tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13114704266830166572024-03-13T10:21:55.698-07:00No Sleep 'till AnkorVicky/Victoria/Vic/V/'Toriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07891404217313811840noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311470426683016657.post-61541371416320314342011-02-21T22:05:00.000-08:002011-02-21T22:05:10.597-08:00De-mining demonstration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to try and demine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Friday dawned clear and we were set for a de-mining talk in the hotel gardens along with each of us attempting to find a 'mine'. Local MAG staff explained that there are various methods of de-mining: the two most commonly in use were sniffer dogs; where there are large areas with a low density of mines and hand detection for smaller areas with a high density of mines. Apparently the dogs are great for clearing large areas as they are quicker than the hand detection but if the density is too high they cannot be used as they don't know where to start and will just run around the entire area.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using the equipment</td></tr>
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Well I wasn't that good with the metal detector so I suspect my days of finding Roman treasure troves will be limited but with a bit of help from the local staff I eventually managed to discover the MAG badge that had been hidden in the grass. The equipment itself is heavy and hot, the helmet is quite claustrophobic so I really admired the people who do this day in day out especially when I found out that half the armour from the vest was missing as they had been 'kind' and not inserted the various ceramic plates that protect vital organs. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZpqiNZ85h5EZiqP63SHxyvD3Or5Ai5ObfIW-Vz42o1O3Hy3qvS6-_jFpoidGiuKhbBMpBqs-eJsvjQ3vD6BHNtO3qAjaKhvy8juA3PujKNmacOWRAUmrUr0wGj6M9rwcOCiOGYeAdcLo/s1600/IMG_0967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZpqiNZ85h5EZiqP63SHxyvD3Or5Ai5ObfIW-Vz42o1O3Hy3qvS6-_jFpoidGiuKhbBMpBqs-eJsvjQ3vD6BHNtO3qAjaKhvy8juA3PujKNmacOWRAUmrUr0wGj6M9rwcOCiOGYeAdcLo/s320/IMG_0967.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frank 'I am German and I will be talking about the War'</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmk9fUMta9WyYaaN7hySfFmLU_pHvQaPCIq_bEtVJkQE41QXTsImGNvoe2wOJMGpkLF13EHpmH9CYqX8qa1CcmADGzkeLKwV_yxeXXP2iGXGxIolMZ-OknAY3ahKYkRLvtG2JVjOwkdBQ/s1600/IMG_0961.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmk9fUMta9WyYaaN7hySfFmLU_pHvQaPCIq_bEtVJkQE41QXTsImGNvoe2wOJMGpkLF13EHpmH9CYqX8qa1CcmADGzkeLKwV_yxeXXP2iGXGxIolMZ-OknAY3ahKYkRLvtG2JVjOwkdBQ/s320/IMG_0961.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Washing instructions for the Kevlar....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Following on from the demining exhibition Frank (local MAG co-ordinator) demonstrated the various munitions found within Cambodia. Basically this amounts to bombs from the Vietnam War that litter the East side of the country and mines from the Khmer Rouge retreat from the Vietnamese that are mostly concentrated in the West side of the country. He explained that MAG try and target the places that will do the most good ie prime agricultural land/roads etc and also run training programmes with local people. The latter are essential as Cambodia is a poor country (many people have to survive on around $1US per day) where the scrap metal from a munition can supply valuable income so there has been some issues with people actually going out to find mines/armaments to sell. He also explained that the group who are most affected by mines in Cambodia are teenage boys as they tend to be curious without a high sense of danger. <br />
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Frank did also explain 'thinking' behind a lot of the devices which I found a bit chilling but logical: eg anti personnel mines are designed to cripple/maim rather than kill because an injured soldier will slow down a company more than a dead one and Claymores (mines that have a trigger on them) will take out a range of around 50-100 yards worth of people in around a 120 degree arc and they have the direction of them clearly printed on the front (although this didn't stop some friendly fire incidents). I think the two things that really hit me was the information that it will take a further 20 or so years to remove all the armaments from this section of SE Asia (assuming that current levels of funding continue) and that there has been a doubling of incidents involving anti tank mines over the last year which MAG cannot currently explain but did mean that the death toll increased significantly.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYalCvPtHBIXKgv4VL2Y2WR5d8WRM_ZQDnvOD5GdigqGTZv7tA3tOtx2Mp9eIa7Kfqqt0Jwi54Mwds-I2pKnqoY75hNCCAUb2jyiFO8lyjZaX4VdzVTyLCu5cwUiObcYWSISFolhz36dk/s1600/IMG_0972.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYalCvPtHBIXKgv4VL2Y2WR5d8WRM_ZQDnvOD5GdigqGTZv7tA3tOtx2Mp9eIa7Kfqqt0Jwi54Mwds-I2pKnqoY75hNCCAUb2jyiFO8lyjZaX4VdzVTyLCu5cwUiObcYWSISFolhz36dk/s320/IMG_0972.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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</tbody> </table>The hotel pick up hubby -how did they know what I call him?<br />
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</tbody></table>Following on from the demonstration we had a free afternoon so I collapsed by the pool and waited for hubby to arrive who was very glad to see me all in one piece and breathing. The poor devil was rushed into changing within half an hour after landing so we could go out for a celebratory dinner with the team. Just for context on the value of money here; we went to one of the best restaurants in Siem Reap and because Hubs had not done the challenge obviously we paid for his three course meal; which was lovely food, plenty of it and cost $10US per head.<br />
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And that they say is that. I will be posting the radio clip some time this week (so excited that we made it on for a contribution of 33 seconds or so to my allotted 15 mins of fame). I am really glad that I took this challenge on and now the aches and pains are behind me can look back on it with joy. My photos are loaded onto Flickr and the link is down the right hand side of the page; but as you can see from the pictures, and hopefully my blog, the thing that most struck me was the children in Cambodia. They made all of the training, the struggle through the peddling and the general pain worthwhile but I wish that I could do more.<br />
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TTFNVicky/Victoria/Vic/V/'Toriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07891404217313811840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311470426683016657.post-10436429946542318202011-02-09T17:47:00.000-08:002011-02-09T17:47:21.585-08:00Day Five..... This is The End,<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Woke up determined to cross the finish line at Ankor Wat on my own pedals. Feeling much better and actually wanted some breakfast although couldn't really face the noodle soup option so had a cereal bar. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs91GcVsafUXbkcuPMT2J3XKy70c6RFE3q-H_aTyKH3cwJjytNbDZeknLglYwBsZcNV08eh7NEhp0FNrv7qEdQuijYovvG_VP4U-p8Pt8Z0KyA3LLn9xlZ7Hh0qfg_E2Lh1oA0JgegFEU/s1600/IMG_0910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs91GcVsafUXbkcuPMT2J3XKy70c6RFE3q-H_aTyKH3cwJjytNbDZeknLglYwBsZcNV08eh7NEhp0FNrv7qEdQuijYovvG_VP4U-p8Pt8Z0KyA3LLn9xlZ7Hh0qfg_E2Lh1oA0JgegFEU/s320/IMG_0910.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More happy campers<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Still had various ailments: heartburn was killing me and my left hand was really bad so I downed the Naproxen with a paracetamol and codeine chaser for good measure then asked Dr G for heartburn and vomit meds just before the morning ride. There is then a slightly more delicate matter, those of you who are squeamish or anyone who works with me skip to the next paragraph. When riding a bike gents get sore bottoms, ladies get, well, sore errr lady parts. As of this morning mine were on fire and not in a good way. Decided that the only way that I could get the clothing on would be to go commando, slathered an extra 1/2 inch or so of sudocreme padding on the gel inner of my cycling shorts and gingerly put them on.... much better than previously although I didn't think that this vital part of my anatomy would ever be the same again... </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rFRf5IgKr5L4edDeNjd07YeOr-cTa34dokgp2dZhGnJNy30NRcps1Q4eSrjb0H1FcS3l7_BMk3IjULyJlTokbQcp9BNUdx4hUb3UDNGz8wSPcjRtMi-h3A3rc7iANg5JBDZYID43_-Q/s1600/Picture+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rFRf5IgKr5L4edDeNjd07YeOr-cTa34dokgp2dZhGnJNy30NRcps1Q4eSrjb0H1FcS3l7_BMk3IjULyJlTokbQcp9BNUdx4hUb3UDNGz8wSPcjRtMi-h3A3rc7iANg5JBDZYID43_-Q/s200/Picture+026.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rubber Tapping<br />
