Some weeks back, I made a reference to my bike having a new stablemate...I had it one day, and discovered a fault in the frame (damage in transit) but yesterday, I finally got the replacement, upgraded to the 2007 model for free! It's a Scott Scale 30 Carbon MTB, and yesterday, Gill and I went to christen the bike with a 3 hour ride on the back of the mountain in freezing rain, with a bit of downhill on "the luge" track to finish. Here she is, in all her glory (mud hosed off, of course)...oh, and Mum, I do ride to work on them too!

More new photos added from the last weekend. Went on a kayak/climbing exploration of Freycinet, which was a bit less adventurous than planned. The winds were all wrong to get to the bits of Schouten where we might get in some new routes, but the kayak there and the campsites were great, the company was great, and we did squeeze in a couple of surprisingly good new routes (maybe even worth a star or two) at about grade 17 (E1 5b) on a wee sea cliff on the inland side of the Hazards on the Friday. On Sunday, went to Lost Falls near Lake Leake on the way back to Hobart to climb a couple of cool multipitch dolerite slab routes put up by friends of Marls. Good clean fun in cooking weather! And today, cold and torrential rain! It's a funny old place Tasmania...a bit like home, really! Also, check out Jo Kippax's site added to my list, and by clicking here.

I had heard much legend of Tassie bushwalking/hiking/tramping (the "sodden Loddon" Plain on the way to Frenchman's Cap for example) - but no matter how much you hear about days and days of knee deep mud, it doesn't quite "sink in" until you are actually in it. It is what gaiters were invented for! (and my old Lowe Alpine gaiters have finally bitten the dust - or the mud)

 

We just spent the last four days walking/wading into, and then through, part of the Western Arthurs Range. Stunning scenery, but boy do you earn it slogging through endless plains of button grass swamp and bog to get there! A truly beautiful place though. Some day, we will do the whole range - a two week extravaganza! Enjoy the pics - see right.

For the first of the month!!! Been here for two months now, and it seems like yesterday I left, and yet it seems I have been here for ages - I feel like I belong!

 

Gill and I cycled up Mount Wellie today - I was doing really well for the first two thirds, feeling strong, good rhythm, and then, I bonked! I cramped up in muscles I didn't know existed. The road climbs just under 1300 metres in less than 20km, and it gets really tough to keep spinning after about the 800m mark (just under the Organ Pipes, in fact) especially when my gearing is very much set up for the flat. Gotta get myself a 26 on my cassette! I am sure my complaining was very annoying...I needed a good moan to keep me going! Anyway, I eventually made it, the view is well worth it, and the descent is fast and fun! Neil - I am remembering to breathe! - I am getting better on the hills (there is no choice here!!!)