bag, and well, sleeping in bicycle knicks, no. They came off.

Another side effect of mental health issues is insomnia. It has plagued me for years. We've all suffered it to an extent, its just a part of my nightly routine I'm afraid.

It's not just my mental health, but years of odd hours, never setting a pattern life, in the transport industry has offered up its hand as well. They say sleep plays a huge roll in mental health, maybe it's another reason why I'm so bat shit crazy in the head. That, and possibly the copious amounts of alcohol and drugs ingested growing up through my late teenage years.

I don't look at the time through the night. I think it somehow makes the night longer. The more you look, the slower the hands move.

Medical Cannabis has helped tremendously in this issue. I've been smoking/vaping it for three months now as a trial. It works. 

Not only in the sleep department, but even throughout the day when not smoking, my anxiety, frustration and general motivation have all seen significant improvements.

Even as pain relief over the past month prior to surgery it works. Now I say pain relief, not pain innialation. At the end of the day it would ease the throb coming from the extra appendage I had formed over the past twelve months to a bearable grimace.

It was funny to see the prejudice in the medical field still around Cannabis. Probably the same prejudices I had until several months ago.

My prejudices stem from a mixture of my younger years, transforming into a so called "christian", and just becoming old 🤣 Maybe it's true, we do gain wisdom as we get older?

Anyway cutting a long story short, even after explaining to my colarectal surgeon that I had transitioned from Tevatiapan to Cannabis, she deemed a nightly sedative was not necessary...ah, insomnia my old friend.

Ah well, I didn't mean to talk about all that, but this is what has come out.

It is great to be at home though. I've missed my little front porch that I had adopted as my spot. OK, now it mine and the cats spot, but I don't mind sharing.

Even in that ten days way, the elation I felt when I walked out there last night brought a welling in my eyes and a hugging to my heart. 

It's just a cane field across the road. But the tranquillity that comes from just sitting and watching it is amazing. It has become a welcomed habit, not only to watch the wind in the cane. But to watch, waiting for the cane to be harvested to reveal the mountains that lie behind.

So yes, it's great to be home.

Homeward Bound

 It was quite a painful ride home today. I felt every bump on the way as I laid on the back seat.

Last night we stayed at Wondai as Goomeri and Murgon were all booked out.

We found a lovely moter inn, The Colonial. Quiet, comfortable, and with great room service and tucker, made the, "I can't go any further" hurdle somewhat easier.

We came home via Murgon Gayndah Rd, Ban Ban Springs etc today. Still a much preferable option than Woolooga Brooweena Rd.

It is absolutely wonderful to be at home in my own bed. It really does help soothe the aches that abide. The ones that were the result of laying constantly on one's side on a rather stiff hospital bed.

Im home now and as the drugs wear off, and all the crap leaves my system I begin the healing process. The doctors have given me six to eight weeks before doing too much, especially driving, riding etc. I am giving myself eight to twelve weeks. This is going to be a permanent repair. It has been repaired correctly, I want to keep it that way.

For the next month at least it is, 

lift nothing over 5 kg

Lay 1 hr, stand 5 min

Light walks

Wear my bike knicks constantly, who'd a thought I'd have a box full of the perfect healing attire.

Absolutely no sitting for the next six at least. Shit I miss it.

I have to honest and say that this bout of surgery was as worse, or in some cases even worse, than my original APR. The abdominal pain is horrendous. Impacting it further, is the dry cough one picks up whilst in hospital and after anaesthesia.

Ah well, that's pretty much it in a nut shell.

I did do one naughty thing when I arrive home. I went briefly to the shed to peak in on the new bike. I also looked longingly over at my other darlings as they sit patiently for Old Bum to ride again.

Hopefully The Tide Is Turning

 I know, I know, I know...if I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times...

The past couple of years have seen my blog pretty much non existent, but I plan to rectify that.

It's hard to blog when every day seems to be the same, a non event. But that is changing. As health issues get behind me, fingers crossed this is seeing me become more active once again; the bike being a big part of it.

I purchased a Marin Nicasio back in 2020. It was an end of year run out and was a sizeable chunk of change off the original price. I've wanted to get a gravel bike for some time with the ones on my list being out of my price range, and not quite exactly what I wanted. That was a cromoly steel framed biked with a decent 2 x drive system. So online I went, amd a shopping I did go

The Nicasio came standard with a Claris 2 x 8 drive system, and whilst adequate, I wanted something better. I purchased GRX 810 cranks, an 812 rear derailleur and an 810 front derailleur. The operate the drive system I stayed within my financial restraints and bought a set of 105 eleven speed shifters. I decided to keep the original mechanical disc brake system that came on the bike.

