Le Sabre de Canberra
@lesabrecanberra.bsky.social
I exist in at least three dimensions: gentleman v grump youthful v tired disciplined v decadent
Around 40 minutes back I stepped outside to have a relaxing spa with a glass of wine under a cloudy sky in Canberra. I decided to check the rain radar when I came back inside, which looked like this. I didn't expect this, but I would absolutely do the same thing again. Thoroughly refreshing!
I wandered down to Floriade today and managed to take some acceptable photos.
Flowers from my garden today. Spring is making itself known.
I rode 3,200km in four months. I travelled entirely by my own muscle power apart from two flights, three ferries and two brief rides on the London Underground. If you have enjoyed my reminiscing, there is more on my blog written at the time. www.kevinsgrandadventure.wordpress.com
Le Sabre de Canberra@lesabrecanberra.bsky.social · 2mo agoDay 123 was the final day of my European adventure last year. I hung around the Radisson Hotel for most of the day before I rode back through the airport tunnel to the terminal to catch my flight back to Australia.
Day 123 was the final day of my European adventure last year. I hung around the Radisson Hotel for most of the day before I rode back through the airport tunnel to the terminal to catch my flight back to Australia.
Day 122 was the last full day of the English leg of my adventure. I rode from Slough to a hotel beside Heathrow airport, taking in both Windsor and Eton. My focus turned to preparations for the flight home and avoiding some dull, grey English weather.
Day 121 was rainy so I abandoned the idea of walking from Slough to Windsor and instead had a shorter walk through Slough. I found it a tired, down-at-heel place with little sign of joy among its people.
I did enjoy reading The Great American Novel by Philip Roth. I still have my 1975 paperback copy.
Jerry Chen@jcsalterego.bsky.social · 3mo ago(brainstorming the next great american novel) catch-23
Day 120 took me from Hurley to Slough. I was conscious of coming towards the end of my adventure, which left me fairly unmotivated for riding long distances or chasing new experiences. Reading a book and glancing out at dismal grey weather seemed sufficient for the day.
Day 119 gave me a chance to see places I’d only ever heard about, often in quite vague terms. The Icknield Way, Chiltern Hills, Henley on Thames. My day ended at Hurley where I stayed at Ye Olde Bell, reputedly the oldest pub in England.
Day 118 gave me a gorgeous and fairly easy ride across the countryside from Reading through Woodcote and Winterbrook then on to Wallingford and finally to the Shillingford Bridge Hotel. It is indeed right at the end of the Bridge and is one of the nicest places I stayed in the whole trip.
Day 117 was spent sorting out the final small mechanical problem on my trike, with special thanks to the manufacturer’s quick reply to an email, and then exploring Reading on foot. I enjoyed the main shopping precinct, Forbury Gardens and the ruins of Reading Abbey.
Day 116 gave me a lovely ride from Farnborough to Reading. I started with a minor trike repair at the local Decathlon store, then meandered across country on fairly minor roads most of the way. My hotel was lovely, and I managed to get to a pub for a traditional Sunday roast dinner. Very English!
Day 115 took me from Alton to Farnborough. I met with hospitality, generosity, a chap mourning his divorce, a small mechanical issue, some fun and fast downhill sections, a couple of climbs as well (of course), and at the end a hotel across Farnborough Road from the famous Airport.
Day 114 of my 2025 cycling tour took me from Winchester to Alton. The quiet back roads were scenic and relaxing. I also had a chance to relax at my hotel while my room was prepared, and then I went to explore the main street with interesting shops and businesses. I remember the day fondly.
Day 113 had Cathedral bookends. I rode from Salisbury to Winchester, along quiet country roads, where I found blueberry bushes in fruit, horse droppings (some with car tyre marks!) and wide open views. I even had a view of Winchester Cathedral from my hotel window.
Day 112 was given over to exploring Salisbury on foot and at the same time exploring my connections to Church and faith. At the end, I wrote about my priorities. Love. Kindness. Generosity. Peace. Connection. People.
Day 111 gave me a delightful ride through quintessential English countryside scenery from Ringwood to Salisbury. My accommodation had no possible trike storage, so I used my priestly status to convince a local parish Church to let me store it in their facility rather than on the street.
It's not hard. That said, this is a person who is known to have cheated in his previous main employment. My question is: Why would we be surprised if he cheats in another area of his life?
Day 110 was the beginning of my journey back to Heathrow. I started in Poole and took a combination of roads and a rail trail to get to Ringwood. I was somewhat tired and grumpy, but I still managed to find some beauty, some things to learn and some lovely people along the way.
Day 109 took me off the island of Jersey and back to England where I landed at Poole. I saw a little more of the centre of St Helier, and managed to navigate safely to my hotel in Poole before dark. The ferry trip was quiet and relaxed and dinner at the hotel was memorable.
Day 108 was my only full day in Jersey, so I went for an exploratory ride on the island. I headed west from St Helier, rode the only rail trail, up into the hills in the middle and back down to the coast. The sea is never far from the eye or the mind. Jersey is worth a visit.
Soooo much better than one I got from a wanker a few years ago that claimed his email was made using "recycled electrons"
Rowdy Rebel@rowdyrebel.bsky.social · 3mo agoTempted. 🤭😁
Day 107 took me from Saint-Jouan-des-Guérets to Saint Malo and then by ferry to Saint Helier in Jersey. The ferry trip ended after dark, so I used my lights for the first time getting to my hotel in town. My trike had to be chained up in the car park at the rear of the hotel.
Day 106 was my last full day in France. I rode from the Manoir de Blanche Roche at Saint-Jouan-des-Guérets to Saint Malo and back again. I wanted to explore the town a little and to be sure of the details for taking a ferry on the following day. I enjoyed Saint Malo and I did enjoy the sights.
Day 105 took me from Combourg to Saint-Jouan-des-Guerets, not far from Saint Malo. I had a late start because of an online meeting from Australia, and then a lovely ride that ended with issues finding my accommodation at Chambres du Manoir de Blanche Roche. It was a very pleasant place to stay.
I was posted to Bourke High School in 1976 where another staff member's first name was Gaylord. He insisted on being called Gus. And yes, that was Bourke, as in "Back of …"
the paçoca fairy@michelegoo.bsky.social · 3mo agoi went to a shop today and the attended was called gaylene and now my brain is like 🎶 gaylene, gaylene, gaylene, gaylene i'm beggin' of you, please don't take my man