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</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Following </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">the slight overuse of meds the morning ride all went surprisingly well and I realised that I had finally acclimatised after 4 days of cycling. It was quite a revelation not to feel dizzy/ nausea all the time. One thing that has surprised me is that during all the cycling I have not had any problems with my legs; I have been stretching at every break (well all those where I was not sat with my head between my knees) and the training that I have done seems to have been about right for the distances (>80kms per day) that we have been doing.... it's just been the heat that has done me in. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAueakySaVLH66lsOizAvRjByW-VhPXtmvDaIDyXVUNidwz9XyYdTI3l0ePW22PMQAYYMUKfmlfT6J1XFOiT9TQjWyI4U3cMYt3FFcv_HMDLmfejhnIexkvr3m9KeGCJ9zMxXpucN_Oyk/s1600/Picture+047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAueakySaVLH66lsOizAvRjByW-VhPXtmvDaIDyXVUNidwz9XyYdTI3l0ePW22PMQAYYMUKfmlfT6J1XFOiT9TQjWyI4U3cMYt3FFcv_HMDLmfejhnIexkvr3m9KeGCJ9zMxXpucN_Oyk/s320/Picture+047.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Post lunch idyll<br />
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</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The after lunch ride was a real treat; we did about 18kms off road through villages, trees and fields including around an Ankor era Wat. This was exactly the type of riding I had been hoping for even though it is a bit more hard going than the tarmac'd road; although the advantage of a gravel/sand surface is that the heat is not reflected as much and it was a far cooler ride. After a further 10 kms we stopped for a 'pre finish' break and I cycled in, lost my back wheel to the sand and ended up on my side. No major damage although bit of a bruise on my right calf... and to my pride. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Blew up balloons and decorated the bikes then cycled through the rush hour traffic of Siem Reap in convoy; with a bus at the front and back with hazards. About 50 yards from the finish line my </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7kr1Zh_5c_zo8GufoF20bwGhrh1vdhUcV_EGupx4v8-_3f8D8yU_KSZzMtFKyg_it8wN4op82Rnv5Z9UFBK_65PqhbQTBrTImFpvhwDzB9qPkAgqFKNhzG3jEhELn7aqdmoSHpbJgbY/s1600/P1020933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7kr1Zh_5c_zo8GufoF20bwGhrh1vdhUcV_EGupx4v8-_3f8D8yU_KSZzMtFKyg_it8wN4op82Rnv5Z9UFBK_65PqhbQTBrTImFpvhwDzB9qPkAgqFKNhzG3jEhELn7aqdmoSHpbJgbY/s320/P1020933.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello to Jason Isaacs!<br />
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</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">balloon burst and I realised that I must have some really bad karma coming in on this one.... Crossing the finish line was a real buzz and after champers, congratulations and a lot of very sweaty hugs we all said 'Hello to Jason Isaacs' even tho' only one other person in the group was aware of the good Dr K's broadcast :-)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Got to the hotel and there was some problem with the rooms. As Paul was coming out on Friday I had my own room and this seemed to be causing some problem so I nipped into the loo while they sorted it out. Tried to come back out of the loo to find the handle wouldn't turn... it took 3 MAG/Actionchallenge people, 1 swiss army knife and a multipurpose bike tool to release me from my final prison. Bad Karma? more like Doooooooomed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Celebratory dinner and I had my first alcohol since Blightly - thank the lord for G and T.... I was complemented several time on how well my complexion had healed now we were out of the heat but I did come clean and admit that I was wearing 1/2 an inch of slap :-)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpiwiy94yDaK30x9CYQNaGT9RSsDb3AWiY-De8xrDXFiYjg6zAY9yeP_Xuk4Kn3nJMjGvEOE9E0MKeaBiJD-vjATAa_FEsuZ9KQ3kxjaYYjJcWvxMVOEM_Pg-5JhvC2flJExhnaF94LY/s1600/Picture+044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpiwiy94yDaK30x9CYQNaGT9RSsDb3AWiY-De8xrDXFiYjg6zAY9yeP_Xuk4Kn3nJMjGvEOE9E0MKeaBiJD-vjATAa_FEsuZ9KQ3kxjaYYjJcWvxMVOEM_Pg-5JhvC2flJExhnaF94LY/s320/Picture+044.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonus Wat on the way<br />
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</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One thing I haven't mentioned is the mix of people who have done the ride, mostly because a blog is me, me and of course me. The 30 or so riders ranged from the director of a childrens charity, CEO of a large retailer to students and social workers. Motivation ranged from others who had been out and seen the many landmine amputees in Cambodia (anti-personnel mines are designed to maim not kill since an injured soldier takes more looking after than a dead one) to a couple who do one of these per year. Cycling ability ranged from those who regularly do 70 miles plus, including a chap who had cycled across Oz (2,500 miles in 31 days) to those who had not been on a bike in 20 years. One of the latter has discovered a love of cycling and is already planning to do Sri Lanka next year. I think that the one who really stood out to me was the quiet, self effacing bloke of about 24 who had been struck by information on mines and decided to do this despite never having had a passport before even for a day trip to France. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcaHcbLcsEmbN0flAk_Pyy5ElDUv6_w-h1DC534VNzTqIZByx8iW2oDkkPnGu1ZAytkzbMfQNy1nSKeCXFBMDdBe4I99xIjozFMkK7X2qFmhJpleGfVu8k2yNykLymdYpxG5DT5LmfMzI/s1600/Picture+042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcaHcbLcsEmbN0flAk_Pyy5ElDUv6_w-h1DC534VNzTqIZByx8iW2oDkkPnGu1ZAytkzbMfQNy1nSKeCXFBMDdBe4I99xIjozFMkK7X2qFmhJpleGfVu8k2yNykLymdYpxG5DT5LmfMzI/s320/Picture+042.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with the team (Rith is stood up in the MAG T shirt)<br />
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</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There will be a short wrap up blog for the de-mining demo etc but I may not write this up until I get back to the UK as I am really struggling with photos etc and formatting on the IT over here. So - final bit after the ride - I didn't manage the whole 480kms and sat out for about 46kms or so due to heat stroke ..... I am hoping that this doesn't mean that people will be expecting a discount on donations and/or money back. I could not have done this without the support of many people, you do all know who you are but I want to single out Paulie who has worried, texted and lost most of his remaining hair over the past week not only looking after me but passing on info to everyone else as well. He has also admitted that when he said goodbye to me at Heathrow he did think he might never see me again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What have I learnt from the ride is:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">a. If I do it again I will come out a week early to acclimatise</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">b. A gel saddle and cycling shorts are your only friend</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Finally and most importantly:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">c. I am just not built to do this sort of thing and baking cakes/selling stuff is more my forte so I am never, ever, ever, ever doing this again and if I mention it please get me committed :-) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">TTFN and thanks again for all the support</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">V</span>Vicky/Victoria/Vic/V/'Toriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07891404217313811840noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311470426683016657.post-48698177004766256322011-02-08T18:05:00.000-08:002011-02-08T18:05:03.201-08:00Day Four... I love the smell of napalm in the morning<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjND712yq_g0EXcZ01I6IrPQYTLpfpxdMJSg5TjMNveZBFf6D5z6uayglhopMV3qC5NEAvBBfvsNV-DAbj5EtwWHR6yVqeXpCYWfy36XVa_AicKgzdgHc1R1FNsF_39xlIXlUcP5W6tXPs/s1600/Picture+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjND712yq_g0EXcZ01I6IrPQYTLpfpxdMJSg5TjMNveZBFf6D5z6uayglhopMV3qC5NEAvBBfvsNV-DAbj5EtwWHR6yVqeXpCYWfy36XVa_AicKgzdgHc1R1FNsF_39xlIXlUcP5W6tXPs/s320/Picture+023.