To go with the gravel theme I purchased a set of WTB SX19 MTB rims. This is where I ran into trouble, the rear hub was supposed to be 11 speed compatible. Unfortunately the SRAM and Sunrace 11 speed cassettes didn't fit. I spent months looking for a freehub body that was cend the problem was solved.

Compatible, without success. I was in the process of looking at, at least a new rear wheel when in my box of spares I found two Sunrace 11 speed cassettes that were an 11 - 42 combination. These for some blood reason fit. Don't ask me why, I don't if the other cassettes where being road, stacked higher...but look, in the  end the problem was solved, and to be honest I don't mind the extra gearing.

With that solved I set about stripping the bike down. Everything went smoothly as I continued to rebuild the bike.

All parts from the shifters to the BBR62 bottom bracket went into place as I plodded along with the build.

The GRX cranks come with a 48/31 combination and I found that I could get all gears. The problem being that when I was in 31-11 the chain was too loose. I had to customise the chain length. This took a bit of time taking one link off at a time. I finally got to an optimal length and able to get all gears except the big gears, 48-42. This is OK, I wont be using that anyway.

I did work out that if I replaced the 48 t chainring with a 42 t I would easily get all gears and shorten my chain even further. I purchased a 42 t ring only to realise in my haste I purchased a 1 x ring. It works but changing between rings is not nice and smooth at all. I do plan on doing some touch ups to it with the dremel, and shape it more to a 2 x shape.

With all being said and done, I have to say I'm ecstatic with the bike. I added a set of FUNN 600 mm wide gravel bars to add in the comfort, and it all works, and works. I do need to fiddle with the front derailleur a little, but I am just waiting for the cables to stretch and all break in a little. Re-adjustments will be necessary shortly down the track

So now I have the bike I want, and at half the price of what I was looking at on my shortlist. I took the gamble and it paid off.

So needless to say I am back on the bike, with mixed successes. But I am getting stronger as I go, getting fitter and loosing much needed weight that has piled on over the past couple of years.

Amidst the riding I have a kayak as well and have just finished a week long trip up the Upper Noosa River. This is something that I will continue to do, kayaking is so much like riding a bike. I have a new sit in kayak on order to make away trips paddling more eventful. The current kayak, a sit on top will be my fishing boat. With a 42 lb thrust motor, sounder and some homemade stabilisers it should more than adequate.

I'm currently on a road trip trying out the new bike on gravel roads, although a brief hiatus is happening due to a bout of food poisoning. With some heavy rain expected this week I'll head off at the end of it and continue on my way.

On top of all this a move was planned and executed. We sold up in town and moved to the small village of Wallaville. We moved form a suburban block to a nice little acre patch that overlooks cane fields and mountains from the front, and cattle and feed paddocks behind us. Gone is the traffic that constantly plagued our existence, replaced now by birds chirping and cattle mooing. The new property is on the opposite side of the highway to the entrance of Goodnight Scrub, a patch of National Park that has many wonderous gravel roads and trails, the perfect access to some awesome bikepacking trips.

Along with the move comes the fun of renovating the new digs, an older home this will be a work in progress for some time to come. The kitchen will be our first port of call, then onto the bathroom which desperately needs ripping out and rebuilding.

I also purchased a new, well new to me, van. A 2004 Kia Pregio. A 2.7 lt naturally aspirated diesel, it doesn't do too well at pulling the skin off custard, but will serve well as an on road campervan/bike carrier...you know, for those planned bike trips. The car sat for two years after having the engine and gearbox rebuilt, I think I have the rats out of it. Well at least the rat smell anyway...

I also bought a boat, yes a boat. I.ve wanted one for ages. It is a Quintrex 4.2 mt tinnie that has a Mercury 50 hp 2 stroke on the back. The previous owner added some pods to the transom to help support the extra weight of a fully framed floor, large under floor fuel tank etc. This takes the boat out to 4.5 mt in length, and with it's slightly higher sides will make a great, close off shore boat. I look forward to some great boating adventures ahead.

