Random

This one is for Anna B as she's worried we're just going to be boring tri geeks on our blog. Wandering around Sydney we came across several street performers. One guy did some pretty crazy stuff with a ladder and flaming juggling clubs while swallowing a sword.

The one that was really nuts though was the lady in a jar. She was the most bendy person I have ever seen. It was almost to the point of being sick. Anyway she worked the crowd and eventually contorted, deformed and twisted herself into a tiny 16in clear plastic box. I was amazed that she could still talk throughout the whole process. If it wasn't scary enough getting into the box I was worried about her over heating. It must have been like a greenhouse in there. Funny how the mind wanders to one random practicality rather than worrying about her being all buckled and never untangling herself again.

Settling In...

Life Down Under is hot, hot, hot. As I sit typing this in Brizzy (that's Brisbane to Poms), I am guzzling back the water and Ozzer keeps sniffing under his arms, worried that the humidity is winning the battle with his deodorant.

It's Wednesday morning here and we're at a friend's place in Brisbane, having spent last Thursday through to Tuesday in Sydney. It has taken about this long to rid ourselves of jetlag and settle into a 'normal' routine. Although the flight from Heathrow seemed to be far less painful than we anticipated (13 hours to Singapore, hop off the plane, buy dirt cheap Ipod, 7 hours to Sydney), its legacy has been crazy sleeping and eating patterns. I actually fell asleep in Sydney Aquarium on my feet mid-afternoon despite the fact a bloody great big Bull Shark was lurking in the gigantic tank in front of my nose... Nevertheless, being the dedicated tri geeks we are, we soon sought out the nearest places to swim, bike and run and on our second morning in Sydney went for a fantastic 45-min run around Circular Quay heading past the Opera House and that awesome Harbour Bridge into the city's Royal Botanic Gardens.

It was while on this run that we found the Andrew 'Boy' Charlton Olympic pool(pictured), which is known as Sydney's best pool and is earmarked "for serious swimmers only". Wanting to stuff it to the Aussies even during a training swim, we both got into the fast lane the next morning and it certainly wasn't like swimming at Marston Ferry. The standard wasn't as crazily brilliant as everyone made out it might be and it was just fantastic to be swimming outdoors in a 50m pool with the sun blazing down on us. Oh, and Ozzer loved the fact that the pool also turned out to be the city's ultimate gay pick-up point. I understood why he came out of the changing rooms still stinking of chlorine...He'd been too nervous to bend down and pick up the soap ;-)

Off to Noosa this afternoon - our new home from home for the next six weeks. Racing there on Sunday for what sounds like a blinding race. Can't wait!

More tales from Down Under soon...

Eek

From A Land Down Under

Here's a quick line from me as Eek has been busy tapping away letting you know what we have been up to in more detail. Right now we're at Eddie's in Brisbane but we head off to Noosa in a few hours.

Spent the last few days in Syndey being tourists checking out all the amazing stuff there. Hooked up with Squawker Goldhawk (aka Our Gypo Dad/ Sean Hawker) and naturally much ale was slurped. Great to see him, Karen and cute son Rory for the first time. Thanks guys for letting us stay - much appreciated.

The pic here shows Eek on our morning run past the opera house on route to the botanical gardens and beautiful 50m outdoor pool for a few laps.

Ozzer

One Day and Counting

As the weather takes a turn for the chilly we can't wait to flee these shores for the sunshine of Australia. In fact this time tomorrow we will be aboard the mobile cinema creating news ways in which to sleep in an 'armchair'. Both of us are super busy so I will keep this short. I still can't believe we are going tomorrow.

We'll miss you all and be thinking of you as we cruise along the roads in the heat, run through the national parks and swim in the outdoor olympic sized pool just down the road. I guess there's always those lush white beaches to hang out on if we get bored;-). Hopefully my man flu will pass soon as right now I feel awful. Any ideas I had of training yesterday or today went straight down the plug hole. I guess I'll have to wait until we touch down in Sydney.

Both of us will have our computers so feel free to drop us line and let us in the know with what you're up to over the coming months. Right I'd better go and start packing. Keep smiling and we'll see you at christmas you dingos.

Finally

We thought it time to join the blogging ranks, especially as we're going to be flying the cold raggedy shores of GB for the sun, sea and surf of Australia for a couple of months. Now we can keep you up to date with our happenings down under, race results, training regimes and exploits as we avoid the daily grind. And stats for Tom of course!

As a little note I'd thought I'd let you know that I went mountain biking at Cwm Carn in Wales today. The weather was glorious sunshine and I finally realised that Autumn has arrived as I climbed through the oranges and reds that illuminated the Welsh valleys. Beautiful.

I left the heart rate monitor at home but did laugh when Pete reached the dizzying HR of 194. Great to see the coach rip it up firstly off the small drop off and secondly, after two great jumps, he lept off the medium one showing his new found skills. Very impressive. We had a quality ride and it was great not to be looking at times, heart rates or worrying about painting the house. Good times although my knees scream otherwise;-).

Right as it's silly o'clock I'm keeping this first post short and sweet as my bed is calling.