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A local cyclist</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwFIpUPRbZjhWLFmdOclEQ0462XqoiEtISmV4ieaRzpZYDkBM4e8RM6Olqc6KaMKJiS2kr7EG0yOejjWl9tPaNW4u1jOLtNCz-4Y_AXiLfbm542MBKxvX_57E6W-jd2scylKCVxizYAs/s1600/Picture+025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwFIpUPRbZjhWLFmdOclEQ0462XqoiEtISmV4ieaRzpZYDkBM4e8RM6Olqc6KaMKJiS2kr7EG0yOejjWl9tPaNW4u1jOLtNCz-4Y_AXiLfbm542MBKxvX_57E6W-jd2scylKCVxizYAs/s320/Picture+025.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monks watching the mad MAG cyclists</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Day 4 dawned and I felt better as I had a really good nights sleep. Still not hungry but not feeling sick despite the mishap the night before. Podged down to brekkie and managed to eat about a third of an omelette so was quite proud of myself. Filled the camelbak with SIS and headed onto the road.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> After the first kilometre started to get heartburn... this steadily increased until my chest was really painful; at which point, complete hypochondriac that I am, I decided that the chest pain and numb left arm/hand meant I was having a heart attack. After thinking about this a bit realised just how daft I was being and cycled on until we got to around the 14 km mark, at which point I had to stop. As I had dropped back through the field of riders Sophie, the Actionchallenge lass who herded up the stragglers caught up with me and stopped. The poor lass had to stand there while I burped, and I am not talking ladylike little secretions but about 20 full blooded, thunderclaps that any teenage boy would boast of. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Managed to get back with the programme and the ever patient Dr Geoff came to cycle with me and chivvy me along. Cycling next to Dr G can prove hazardous since he hasn't mastered the art of removing his feet from his SD clips and there is a 10% chance that he will, albeit slowly and quite gracefully, topple through ninety degrees any time he stops. Having not really eaten for a day and a half and feeling pretty rough I was not at my best and the poor bloke wore quite a lot of misery as he tried to get me to the first stop. Ran off to a corner when we got there as was still having the eruption problem, which wasn't relieving the heartburn but I was living in hope, and I didn't want to be nicknamed burping betty!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Biked until lunch (about 55kms) which </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQx49BriU6X3m-3cALas_QCeRaDJ2NHR0e7gytpRPODAUpN_hgoxFzKhTB2kTcasleHN0f156roqfqNlYuw-j0pwkacPVLHzNjNdOA7AtJwoNHd8mPmPpeGjKYnmK6rQ34JpsEG1dBA8/s1600/IMG_0903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQx49BriU6X3m-3cALas_QCeRaDJ2NHR0e7gytpRPODAUpN_hgoxFzKhTB2kTcasleHN0f156roqfqNlYuw-j0pwkacPVLHzNjNdOA7AtJwoNHd8mPmPpeGjKYnmK6rQ34JpsEG1dBA8/s320/IMG_0903.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No clammering, just patiently waiting</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">was planned to be a long one since we would be meeting some children and donating various things to them and their school. Rith had explained that most of the schools in Cambodia are free but that the children must have a uniform, notepad and pencil and many could not afford this small quantity of stuff therefore might not attend. For the 'donation ceremony' all of the children were lined up in front of us, they performed a song routine then we passed amongst them to hand out the goodies. I had mixed feelings about handing things out directly to the children rather than giving everything to the teachers to distribute but I was also glad that we did as it gave an opportunity to see how the children really behave. Many of the children </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJUCgw6C_KIFZddnAhuMmq2gs62IR4jiEGm8hLagP_n4sW2XqqmX_zRBUDibRxzXnh9Kdawg7zTVASPY4CtXNJHqjJAUx4Y6OWC8RiuX3MsVZJSrsSPSTiIo_ntBRuvPmEvvlHRiBNgnQ/s1600/IMG_0907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJUCgw6C_KIFZddnAhuMmq2gs62IR4jiEGm8hLagP_n4sW2XqqmX_zRBUDibRxzXnh9Kdawg7zTVASPY4CtXNJHqjJAUx4Y6OWC8RiuX3MsVZJSrsSPSTiIo_ntBRuvPmEvvlHRiBNgnQ/s320/IMG_0907.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patient</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">were obviously from dire poverty, but all of them stood in their allotted position and waited for one of the large Europeans to hand something to them personally. Not one of them tried to take something that was being handed to another child and there was no pushing or shoving or anything else. There were 120 children lined up in about 16 rows and they all stood and waited patiently. Some of the MAG group had brought sweets and I watched as one child, obviously not familiar with this type of thing, bit through the waxed paper wrapper on the chewy lolly he had been given then went back for more. I think that this was one of the highlights of my trip although I feel that I do need to do more on this one. MAG does work on the poverty since by clearing agricultural land so it can be farmed they increase the amount that can be earned and they target their work at areas that really need the help but I think I would also like to do something directly with one or more of the schools that we passed. </span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRo6HsfF8wqy5HmFABQD4b1QbSMhrcyMn0kmaMxwT6TfD8ZWLac1-99bB-ERSGo4KeyoqLHukXOkrj_p8dcFnIGgOP1GLjwRuHuEuX7t6M7XC0BHSKmtStwJHUOjwDTrtKucy4hhKU4gk/s1600/IMG_0909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRo6HsfF8wqy5HmFABQD4b1QbSMhrcyMn0kmaMxwT6TfD8ZWLac1-99bB-ERSGo4KeyoqLHukXOkrj_p8dcFnIGgOP1GLjwRuHuEuX7t6M7XC0BHSKmtStwJHUOjwDTrtKucy4hhKU4gk/s200/IMG_0909.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got a lolly too!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeim3d3LihDf07KQ2mFGnvT9fgQrRzDBfoOLQio-6pIhmmXKxEhc_fCPBeFK77BDJoM25TXYS-RILU01aEja-rzQrfqNby9puswU5piZdaZ5tITiKysfaW2FrdBFWOFyY7RBBuc_8JIfs/s1600/IMG_0908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeim3d3LihDf07KQ2mFGnvT9fgQrRzDBfoOLQio-6pIhmmXKxEhc_fCPBeFK77BDJoM25TXYS-RILU01aEja-rzQrfqNby9puswU5piZdaZ5tITiKysfaW2FrdBFWOFyY7RBBuc_8JIfs/s200/IMG_0908.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got a lolly!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Anyhow, after a long rest at the temple/school complex we set off. I managed about 100 yards before I vomited up the 6 spoons of rice I had eaten at lunch time. Dr G hove into view and gave me some strange pill that you hold under your lip to stop you feeling sick and after a drink and 10 mins or so I cycled off again. After about another 100 yards had to pull over again to be sick again. Dr G gave me a bit of a stern talking to and I ended up on the bus. Sat on the bus for the rest of the 30kms, scratching my heat rash and feeling like I had let everyone down. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> But, after a shower and rest in the hotel got dressed for dinner and even tried to do something with the bright red moustach where my upper lip used to be (thick heat rash/eczema). Then a Halleluia moment; I felt a tiny bit hungry, let me hear a Halleluia at the back there and for dinner I ate 1/2 a bowl of Tom Yum soup, half a bowl of rice, some prawns and a spring roll then got back to the room and had a cereal bar for pudding... yea. The whole not eating thing had been freaking me out as it is so not normal for me, but I finally felt vaguely human</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">TTFN</span>Vicky/Victoria/Vic/V/'Toriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07891404217313811840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311470426683016657.post-33586841931849296132011-02-06T22:47:00.000-08:002011-02-06T22:47:27.400-08:00Day Three - and there is a swimming pool!