ride to conquer cancer

Today some of my friends that I ride with regularly completed the ride to conquer cancer.  The four girls had to raise $2500 each. They rode 100m from Albert Park to Hastings on Saturday and then did the return journey today.

They did sausage sizzles, lots of sausage sizzles and a big dinner with great auction items.  They raised funds together and individually.  It was a hard slog but they got over the line and some.

They along with 1600 other riders raised funds to hopefully help find cures to the many cancers that people die from daily.

I drove down to Brighton to cheer them and the other riders on.  I wore my Team Lynne t shirt in honour of my friend who lost her fight a few months ago to cancer, I was touched when one of the girls told me that she thought of Lynne while she rode.  I managed to meet one of the riders who is doing all 5 rides along with a bunch of other ambassadors I see her on facebook regularly but hadn't physically met her until today.

Most of the events that I do raise funds for something, have you done an event because of the personal challenge or for the fund raising?

the quilt continues

 I have made several quilts now with my collection of pretties which are predominately Robyn Randolph's.  I found it hard to cut into some of these fabrics but then thought to myself these are for MY quilt so I will be able to see them forever.  I had started to put the left overs in messy piles then it dawned on me I could bag them into measurements... So started the 1", 1.5" etc bags.  I bought a new pattern at a show recently and I can see much of these pre cut strips going into that quilt, which will cut out a load of cutting time.

 Cookie loves sitting on the ironing board.... I on the other hand dislike this intensely as he leaves his calling card all over it (long fur).  His beautiful blue eyes showed up well in this photo.

 Milly often perches on the cat tower on the first level while there are cats above.

 And I cant leave out the beautiful lyelo Lill.  She loves coming inside now which is great as I know she is safe at night time and so is the wildlife outside!

 The days are getting so much nicer now to sit outside... Milly loves sunning herself in the mornings out on the veranda.

 My squares are now all sewn together and since taking these pictures I have sewn on the rectangles.

 I still haven't counted them nor have I figured out how big this quilt will be at this point in time, I truly am just seeing how it comes out.  I have large squares of fabric that needed to be showcased more than in the smaller cuts and laid out a few of the pieced squares next to the larger pieces and it looks very pleasing to my eye. 

 Of course tomorrow is ride day.... should have been today as the weather has been magnificent!  A new route for me with some challenging hill climbs (of course).  Next Sunday is round the bay in a day so if you are thinking of driving to Geelong, catching the ferry to or from Sorrento and driving along Nepean Hwy or over the Westgate bridge to Altona or Williamstown... don't.  If you really have to please drive very carefully as you will be amongst over 10,000 cyclists of all standards.  you have been warned.

fruit loops and new quilts

 I mentioned in my last post that my friend and I were about to do the fruit loop ride which too place in Shepparton.  Did I mention that it was a flat ride?  the morning started with the sun coming out and the hundred or so of us doing the 115km ride took off after a short briefing.

 We rode out towards Dookie and our halfway break.  We had the choice at that point of riding the extra 15km which was some hill climbs, we decided to do the extra 15km as so far it had been all flat (did I mention how flat it was?)  We finished the ride in 5 hours, an hour longer than we expected but it was harder going as being so flat you had to pedal all the time.  We both were sore across the shoulders and neck but we recovered quickly and were pleased with our efforts.

 As previously posted also I had a bedroom makeover.  I can now access my fabrics so much easier and have been inspired to make a quilt.

 I have a decent sized stash of Robyn Pandolph's and similar style fabrics so this seemed to be the perfect choice for a quilt for my bed.  This will actually be the first quilt I have made for myself.  My mum said but you have ones in the front room and hanging on the walls... yesss this is true but not a bed quilt!.

 The froglet has gone away for the weekend so I don't have any taxi duties until Sunday night so I though I would simply chop up some fabrics and start to sew.... wrong.  Ive been pressing fabric and chopping since last night.  I have an impressive pile of scraps!  I'm also taking time to sort out my off cuts into bags according to size as it makes it easier when needing that 2" bit.

I'm going to do a simple quilt using squares and rectangles.  Then I decided to add some larger squares to showcase some of my favourite fabrics.  Its going to be one of those quilts that will just hopefully come together, I have no idea of how many blocks I need so stay tuned as this little sucker comes together.

Have you ever just winged a project?

finished quilt!

Found this pencil case the other day and knew I had to have it.  Will be perfect to keep a small project in!

 Here is my latest quilt that I have been working on... finally all quilted and bound.

 Milly inspected the workmanship.  My friend Anita from hillsidequilting.com.au quilted it for me and did as usual an excellent job.

 Nothing like the satisfaction of a finished quilt.

 I used a pre made bias binding which worked really well for me.

 Here is a little peek at my new robe, filled with boxes of fabric... I now can access all my fabrics easily and see them too... so much better than the messy piles I had.  This is now a new work in progress, today I was sorting out a box of my pretty fabrics ready to do a quilt for ME!  I got so involved I forgot to go to my osteopath, and I really needed to go.

On Sunday my bestie and I are riding 115km up in Shepparton in a ride called the fruit loop ride... everyone keeps telling me how apt the name of the ride is for me, I just don't understand... heheheheh.

retreatless....

 This weekend my guild goes on retreat, but alas I was too slow in getting my form in and missed out. First time in over 8 years I think.  But I did have a birthday last Monday and was rather spoilt.  Gift vouchers from my friends for massages, a day spa voucher from my girls and the fisherman to be pampered.. money from my mum to buy some new cycling knicks that I have been banging on about getting.

 My bestie and training partner knows me too well and bought me this awesome coffee cup... we call ourselves team coffee so this was pretty apt.  Apres Velo means after cycling and no ride is complete without a coffee at the end.

