perth trip #2 with the hubby!

 Since my last post I also celebrated another birthday, the cup above was one of the lovely gifts I received... Ive just realised that my other really lovely gift which was an old biscuit tin that has been lined and up cycled for a sewing tin isn't in the photo.

 So the hubby/fisherman/mamil came with me to visit the froglet in Perth.  We surprised her, she had no idea we were coming.

 Our second day took us for a walk to her workplace for a decent coffee and I had this really yummy breakfast.  We took the cat bus into town to organise our hire bikes for a few days.

 As we were coming back to the froglets house I saw this amazing yarn bombing, I think its one of the biggest ones Ive ever seen!

 We took our own helmets and shoes with us to Perth and hired a couple of bikes from the same place i used last time. this time though we got road bikes, a couple of cannondales.  They did us well for the two days.

 We managed to find probably one of the steepest roads in the whole of Perth that took us up to a great look out in kings park.

 I managed to navigate our way all around the river this time without getting lost!  I had decided to go back to the park I had a coffee and muffin at last time as it was a good halfway spot.

 We actually went back again the next day.... We got slightly lost going to leederville... ended up in the next suburb but found our way back easily enough.  Even the mamil was impressed with the paths and the lack of traffic we encountered on our rides.

 Of course Bear was very excited to see me again and to meet his granddad hahahah.  He slept with us for the first 3 nights.... there wasn't much room in the bed.

 The weather was perfect for us for the week we were in Perth.  we visited the beaches and lazed around when we didn't ride.

 A bit of shell hunting happened after brunch at this beach.

 On our last day we went into Fremantle to the market again and a visit to the little creatures brewery.  we got a tasting plate for their beers and ciders.  I got the stuff they didn't like!

 Also in Freo is a maritime museum and they have a O class submarine there.  The mamil got pretty excited when he found out they did tours on them.  So we managed to get on the last tour of the day.  He was really pleased to show the froglet and her soldier boy what conditions he used to experience when he served in the RN Submarines.  The big difference was he was on bombers, which are nuclear submarines... the subs were very different but they got the general idea of what it was like in a sub.

 Someone was happy to have me home again and like all cats as soon as the bag was empty he filled it!

And finally on a quilty note, I have started my first paper piecing project. the cactus rose.  So its all prepped and ready to sew.... stay tuned!

Trip to Perth and new projects

 Introducing Bear!  he is the froglets puppy, he is a dachshund x boarder collie.  I kid you not!  Hes gorgeous and very cheeky.  I went to Perth where her man is currently posted to see where they are living and catch up with her, I managed to find 3 bike shops, 3 patchwork shops and a few good coffees.

 I hired a bike for 5 hours and got a nice 60km ride with Doris (you gotta name your bike!) We rode up and around the river, found a great coffee  of course.  The weather was amazing while I was there, didn't put the winter woolies on at all.

 I came home to slightly cooler conditions and had a few rides in the fog!  Its actually very peaceful when its foggy, but you have to be more cautious and we always have our lights on regardless of time of day or the conditions.

 My legs got a little dewy on this ride.  Like my socks?  they are called disco... and yes I wear odd socks :)

 On a quilting/stitching note, I have finished my bike stitchery, need to put it in something now....
So my next stitchery is this one..... I actually have enlarged it as it was a little tiny for me... I will turn this into a cushion.

 This is called cactus rose.  Its paper piecing of the extreme hahahha. I haven't done any paper piecing but one of my cycling buddies has, so she is going to torture me with this.  I guess its fair payback as I take her out for 'challenging' rides... shes getting stronger and fitter!

This isn't my quilt, I have bought some lovely fossil ferns in Perth and supplemented them with some other fabrics... I will take pictures for the next post.. promise.

conquering the 7 peaks

 Been a little busy recently..... I completed the 7 peaks with my hubby and help from my friends.

 This entails you, the cyclist to ride up 7 peaks in Victoria.  You receive a passport which you get stamped at the top of each peak.  The season starts in October and finishes at the end of March the following year.

 There is Mt Buffalo, Falls creek, Mt Buller and Lake Mountain. Dinner Plains, Mt Hotham and Baw Baw.
We only got rained on (and sleet at the top) on Lake Mountain.. the rest of the climbs were with perfect cycling weather, for me that equals not too hot and a gentle breeze.

 My favourite climb and descent was Falls Creek.  This is a beautiful 30km ride with undulating hills.

 I also Loved doing Mt Hotham as that was also 30km and very challenging.

 However  the shortest climb was Mt Baw Baw and this was by far the hardest with nasty short pinchy climbs. my fisherman/mamil has decided he doesn't want to do this particular climb ever again and I don't blame him as on his first attempt at descending (after a successful but long climb) he had a nasty fall and was airlifted to hospital.  He was fine, how he didn't break a bone we don't know but he did bring a fair bit of gravel with him on his butt... we laugh now, but his helmet definitely saved his life.

 I hope to climb some of these mountains again next year.... perhaps even Baw Baw....  don't worry though I'm not going to descend on my bike, I'm not that mad hahah.

Herald Sun Jayco tour stage 4

 One of my top favourite cyclists.  Chris Froome.

 My friends and I rode up to Kinglake to watch stage 4.  we were very lucky with the weather.. it was supposed to rain.. well it did a few times, but only showers. It was a very balmy 25 deg.

Was a great day out watching how the pro's do it!

post christmas

 So my fisherman bought me for christmas a solar monkey!  He was so pleased with himself for finding something for me that I will be able to use on my next great Vic adventure.  I am rather chuffed too as this will help me charge my garmin and phone with ease.

 Of course I went for a christmas morning ride...  I wore my christmas socks..... and wasabi had her christmas balls on too.

 After christmas we went for a ride up to kinglake and had donuts at the flying tarts.... and then a few days ago I discovered hot cross buns in store!!!  oh my!  but Im on a special diet and these are definately not on my allowed list... sob.

Today I rode out at 6am to avoid the heat.... we did 60km and rewarded ourselves with a frozen spider... and yes these arent on my diet either....

I hope that everyone is in a cool spot today in the heat and for those on the other side of the pond that you are snuggled up watching the snow fall.