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_QguzmHtJKxT5mnG80U4FCeAv4f2miMc7oXR9f6ND-tufSOoLXITLIOzW2Bfm64JjW4nE5UX-JBA9N6brEl2055libVTaSDen_DVUJflZDjmSCiWRcn59QyUDfLMAK0zNQcWg8mcods/s1600/Picture+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_QguzmHtJKxT5mnG80U4FCeAv4f2miMc7oXR9f6ND-tufSOoLXITLIOzW2Bfm64JjW4nE5UX-JBA9N6brEl2055libVTaSDen_DVUJflZDjmSCiWRcn59QyUDfLMAK0zNQcWg8mcods/s1600/Picture+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_QguzmHtJKxT5mnG80U4FCeAv4f2miMc7oXR9f6ND-tufSOoLXITLIOzW2Bfm64JjW4nE5UX-JBA9N6brEl2055libVTaSDen_DVUJflZDjmSCiWRcn59QyUDfLMAK0zNQcWg8mcods/s320/Picture+022.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Out in the field</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Day 3 started about 2am; one of the problems of taking on about 1.5 litres of water per hour for about 8 hours during the day then loading up on more water during the evening is that you need to get up to use the loo on a frequent basis during the night. This, coupled with the agony that used to be my wrist and hands meant that after about 5 hours of tossing and turning I finally achieved full consciousness at around 2am. As anyone who has woken up at this time unable to sleep will know, this is not normally a joyful experience. Started worrying about the 100+kms that I needed to pedal today and by about 330 am was having a full blown </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">teenage type attack of the miseries. As the cock crowed at 4am I made Morrisey look full of Prozac and I had just about decided to sneak out with my stuff and get a cab to the nearest bit of civilisation when I slipped into a doze that lasted until about 530am. The sun was up and things looked brighter; after a shower, chicken noodle soup brekkie and with a new, higher handle barred bike under my bot I decided it was do or die time - 111km or bust....</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw62qyaH0R6vTGT_mLuTPbDVcfKZHPxob3_NnkemBJXtsqxlbI3RLS8objj63ED-837_DKLqRqQi59Vtn959oaKCpIHJtt-oYiNAPSDEfL9G_rhvAsBS5Mp6Q_RVSyLy9tFgA3lZiZ4Qg/s1600/Picture+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw62qyaH0R6vTGT_mLuTPbDVcfKZHPxob3_NnkemBJXtsqxlbI3RLS8objj63ED-837_DKLqRqQi59Vtn959oaKCpIHJtt-oYiNAPSDEfL9G_rhvAsBS5Mp6Q_RVSyLy9tFgA3lZiZ4Qg/s320/Picture+020.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few of the children cheering us on<br />
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</tbody> </table><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Cycling through Cambodia is hot, sticky, sweaty and hard but the thing that makes it a joy are the people. Every child in the vicinity comes to wave at you along the road and shout hello, mothers bring their babies to view the large, lycra clad Europeans cycling past and this really does spur you on. We were passing through </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> small villages and towns with lots of agriculture along the way</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">; while the hotel in Kompong Cham had not been particularly lovely it had been the only hotel in town!</span><br />
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</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Just a word too about how the rides felt; the morning ride until about 0900 - 1000 was generally a bit hot but not too unbearable, but by 10ish the heat had built up in the blacktop and the air takes on a soupy quality. On every day I found the leg after lunch the worst as while I had had a rest it was like pedaling in a sauna with the only relief being to pedal faster to get more wind of passing in a vain attempt to cool down. </span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Anyhow, back to the day. We set out from Neak Lung after a short bus ride. Had a bit of a brain wave about my hands and downed prescription strength Naproxen which I have for other pain but is an anti inflammatory and pain killer. The first leg was what is now known as 15 'Cambodian kms. In Cambodia the km ceases to be an absolute measurement and 15 Cambodian kms can be anything from 15 to 20 European style kms. I found the first leg a bit difficult and knew I needed to eat at the first stop even though I wasn't feeling particularly hungry. Spurred myself through the last 4 kms of the leg with the fantasy of eating a few salty, greasy crisps and I almost managed to make myself want them. Then disaster struck; the crisps were 'pringle' type ones and I checked the ingredients which included wheat. Most people will know that under normal circumstances I can cope with the minor inconvenience of symptoms from small quantities of wheat but given the slightly basic facilities and distance between same plus the stresses being put on my body I had determined that it would be best to be strictly wheat free during the ride. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, at the stop, I found that the only thing that I could eat would be fruit. Fruit involves peeling, my thumbs, while not getting worse were not really functional at this point and fruit denuding was strictly beyond my capabilities. Made my plight known to the marvelous Rith who had one of the drivers scanning every bit of food to see if I could eat it... I wish I had got a picture of Vanda reading the ingredients on the chocolate chip cookie box to see if they had wheat in them.....</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0RdhYrF4FZp7HGICGgjWnJMPE9v14Z3jCIzko91gehP8EyzRan7QDLnGmwE5c23leY8HQopJZ8a5URIEbuRWSBuwwMy_H7xD2nicAacd2QP-ic9FJTZLYeKbh5-lL0DMcIAFUmDha4U/s1600/Picture+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0RdhYrF4FZp7HGICGgjWnJMPE9v14Z3jCIzko91gehP8EyzRan7QDLnGmwE5c23leY8HQopJZ8a5URIEbuRWSBuwwMy_H7xD2nicAacd2QP-ic9FJTZLYeKbh5-lL0DMcIAFUmDha4U/s320/Picture+030.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hertford Co of Archers buff goes on holiday to Cambodia<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But I had the majic SIS 'hydration energy sachet' things to add to my water which had proved brilliant so far so I dumped one of these in my camelbak and cycled off. By the second break I really needed to eat as I could feel that I was sugar crashing between sips of drink, although was still not feeling particularly hungry. Arrived and Vanda proudly presented me with several packets of pistachios. This was lovely and I managed to crack open about 10 but was close to tears with the pain from my left thumb. I think this is where things started to go really wrong as I know that I need complex carbs since sugar sends me on a high/low rapid up/ down but I was so focused on my hands that I ignored the needs of my body. The naproxen was taking the edge off the pain but I was saving the further two doses for the afternoon and evening. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_JteWUiFjOqOknqXCtZ4Afr3eQ54yE-tKCfTdomH-7XFebFtfb8X5qHx8-IaNC781ImMEXeootwjNdEg7E38Ewv543qKwUZ5j1Lp6mOyrNg-MlryNOShmA0zSEzQ_rXc5ri3IBAGJzI/s1600/Picture+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_JteWUiFjOqOknqXCtZ4Afr3eQ54yE-tKCfTdomH-7XFebFtfb8X5qHx8-IaNC781ImMEXeootwjNdEg7E38Ewv543qKwUZ5j1Lp6mOyrNg-MlryNOShmA0zSEzQ_rXc5ri3IBAGJzI/s320/Picture+017.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wow - that's me!<br />
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</tbody> </table><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">By lunch I had lost all will and inclination to eat. As a founder member of the National Organisation for the Super Hungry (N.O.S.H.) this was a new experience for me. I tried to force some rice down but only managed a few spoonfuls. Raided the bus for reinforcements of the SIS sachets and thought that if I took them every break (I had been having one sachet every other break with just water the other time) I should be able to make it. Now the SIS sachets are specially formulated to keep you going in the heat and aid recovery time. I didn't look to closely at the ingredient list since after it started: glucose, fructose, sucrose.... I thought I didn't need to know any more!</span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You can feel your teeth rotting in your head as you are drinking it though.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking at the photos is more interesting than having them taken<br />
