It's A New Year!

Well it's another year done and dusted. As I sit here on my back patio taking it easy on New Year's morning I can't help but try and put some scope, not only on the future, but collectively on the past as well.

I've come along way I think, or have I just gone around in circles? Or is it just a putting of  yourself and desires into perspective and prioritising them once again.

I started cycling again in 2014 to help my, then ten year old, daughter out. I fell in love with the freedom and the sheer enjoyment cycling bought into my life.

I then wanted to improve. I bought a carbon bike upgrading from my basic entry level bike, and a track bike. I became consumed with training, weight loss, speed, endurance and Strava averages. I wanted to race both track and road. I wanted to get good enough to go away and compete. I wanted to relive my youth that had long gone by and was plagued with missed opportunities, mistakes and mishaps. In a sense I guess I wanted some form of recompense and recognition.

Sounds funny I know, but as pastor of a small fellowship some years back I found myself in a situation that you sought the approval of men. In a sense cycling had become my newest religion. It was no longer a goal of enjoyment, freedom or inner enlightenment, It was a race, a competition. I had allowed myself to seek the approval of men once again, and their opinion of me mattered more than even my own.

I tried to enjoy racing once again, I really did...both road an track. But in the end it just didn't float my boat, it just didn't cut the custard.

I then had a turn around, a reverting, a re-birth so to speak. It was no longer about how far I road, not about how fast, if I had a carbon bike or if my belly protruded from behind my jersey and bib-shorts. It was no longer about Stavas or fitness, opinions or impressions. It once again was all about pure pleasure, freedom, that inner peace that only comes from meandering slowly through the country side, or steadily to the local shops taking it all in. Heading out for a quiet afternoon ride with my wife and kids, looking at the smiles on their faces. This is what cycling is to me and in a country whose perception of cycling is mainly that of a "sport", so much can be missed.

Cycling is so much more than a sport. Cycling, in its essence, is no more a sport than kids swimming at the beach or splashing around in the back yard pool. Sport is only one element, a chalk and cheese if you wish.

So yes, as I reflect maybe I have only gone around full circle, maybe I haven't progressed, but rather regressed. Maybe this is what re-incarnation really is. Not so much a re-birth as a bug, a dog or a horse; but rather a do-over, a new birth into what really matters in your heart. Maybe its a chance to go around and around until we get it. I don't know.

But I do know this, I haven't enjoyed cycling, oops, riding my bike like I do. Its become personal, a thing of the heart once again. It's no longer what "I need to" but rather what "I want to".

I suppose you have to try things to see if they work, I certainly don't regret giving as many elements of cycling a go like I have done, although my wallet probably does (and maybe my wife)...lol.
You have to try a recipe to see if it works, and as I say to my kids, "How do you know if you don't like it of you won't try it?"

I am at peace where I am, at reverence, and I look forward to a new year full of cycling adventures. Whether they be a ride with friends or family, a ride to the coffee shop or the supermarket, a 30 km/h blast, or a slow multi day bike trip.

Anyway, whatever the New Year brings, I hope it brings joy and prosperity of the heart. I hope it is kind to you and leads you down some unfamiliar paths that can expand your reasoning and perceptions of life and what really matters. I hope you get, and take the chance to travel a road less traveled and experience a newness, a freshness of life, even if it is a do-over, a re-incarnation of a lost chance to find peace in something that you missed long ago.

Happy new year everyone, and as always, Safe Cycling.

Brisvegas By Pedal Power!

Well it's not long now. Two more sleeps and I'm on my way. I have the new bike, I have some new panniers for the rear and a new rack for the front.

This trip is taking me to Brisbane from my home town of  Bundaberg, a five hundred and sixty kilometer trip one way.
Leaving Thursday Morning I will head out to Booyal and across to outside of Biggenden to a little area called Lakeside where I'll make camp for the first night.

Day number two will be from Lakeside to Woolooga where I hope to jump onto the Kilkivan Rail Trail that runs from Theebine, and ride it into Kilkivan where I'll make camp for night number two.

From Kilkivan I am hoping I can ride the Kingaroy Kilkivan Rail Trail as far as I can. By all information I've been able to gather it is open for use as far as Murgon. At Murgon is where I'll have no choice but to jump onto a main road and ride along The Bunya Highway. This is my main concern as it can be narrow in sections and is a frequent route for heavy transport. My only solace is that the further west you go, the friendlier the truckies are. Fingers crossed they are like it out that way.

My third night's camp will be in a little camping area approximately twelve kilometers south of Kingaroy. From here I will make my way down through the eastern side of the Bunya Mountains to Maidenwell. Then down hill for a welcome change into Yarraman.

From Yarraman I will get my first taste of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail. After all, this is what I have come all this way for, to ride this amazing rail trail. Onward to Blackbutt from here which will make night number four.