There is also a new bike on the way. I was told once that if you go fat, you wont go back...lol. The bike is a Norco Bigfoot 3 Fat Bike. It has a a 1 x 11 drive chain, 27.5x4.5 inch tyres and will make the perfect permanent bikepacking set up. I am much closer to Promiseland Mountain Bike park where I live now, so I want the Cube to be a permanent mountain bike. It will help with the constant setting the bike up before I travel. With the Norco it will be just a simple case of load and go, and not trying to fit racks etc to head off. I'll use my existing bikepacking kit, the Blackburn Outpost front roll back, frame bag and cages, and Topeak 16 lt Backloader tailpack. I've also purchase an Aero Spider Rack for the rear it, giving that much needed extra room.

As the Nicasio, Sutra and Attention SL continue to preform wonderfully it has become a case of N+1 yet again, something that wasn't planned...but it is what it is...lol

I do have another operation to face sometime in the not too distant future. The Perennial Hernia has enlarged to a terrible state and is need of repair. This time it will be with a plastic surgeon, so my butt will get a cut and tuck. Hopefully this will be a permanent repair. It will be a about a six week convalescence, so there are some plans I have put on the back burner until I know more. It may be a case of another year written off, but this time with some light appearing at the end of the tunnel.

I am also still cancer free, That is just over three years now, fantastic news.

Well that is about it, and should get you all up to date. I have found my camera so I can write about my Wooroolin trip next.

As I said, I hope this is a turn around, social medias just haven't bee a priority over the past couple of years.

Cheers all, and ride safe out there

It's Been A Long Drought

One thing I have always loved is writing on this blog. Unfortunately amid home renovations, more surgery, more recovery and extremely low motivation, the blog has suffered.

I've really cut back on social media so it is not only the blog that has gone array. Facebook and Twitter had become far to political where one was to accepting of others' but was attacked for their own. The whole new Religious Cult of Politicalism (that's what I call it) has become tremendously disturbing. You don't dare rebuttal the narrative. Sadly the vast majority of Australians have been programmed into mindless Socialist sheep.

I have deleted my website. I wasn't using it, and although it was a free site it was pointless. My blogsite here will become that. It's easy and convenient. YouTube and Instagram are still open, although uploads on YouTube have only just started up again.

To be completely honest, I was really over it all. But here is a place where I clear my head, a place that I say what I feel, although mainly bike related.

I have been off the bike since October as I had a series of hernia repairs that were the result of my cancer surgery in 2020. It's all healed now, although there is no guarantee of how long it will last. The bike should make a comeback by the end of March, fingers crossed.

I have purchased a kayak which should see me out on some adventures. It's a sit on top, but one that you sit quite low in. It is very stable, which is great for me. I have purchased a 44 lb thrust motor for the back of it, which will be used mainly for fishing. Camping adventures will be done the old fashioned way, paddling. I plan to get out on day trips, and overnight, maybe even the longer trip or two...who knows?

Hiking is on the comeback. I have a new, much lighter backpack. But it is something I love to do. Yuraygir Nat Park in Northern NSW and The Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk are two hikes that are on my list.

We've been busy getting an older caravan up and running. We had the 2010 Jayco Penguin, but as the girls get bigger and still want to tag along we've upsized. The van is a 1987 Windsor 17' pop top. It's much bigger inside and gives us a whole heap more room for inside living when necessary. 

There is still work to be done. I have got 2 x 250 watt solar panels to through on the roof which will power up the new (and yet to be purchased) 200 am/h LiPo battery.

The standard 65 lt Dometic 3 way absorption fridge is fitted. That will be ripped out and a 85 lt Brass Monkey 12/24 V fridge will be mounted. I just find that 3 wat fridges are ho hum when it comes to working in the Queensland climate.

An external awning is yet to be fitted as well. I do love the Fiama wind out awnings, but will probably go with a Dometic pull out.

Kitchen renos are almost done and should have them done by the end of next week, hopefully. then it will be time to attack the outside, painting, fixing trim etc. We are considering selling whilst the market is good and buying acreage in maybe in Central NSW. Maybe even very close the Central West Cycle Trail. That would suit me :)

The old 4wd is still going strong and I have no plans to change it. With that said, the upgraded van, the Paj, and the house sale could mean a road trip is on the cards.

So that is what is happening in my world at the moment. There is new pieces of kit to review, a tent has been purchase, and new camera gear all to be reviewed and chatted about. So, as I attempt to break the drought and get back behind the keyboard I have got plenty to talk about.

One more thing I wish to get involved in this year is long distance gravel events. I have the Marin Nicassio and all the upgrade gear has arrived. The build on that will be soon. It si something that has always interested me, Audax style.