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</tbody> </table><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But the SIS sachets worked. I stayed on the bike </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and managed to cycle for the </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">whole day except for the last 1km.... which had a hill and by that point I decided I was just getting on the bus for the final leg. While I was exhausted I gave a happy 'woo hoo' since I had managed to complete the day I was most fearing! Then a real joyful moment: I glimpsed heaven in the hotel grounds... a pool. Got up to the room and just stripped into my cossie then headed for the water - absolute total and utter bliss.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Back upstairs I realised just how empty I felt and ate a pre dinner cereal bar as an appetiser then changed clothes ready for dinner and went down. Then the coup de grace: just as we were getting on the coach to go to dinner a wave of nausea hit. I quickly made my apologies to Ian (Adventure Challenge leader) and ran upstairs to be sick. Spent the next hour or so 'talking to god on the great white telephone', drank some water then crashed out until the next morning. </span> Vicky/Victoria/Vic/V/'Toriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07891404217313811840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311470426683016657.post-41638996814939479222011-02-05T21:30:00.000-08:002011-02-05T21:30:51.576-08:00Day 2...... Spicy Girl! <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ex-7IHaGdYBJ7zGf-NBwyW_ny9gVM6b4DYdCliczhEmEzR5GzUpzRHSyOTFLAGtXpEke_5ro6Ve1MEPgtIEyzzfkLmg8xeDV3aFWpT1O65sHZdeiIYqfyuoBMTGwm3BaTPIb9Gks_ug/s1600/Picture+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ex-7IHaGdYBJ7zGf-NBwyW_ny9gVM6b4DYdCliczhEmEzR5GzUpzRHSyOTFLAGtXpEke_5ro6Ve1MEPgtIEyzzfkLmg8xeDV3aFWpT1O65sHZdeiIYqfyuoBMTGwm3BaTPIb9Gks_ug/s200/Picture+004.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vietnam... it's a bridge :-)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial;">Apologies to all who were expecting a full day by day blog over the last week or so but had serious internet issues from the second day of the cycle ride onwards. I have decided to supplement the brief accounts posted by long suffering hubby from the frantic text messages between us with a full account which I will post day by over the next week. So, with apologies for the spoilers on the ending, back to Day 2 of the cycle ride.......</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rubber plantation - Vietnam</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caidai temple (after a few drinks :-) struggling to load photos)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial;">Got up quite early on the second day of the ride feeling reasonable which was a bit of a relief after the massive fail of the day before. This would be our last day in Vietnam so I was determined to enjoy it (and take lots of photos). Due to the heat between 1100 and 1500 we were scheduled to undertake most of the cycling in the morning on 15km legs between breaks with a 10km before lunch then 10km legs after lunch. This was set to be the standard format of every day with a lunch around 1130/12 to around 1300/1400 dependent on the total distance we were to cycle. </span><br />
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To try and avoid a second onset of heat stroke decided not to wear my buff in my customary alice band style and resorted to what I believe is referred to as the sporty wee willie winkie look. This has the advantage of keeping my hair up, my head covered and most importantly allows all the massive amount of 'lady glow' to be soaked up by the buff. All I can say is that I think the buff has done a sterling job soaking up at least my body weight in water and I cannot imagine how bad it would have been without it.<br />
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This morning started having problems with my hands about 5kms into the ride; basically I am having to lean far further forward and lower than I would on my bike which is set up as a 'sit up and beg' this means I am putting more weight on my hands. This was being exacerbated by the fact that my saddle had been put on tilting forward which meant that I was having to push my bottom up the seat using my hands. I suspect that the Vietnamese cyclists had not realised that as ladies have a bit less padding at the front you generally have the seat parallel to the ground. By the first rest break the fingers in both hands had severe pins and needles, I had no feelings in my palms and my wrist felt like they were on fire. Established at this stop that nothing could be done about the height of the handlebars but at least the struggle had been registered for the set up on the Cambodian bike (we would change bikes at the border). </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Around 10 am I was peddling along merrily, beetroot faced and with the start of eczema coming up on my upper lip when I was sexually harassed by a Vietnamese chap on a moped - he yelled 'you are very spicy girl' which made me laugh and wonder how terrible someone would need to look in order to not be a 'spicy girl' <br />
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Short photo stop at the Caodai Temple then onto the border arriving about 1030 ish. Crossing from Vietnam to Cambodia the difference between the countries was highlighted by the architecture.... on the Vietnamese side there was a concrete communist monlithic and on the Cambodia flaming stupas. That is not all that was different between the two countries - we left the Vietnamese side easily and entered onto our first attempt at entering Cambodia, all queueing up in terribly British style (allowing for our token Colonial from Oz and a German) at one of the five booths handling people coming in. We all had e-visas for Cambodia and this proved to be a bit of a mistake; once we had got through the initial crossing which handled 'traditional' visas we then all formed an orderly queue in front of the single e-visa desk to be checked on the single computer. Which took a little time. Once the first few had been checked we all thought that they would be able to enter Cambodia, but no. Rith (our Cambodian lead cyclist and one of the chaps who had manhandled me onto a veranda the previous day) swung into action. Our passports were all collected in and we walked out of the side door on the Cambodian side, round to the side we had just come from and hung around in no mans land waiting for our passports to come back. Which they did one by one over the next 40 mins or so and we got into the country eventually. <br />
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Our first Cambodian lunch was about 50m from the border and boy was it good but I had little appetite so just forced a little down. Over lunch I realised that while most of my hands had recovered my left thumb had swollen to about double size and no longer possessed the ability to bend. As I had a fantastic nights sleep the night before my brain was firing on all cyclindars and after a bit of a think realised that this was probably due to my thumb ring cutting off circulation. Congratulated myself on my Sherlock abilities and after a 10 minute soaping I managed to get the ring off....</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tending the Fields<br />
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</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Got the new bike and managed to get them to put the seat on properly. Hoped that this would do the trick as the handlebars still could not be adjusted and got on. Sadly I was wrong, not having to prop my bot on the seat helped but by the next break my wrists were on fire and my hands were swollen, my left one so badly that I daren't take off my cycling glove since I knew it would not go back on. Iced up my hand as well as I could and spoke to the marvelous Rith who promised to see what could be done. By the last break of the day Rith had a solution; he would give me a larger frame bike which would have the higher handlebars but by this point things were so painful that I couldn't cope with making any changes. Asked Rith to sort this out for the following morning. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buffalo cart - Vietnam</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><span style="font-family: Arial;">Got in that evening to Kompong Cham feeling that I had achieved something since I had stayed the distance, but was worried about Day 3 as we would be doing around 111kms and I knew that I was really going to struggle with this. Decided to enjoy the evening anyway so went on a wander around the town in a fruitless search for the internet then off to dinner; this was a bit of a fail since as soon as the food arrived I felt a huge wave of nausea so I left the table and took myself off to my room failing asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.