 One of my other friends from the gym bought me a beautiful bunch of flowers, what girl doesn't like flowers on their birthday?

 And of course my beastie didn't miss out with the gifting and received a new bag for under the seat, my bestie got me a large size so that I can fit in her favourite killer pythons!

Are you blessed with good friends?  I know I am.  My life would be incomplete without my looney friends to make me laugh, drink coffee with and be there when I need a hug.

binding quilts and a road trip

 I was asked a while ago about 12 months ago to make another quilt for my cousins next baby.  Once I found out it was a boy I set out to find the pattern and material.  I made the top and then had my wonderful friend Anita quilt it for me.  All I had to do was but on the binding.

 I decided to try out some pre made binding so it was all done for me.  I procrastinated for a few more weeks then last weekend I decided to finally sew it onto the quilt.....

 Disaster struck... I was 10" too short.... and it was 4pm on Sunday night and I had to work the next 3 days so the froglet drove me to the shop (thank goodness they had plenty left).  I decided to buy the entire length as I didn't want to be messing round with attaching it to the bias binding... how good was this, the shop rather than having to buy the entire length plus the extra, cut the new length and only charged me for the 1/2 metre extra.  They took back the shorter length!  I never expected that so it saved me many dollars!
I have now sewn it on and am ready to stitch down the back while watching the tour de France tonight!

 Of course no post of mine is complete without something about my bike, these are toe thingys.  I kid you not!  They slip over your shoes and help keep your toes warmer in these cold winter months.  they have a hole under neath that allow me to clip in to my pedals.  I received these for mothers day from the girls and they have been used well in the past months.

 The fisherman and I took a little road trip (in the car, he doesn't ride!)  We went to our nations capital, Canberra.  Of course we had breakfast, the toast was enormous!

 We visited the war memorial, I had been here as a child but the fisherman wished to pay his respects being an ex submariner.

 along the wall are these wonderful concrete gargoyles.. I find that with the digital cameras we all take many more photos of objects and in different ways to how we used to with film (who could afford them!!)

 I should have asked the guide if they meant any thing or represented something.

 There are the lists of all of those who have fallen and hundreds of Poppy's are tucked in the cracks.

 My fisherman had his sunglasses on when we went in side to the museum, he doesn't get very emotional but I doubt many people can visit places such as this and not be moved.

 Opps the poor sailor is sideways.  This is one of several enormous murals created using little tiles, they are in a huge area with a high ceiling.

 When we came home I organised to get new carpet in the girls rooms, so everything had to come out of both of their rooms.... Milly thought it was great being able to climb this stack of shit belongings.

I had to sit surrounded by this and more on the other side overnight, I know what hoarders feel like now.  The 'stuff' is now sorted out, returned to their rooms or to where ever it needed to go.  Carpet is in, now in a few weeks time my bedroom needs to be cleared out, painted, a new wardrobe put in and then the carpet that same afternoon so that I can put everything back!

The fisherman detests painting and has been putting this off for months so I ended up just going and booking in the dates and telling him that its happening!

challenge accepted and achieved!

 Yesterday was the whittlesea challenge.  The start was challenging, it was pouring with rain from the moment I got there to pick up my number.... It was dark and gloomy and many people were sitting in their cars considering their options to ride or go and get breakfast in a warm cafe. There was a few cars turning around for the soft option.

 But my friends and I decided it wasn't an option to not take the challenge head on and give it a crack.  I was delighted to find my bestie at the start line to wish me luck and wave me off.
We rode from Whittlesea up to Flowerdale in the rain, up the hills.......

Then at flowerdale the rain stopped! By then I was sodden and had a squelchy butt, but so was all the other lunatics cyclists who had decided to ride.

After Flowerdale we headed up to Strath Creek.  There is a long climb and all of a sudden... WHAM!
you hit the really nasty bit.  There is a short climb with a hairpin bend that you have to do a standing climb or you will fall off (some did).  Then as you ride further up you can look down to your left and see the road you just climbed up below you... as pictured below!

 Here is one of the girls nearly at the top of the climb... I'm a few riders behind her.. looking like an ant poo.

 Once we conquered that hill I relaxed and enjoyed the rest of the ride to Broadford.  The sun came out for a short time and we all dried out but it was still a cold gloomy day. There was some awesome descents and I managed to get a top speed of 54km on one of them but my timing chip decided to slip down and went flying off into the bush, I had to stop to fetch it as the organisers would charge me for loosing it!

 After Broadford we hit a horrid headwind which kept us company all the way back to Whittlesea, it wasn't nice and not at all welcome.  The girls formed a pelaton of 5 and we kept each other smiling or groaning by singing songs and mimicking the local wildlife (large dogs).

 I kept my head down and powered my way up the hills.  Just when we thought we had finished with the climbing it just seemed to go on and on.

 One of the girls had to jump in to our own personal sag wagon as she had hit the wall, but considering she was only going to do the short course of 68km with only one hill I think she did a damn fine job.

the final 10kms were really hard, I thought at one point my nether regions were on fire but the saddle I have been testing survived a very rigorous testing and I will be purchasing one this week.  I had left the girls behind me and was riding with one of the boys who kept pace with me up Strath creek so I was happy to have some company for the final kms.

So at the end of the day I rode 108km (they always rip me off a few kms!) in 5 hours.  Today I woke up with some sore muscles in the glutes and hammies but did 40mins on the treadmill and some long stretches and tonight I'm feeling much better.

I couldn't have done it alone and without the support of my friends and family (who think I'm insane lol) Will I do it again?  Most likely!