From Blackbutt I will continue along the BVRT (Brisbane Valley Rail Trail) all the way into Wulkuraka which is west of Ipswich. I have no set camping plans along the trail thus far, but there are areas I can camp along the way. I am allowing an extra night's camping along the trail somewhere, which will make night five, possibly rest up at Esk Caravan Park, my only paid accommodation along the way. Or I might continue to free camp.

Once at Wulkuraka I will make my way up through College Crossing to Karana Downs, through the back of Amstead and Bellbowrie (my old stomping grounds) and work my way up through Rafting Ground Rd to the North Western outer suburbs of Metropolitan Brisbane.

So tomorow will be spent getting some chores done around the house, shopping for supplies, packing the bike and getting ready for my first biggy. Oh I forgot to mention that I hope to make my way home via the Sunshine coast hinterland and Mary Valley. I am meeting my wife in Brisbane, but I haven't mentioned this bit to her yet...lol.

Cheers and as always, safe riding.

Planning A Trip!

With Christmas fast approaching the next trip is in planning, and it can't come soon enough. There are a couple of possibilities that will compliment my plans. One being a trip down to Brisbane via the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail and return via the Sunshine Coast and Mary Valley Hinterlands. The second being to Brisbane via the BVRT, then onto Grafton NSW via The Clarence Valley Way. Either, either I'm not phased.

After my first trip I learned a lot about planning my daily distances. In my first attempt I focused on a distance being my major factor. Whilst distance is important, it can put a fair bit of pressure on one whence touring.

This time I am cutting my distances back to around seventy-five to eighty-five kilometers per day. Some may be as little as sixty-five, and with my focus being on sight-seeing and photography it will make for a much more manageable trip.

During this Blog I thought I might run through the way that I have decided to plan the upcoming trip. The last trip was a roadie's focus on attainable distances with only the use of Google Maps, a bit of a furfy in planning. This time I am utilising the use of Excel, and various apps to plan a far more enjoyable, and organised trip.

The apps I have on my phone, tablet and laptop are, of course Google Maps, along Komoot and Wiki-Camps.
Google maps is a good over all mapping and navigational tool but does lack in accuracy. Many routes, although good can add the apparent roads or tracks that are non-existent.
Komoot is a new app that I have found and is not just a road navigational tool, but also a route planning, and navigational guide for various activities such as road cycling, hiking, mountain biking and mixed cycling, road/gravel etc. The  good thing about Komoot is that it is not reliant on the internet or phone connection. It works off line similar to a Sat-Nav in your car. It also appears to work better on a phone or tablet for off road navigation rather than my laptop. But having said this, I am only using the free service. There is an upgraded service available for a price.

Wiki-Camps is a camping/caravaning app that has both free and pay camping, along with toilet dump points, POI's and day rest areas. Again, like Komoot you can access this app when you are out of phone or internet service range. Cost is around $7.20 AUD. It also contains filters that allow you to focus on what type of camp site you are after i.e. free, toilets, showers, water etc.

Firstly I have started with an idea of where I want to go and then looking on Google Maps to get a rough idea of which way is a good option. Then decided on an approximate route that I have wished to take, I then looked at a rough estimate of distance and working with the Wiki-Camps app I am then able to see what is available for camping around the areas.
Using Excel in Office I have then compiled a list of towns/stopping/camping areas to then further organise my day to day travels. I am then able to have an informative list of what I choose to add, roads to travel, sights to see and areas to camp.

After looking at the above I am then able to start listing my preferred route, distances and places to stop over on Excel. I also then start looking at sights on the route I am taking that I wish to see and list them on my worksheet as well.

Knowing that the route I want to take involves travelling on some off road or forestry trails such as the BVRT, I then turn to Komoot to plan these segments of my tour

With Wiki-Camps I am able to search for the perfect site to camp. In the up-coming trip I will be using a mixture of free camp areas, local showgrounds and caravan parks. It is stinking hot this time of year and whilst I can go a few days without a shower when roughing it, I sure as hell do not want to go too long at this time of year.

Local showgrounds are an extremely viable option and far outweigh caravan parks. A non-powered site for the night can be as little as $5.00 AUD. Not a great deal of cost when you consider you have the use of showers and access to water. I'll be looking to stay in these as much as possible in the nights I choose not to free camp. Caravan parks will be an extreme when there is no other option.

As it is turning out most of my trip is working out to be free or very low cost.

Wiki-Camps lists what the chosen site has...

Using a drop pin you are able to find a direction to the next camp site, but unfortunately it is car friendly rather than bicycle friendly and does not have an option.

I have downloaded Google Earth on both my tablet and Laptop but I haven't found a bicycle friendly option on it as Google Maps does.

These three above apps are proving priceless in my organisation of a trip. Google Maps and Komoot are both international, with Wiki-Camps being only for Australia. That said I am unsure if Wiki-Camps has apps for other overseas destination.

This has become my simple little method of trip organisation that seems to be putting things in place nicely. Time will tell if this works, but I can't see why not. It certainly is a vast improvement on my last method, pack the bike and hope for the best...lol If your new to touring like me, I hope this helps.

Cheers guys, and as always "Ride safe".