</span>Vicky/Victoria/Vic/V/'Toriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07891404217313811840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311470426683016657.post-51908693991474493922011-02-02T23:42:00.000-08:002011-02-02T23:47:57.172-08:00It's the last dayAs I write this it's early in the morning on Thursday in the UK. I got a text message overnight from Vicky, who was en route to the start point for the final days cycling. She is determined to do the last day, and has had breakfast though says she has some heart burn and the doctor has given her some medicine.<br /><br />I am packing my case this morning and doing the last minute stuff at home, including collecting various ointments to soothe parts of her that I probably shouldn't mention here. Then I'll be off to the airport and that'll most likely be it from me here. Assuming we can sort things out at the destination hotel, the next account should be from my very brave wife, of whom I am incredibly proud.Paul Davisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00728186903186309782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311470426683016657.post-62154874177037707422011-02-02T00:23:00.001-08:002011-02-02T00:25:46.370-08:00Back on the BusI got a text from Vicky this morning:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Done about 55km this morning, but doc has retired me to the bus after a spot of vomiting... apparently heading for heat stroke again.</span><br /><br />As far as I know today is the second "big push" days (100km or so). Given that she managed to do the 100 yesterday, I think she's doing well but there must be a lesson to learn here about heat stroke and overdoing it at the beginning. Though I'm a fine one to talk sat here in my dressing gown at home sipping tea and relaxing...Paul Davisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00728186903186309782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311470426683016657.post-25198228872632136672011-02-01T07:35:00.000-08:002011-02-01T07:40:09.610-08:00100 Km!Sorry about the terseness of these reports, but I am only getting updates by text message at the moment. Hopefully, once I join her in Cambodia later this week and there is more time to work on it, we can post a lot more about how the week went.<br /><br />Vicky texted me earlier to say that she's OK (Tuesday night for her), and has managed 100km. However she's not eating properly (breakfast and lunch OK but no dinner today) and has been a bit sick, which is making me worry (again). It's a very strange feeling, sitting here back in the UK with no real ability to interfere (yes, I have been called a control freak in the past, how did you know?).Paul Davisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00728186903186309782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311470426683016657.post-45544958393567618372011-01-31T04:15:00.001-08:002011-01-31T04:16:53.198-08:00Monday's update by text messageI've just had a text from Vicky on my phone, and all appears to be going well now:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">No Internet found although I have been sent around half the town. All is OK and I managed a full day cycling... will try for a proper post after dinner.</span><br /><br />I will update this entry if more information is received, but this sounds promising! I had started to worry after the episode yesterday with the bus...Paul Davisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00728186903186309782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311470426683016657.post-78849794349249866992011-01-30T07:07:00.000-08:002011-01-30T07:15:00.400-08:00Plan B in action<span style="font-style: italic;">Another missive just received:</span><br /><br />My room mate arrived at around 1 this morning... how did I know the time? Well because the door was flung open, light turned on and an announcement that she was here rang out....<br /><br />Had a massive fail on setting the alarm and got up at 5 instead of six this morning....<br /><br />But boy did the day get better, fab brekkie followed by C<span style="font-size:100%;">ủ</span> Chi tunnels and a superb lunch. Started cycling at about 1230 (following lunch) and I went great guns. Near the midde of the pack, overtook a few people and was just about getting the hang of the gears (lever instead of grip and positive displacement)... then 14 kms happened. Spots appeared in front of my eyes, I lost feeling in my hands. Then I was being manhandled onto a shady veranda by two of the Vietnamese guides and having an ice bath.... after I had recovered I cycled to the next stop (every 16 kms) and was ordered onto the bus for the next 16 kms.... the shame of it ... the first person retired to the bus.<br /><br />After the 16 kms doc came to check on me and suggested I stay on but determined not to let a mere case of heat stroke stop me I jumped back on. Very glad that I did as I flew through the rubber plantation and heard the silence. Then I realised this was because there were no birds, insects or anything else. But still lovely even if eerie.<br /><br />When we got back on the road I was invited to coffee by a lady on a scooter, unfortunately I had to decline.<br /><br />So, the only way from here is up although I have cycled today the same as everyone else less 16kms. Feeling exhausted mostly from lack of sleep but hoping to remedy tonight. We leave Vietnam tomorrow and enter Cambodia.<br /><br />Finally Mrs S.G... sorry I doubted you, the camelbak is essential and riding a different bike is hell. Bringing my own saddle was brilliant as the ones here were designed by Torquemada... they never expect the Spanish inquisition<br /><br />ttfnPaul Davisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00728186903186309782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311470426683016657.post-50822516380164885092011-01-29T04:12:00.001-08:002011-01-29T04:26:18.277-08:00And so it begins...Hello. This is the entity referred to previously in the blog as "hubby", "hubs", and similar names. I am sat at home in cold Hertfordshire while my very brave wife is in Vietnam. I left her at Heathrow airport early Friday morning, after an overnight stay at a nearby hotel. A text a little later, saying that she'd accidentally tried to check in with Virgin Atlantic rather than Singapore Airlines, did not seem an auspicious start. However I got a text from her late last night to say that she'd got the plane OK and was now waiting for her connection.<br /><br />This morning I have received an email missive from her, so I can happily confirm that she is now in Vietnam. Her message is below. I'd just like to say how immensely proud I am of what Vicky is doing, and feel a little ashamed that I'm only going there for the holiday bit at the end. Ashamed, yes, but also rather relieved...<br /><br />Oh yes, and the Zaurus that she refers to is a tiny PDA-sized computer that I've given her with a wireless card to make it easier for her to keep in touch without lugging around anything too heavy.<br /><br />More later, including some pictures I hope. Paul.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Vicky says:</span><br />Got here after the flight that took forever... negotiated a taxi at the airport for what is probably the average national wage and to add insult to injury then was asked for a tip as it is New Year. Bit grumpy as couldn't sleep on the plane and almost had a tantrum when I arrived at the hotel to find we had been moved to another one. A short taxi ride later and I was checked into a room on the eighth floor with a central open light well. Due to my inclination to throw myself off heights I am having to "mission impossible" round the walls to get to my room but other than that the hotel is better than I expected.<br /><br />Now feeling refreshed after an afternoon nap followed by a foot massage... which went well until he saw his tip (over fifteen percent) but you would have thought I had smacked him from his expression.<br /><br />It is not as hot as I had feared but still a bit daunting. In a wave of masochism I am looking forward to tomorrow and just hoping I can get some sleep this evening (its 7.30 pm here and I am a member of the really wide awake club which I shouldn't be only having had 2 hours sleep since Friday morning).<br /><br />Apart from a few problems with punctuation and ridicule from colleagues the Zaurus is working well... although apologies for the lack of commas I can't work out how to get them and as for apostrophes... that is moon on a stick territory<br /><br />ttfn ... I am hoping hubbie corrects spelling a little!Paul Davisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00728186903186309782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311470426683016657.post-12769073104957470962011-01-25T12:51:00.000-08:002011-01-25T12:51:32.308-08:00Do or not do - there is no try...<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Well, I am off on Friday morning from Heathrow after a bit of a mad dash to get visas (yes obviously I left it to the last minute - life is more exciting that way) plus collating all the general kibble together. Spent an hour or so snipping labels off various items and packing them in my rucksack on Sunday, following which I can testify that while the special mossie repellent travel shirts may be 'iron free' this doesn't mean that that they don't look like they have scrunched up in a bag on the bottom of the wardrobe for a couple of months...<br />
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Packing essentials in my hand luggage (pair cycling shorts, MAG biking shirt, cycle helmet, bike saddle, buff and undies) just in case main backpack goes adrift. God only knows what airport security will make of that little lot!<br />
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Sadly I think that this may be my Karrimor's final journey ... </span><span style="font-size: small;">She has been a faithful companion for ten years and has survived much abuse including </span><span style="font-size: small;">the bottom of the Mekong after a minor altercation between our motor powered canoe and a rather large rock.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> But, she is getting on a bit and after an unpleasant incident with an airport conveyor </span><span style="font-size: small;">(resulting in terminal loss of shoulder strap</span><span style="font-size: small;">) is now merely a backpack </span><span style="font-size: small;">instead of a 'multifunctional' bag; having said that a bag is there to hold your stuff, what other function does it need? </span><span style="font-size: small;">There are also a number of non functional zips and overall she is looking a bit battered, not to mention a trifle unsanitary ... I did look at getting a few repairs, actually more like serious surgery, done by a specialist company but the cost of the postage was a bit prohibitive. </span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">So, if anyone happens to be passing the Lake District via Hertford in March could you do a mercy dash to save her? </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So getting to the nub of things: How am I feeling? There has been a bit of frantic over training this week and I have a mixed bag of emotions ranging from quietly confident to '</span><span style="font-size: small;">OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! </span><span style="font-size: small;">I want my mummmmmmy, '. But, the truth is, that I'll either manage to do it all or not and while I probably could have trained a little harder/quaffed a little less I have given it the best effort I could..... I am looking forward to the holiday generally and already have hubby on a schedule for the first few days after the ride.... 9ish - bring wife brekkie in bed 930ish carry wife to sunlounger, 11ish arrange parasol over recumbent wife, 12ish feed wife lunch and margarita, 7ish carry wife to waiting taxi and take her to dinner...there might need to be a bit of work since there doesn't seem to be regular scheduled breaks for elevensies, afternoon tea etc but I think we can work on the details :-)<br />
<br />
I will aim for a daily blog on the trip (technology permitting) but I know we are camping one night so that may be a challenge. The idea is that I will mail an account plus photos to hubs in the evenings and he will post onto the blog ....so there is the potential for all sorts of chaos from that followed by a domestic :-)<br />
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That's all - thank you again for all the donations and support doing this over the past months has been a truly wonderful experience due to everyone being so lovely</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">TTFN</span></span></span>Vicky/Victoria/Vic/V/'Toriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07891404217313811840noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311470426683016657.post-59440397809067667192011-01-16T04:29:00.000-08:002011-01-16T04:29:16.064-08:00MAG Party and final training<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOA7a6DV8eLA2i1dOKtUvZ7wmilcqUd7Wsq-ff2Ph2X8xv5YBKX2-JPK0et-fbrnVULU192ahSQGGHytK9K742Wm6x6vG4yzpkQcRCmNazmjjdXEiPLAGJOI-_vyaVdamg9zxaIa3TUQ/s1600/IMG_0800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOA7a6DV8eLA2i1dOKtUvZ7wmilcqUd7Wsq-ff2Ph2X8xv5YBKX2-JPK0et-fbrnVULU192ahSQGGHytK9K742Wm6x6vG4yzpkQcRCmNazmjjdXEiPLAGJOI-_vyaVdamg9zxaIa3TUQ/s200/IMG_0800.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally - the food's out!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Following the revelation at Christmas that the date was getting a bit close which was underlined last week with a delivery of 'final' information plus a MAG t shirt I have been concentrating a bit more on the training with several nights of 20-30 miles (all at about 17 mph) so feeling reasonably confident that the 40 mile days are doable.... but very scared about the 60-65 mile days.<br />
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Have managed to get various bits of equipment sorted out (mostly as pressies for birthday and Christmas) so now the proud owner of cycling shirts, socks etc and a camelbak (backpack drinking thing). Once I have done the challenge (assuming I survive the ordeal :-) wondering what I will do with all the stuff and decided that I will probably keep up with a less arduous cycling routine but have earmarked the camelbak as a 1.5 litre g and t, summer party delivery system.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMw_P7L1odcEq8bFUFqcwUTUza01ocH10AofsfUkHYaGTMPb4z4NRYq96R8xryKgCiZmp5MktqKXRB3UllPzd12kH4EsbjnADv1JylwOoTuXQiPCWxrwoH2MK_6eaejqgXUX-DOihrwm8/s1600/IMG_0802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMw_P7L1odcEq8bFUFqcwUTUza01ocH10AofsfUkHYaGTMPb4z4NRYq96R8xryKgCiZmp5MktqKXRB3UllPzd12kH4EsbjnADv1JylwOoTuXQiPCWxrwoH2MK_6eaejqgXUX-DOihrwm8/s200/IMG_0802.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Food glorious food</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We had the MAG fundraising/birthday/fare thee well party last night which initially didn't seem to be smiled on by the party gods as I picked the weekend where everyone I asked had other engagements and then a tube strike started.... But, we in the end we decided to run with it and had a great fantastic party with a lot of people traveling quite some distance - I certainly had a fab time which was perfect since I am on a strict no drinking regime until I fly on Friday week...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7CNxFCDqzeuyWS4u6ScZQhQnMqu5dRxvnHpQag2p2m9jGNqxXQDW91Rkh3YYTZSAC0ln9hNze4X8PAaGaMbKdL2vkLnlUSqK4Ky7OXGsGSnz-BJrVTG55Ei9bP57QTULAJSCPMLyFMw/s1600/IMG_0799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7CNxFCDqzeuyWS4u6ScZQhQnMqu5dRxvnHpQag2p2m9jGNqxXQDW91Rkh3YYTZSAC0ln9hNze4X8PAaGaMbKdL2vkLnlUSqK4Ky7OXGsGSnz-BJrVTG55Ei9bP57QTULAJSCPMLyFMw/s200/IMG_0799.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes some people braved the extra hot!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I did spend much of yesterday morning cooking up chili and similar items; did do the mild version of chili but my planned thermonuclear level for the 'brave it if you dare' chili didn't come off due to my super hot, only use one drop or die chili sauce had finally given up the ghost.... but judging by the comments and amount of alcohol consumed I think that the food was a little piquant...<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPe7AJSWDLK-qPWUNLovzxgg1k5NMWEqG40JXtotkT9ncuoPhFceb0JJlTwqFRe0Njc9fi0MAo7RiowB3HwMr6piJzK0dvK5nr_H3DRqNw4D-YX-rDPJUAsVT_mC0RjLcwySLnO-Ge4U/s1600/IMG_0805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPe7AJSWDLK-qPWUNLovzxgg1k5NMWEqG40JXtotkT9ncuoPhFceb0JJlTwqFRe0Njc9fi0MAo7RiowB3HwMr6piJzK0dvK5nr_H3DRqNw4D-YX-rDPJUAsVT_mC0RjLcwySLnO-Ge4U/s200/IMG_0805.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The chili is THAT hot...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHnK-lSl3pHWPAcK-ywa-UT2ciBiEuZfdIbQGRcwN-63aPPD_xeHdNDJ0gm_LMdygwnvsPidku296i9qlBkzRkUBRDVC6X6nEblpjj8AVP8dgA6xI5yVTm_OoQJ7htbYsFwjTseuX728/s1600/IMG_0804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHnK-lSl3pHWPAcK-ywa-UT2ciBiEuZfdIbQGRcwN-63aPPD_xeHdNDJ0gm_LMdygwnvsPidku296i9qlBkzRkUBRDVC6X6nEblpjj8AVP8dgA6xI5yVTm_OoQJ7htbYsFwjTseuX728/s200/IMG_0804.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tucking into chili....<br />
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</tbody></table><br />
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We did run a collection and managed a whopping £140 towards the trip so very pleased with that; I'm still several hundred short but getting there so will be chasing all the people who have said they will sponsor me but haven't quite got round to it.... wondering whether the east end tradition of knuckle dusters might help :-) As well as the donations I was given lovely presents and also flowers which made me feel great - I was even given a perfect bike survival kit (first aid kit, deodorant foot wipes, cystitis medicine and a bottle of homemade blueberry voddie) <br />
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Struggled a bit with formatting the pictures onto this but suspect it will be a sign of things to come as I will post whenever possible from the event itself.... although I suspect most of sentiments may be a little dismal....<br />
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TTFN and thank you to everyone who has attended a party, sponsored me and/or supported me in this endeavour - you know who you are and you have been marvelous <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyf0uP6IBjepp_mrKw2rbUCj7LfrJPQuXaC9pXoDHKem-ftkCSg1KZzWIGNpw3kH-c9ka0hS7hU7vsC3tmyRCpLwxk8bsHlDeVNAQXxILN_BUsN64yRchEET0Lx7n3BsO4jXhMoyd4pyw/s1600/IMG_0801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyf0uP6IBjepp_mrKw2rbUCj7LfrJPQuXaC9pXoDHKem-ftkCSg1KZzWIGNpw3kH-c9ka0hS7hU7vsC3tmyRCpLwxk8bsHlDeVNAQXxILN_BUsN64yRchEET0Lx7n3BsO4jXhMoyd4pyw/s200/IMG_0801.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXmZ3PF92IaTPx-8eETS88leVCwlLv4hMpJ0uOo_jhxsv9ksbO89TLCiD8f0-lSuHESbIKGeEdTHMt4kVYaf8AmVS7nFlvclibcadAU90T85nMj7blSViLfpopMCfcTFpTImfIh4A3Uo/s1600/IMG_0803.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXmZ3PF92IaTPx-8eETS88leVCwlLv4hMpJ0uOo_jhxsv9ksbO89TLCiD8f0-lSuHESbIKGeEdTHMt4kVYaf8AmVS7nFlvclibcadAU90T85nMj7blSViLfpopMCfcTFpTImfIh4A3Uo/s200/IMG_0803.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOA7a6DV8eLA2i1dOKtUvZ7wmilcqUd7Wsq-ff2Ph2X8xv5YBKX2-JPK0et-fbrnVULU192ahSQGGHytK9K742Wm6x6vG4yzpkQcRCmNazmjjdXEiPLAGJOI-_vyaVdamg9zxaIa3TUQ/s1600/IMG_0800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></a></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Vicky/Victoria/Vic/V/'Toriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07891404217313811840noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311470426683016657.post-33001752582785144382010-12-29T02:39:00.000-08:002010-12-29T02:39:25.462-08:00Serious Training but have you seen the Weather?The last two weeks have been a bit of a write off training wise as going out, drinking and eating seemed to have taken over my training time. Although I have not been a complete sybarite and managed to get in several sessions on the exercise bike; but had a horrible moment on Christmas Eve where I discovered it was only a month and a few days before I was actually expected to do the challenge....so, this week I have decided that I must do at least 20 miles per day for the week off to build up the endurance levels on my muscles.<br />
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Started the regime the day after Boxing Day, but, after falling asleep on the way back from Southend to the dulcet strains of Metallica ( stepson likes them) blasting from the stereo I realised I might be a tad tired and let myself off with only 14 miles. Yesterday did the 20 and fully intend to do the same today. Still being a bit wimpy about the weather (the snow may have finally mostly melted on the pavements and roads but the fields are still covered) and keeping to the exercise bike until tomorrow. This has good and bad points: <br />
<ol><li> Riding the exercise bike is more concentrated than the real bike because I don't get to free wheel and other stuff plus the gearing is better. Hopefully this means I am building up muscle and stamina more quickly and I know I can go further on the real bike with less pain. </li>
<li>The exercise bike entails me being at home and the padding on my cycling trous has bunched up a bit which is putting a bit of a strain on my marriage (how could any woman resist wandering around the house saying 'LOOK! I have a bigger lunchbox than Linford Christie'?) </li>
<li>There is better scenery when I am on the real bike as I tend to have the telly on while pounding away on the exercise bike. Choice is a bit limited when you are spending a few hours peddling and think that I have now reached the nadir of televisual selection as I ended up watching the Beatrix Potter film last night and enjoying it.</li>
<li>There is far less chance of me falling over and breaking my coccyx though with my high clumsiness quotient this should still be considered a factor even within the house.</li>
</ol><br />
All should not be doom and gloom as I am feeling reasonably confident that I am getting there. I know that I could do a 40 mile day and I might just about manage the same the following day.... it would be the day after that I think I would need to spend in an oxygen tent with nice young men peeling my grapes for me. So, while I am not following the regime that they recommend (I should be going further but less frequently) I think that I am doing the right thing for me as it will be the repeat exercise day after day that is going to be my problem (I am tacitly ignoring the heat and humidity). There is also the day of nearly 70 miles that is going to be a real challenge but the project manager in me is setting my milestone target at a regular 40 and will then focus on the end goal of the 70 miler :-)<br />
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Busy organising the party for the 15th Jan which will hopefully raise funds for the ride plus celebrate me being halfway towards four score years and ten (a score added on for better meds and diet than a couple of thousand years ago). Other than that I think Jan will be lacking in sociability since I must concentrate on pedals and pedaling.<br />
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TTFNVicky/Victoria/Vic/V/'Toriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07891404217313811840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311470426683016657.post-78444072566072929912010-12-09T09:30:00.000-08:002010-12-09T09:30:38.852-08:00A week of gains and losses!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezyx7wZyTBXINybOJUiENenwPUhbthEyQUAwL2AGki9Ss2vF7CACZY_ohfO55eg-yTxqpyG6WwdccMOSYo7YgV-hYjC6g8bWNTrB7hHF36tYHWD4K6AAcWOVLETPvpRf4S7NAfdYUhx4/s1600/IMG_0780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezyx7wZyTBXINybOJUiENenwPUhbthEyQUAwL2AGki9Ss2vF7CACZY_ohfO55eg-yTxqpyG6WwdccMOSYo7YgV-hYjC6g8bWNTrB7hHF36tYHWD4K6AAcWOVLETPvpRf4S7NAfdYUhx4/s320/IMG_0780.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hertford Castle in a rare moment of sun</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><br />
Well, had another camera malfunction today as I hadn't realised that it was going to be a day where I could go out on the bike so the battery is still flat... but it is now plugged in so new piccies will be on the next one (even if it is just me on the exercise bike :-) But, I have got out today and done Hoddesdon and back via Hertford - not sure how far I have been as speedo No 2 committed hari kari as I was going over a pot hole in Ware and there was a horrible crunching noise as the car up my bottom delivered the coup de grace. Irritatingly I am having to bike through Ware, an old town, with a narrow main street, lots of traffic and rather inconsiderate parking; because the powers that be have closed the tow path at Ware for the next six months. Given that this has resulted in the death of speedo I feel a strongly worded letter of complaint coming on; not quite up to the rioting students but I believe that my point will be made.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-nrJKGAcUGzeWRnk81CdKlZoPqjJ-1M4xGDOo2KKGIqXqkvU2ikheUU4-iKSNDHu0pUeQc4zVxXSucUrC1coJVuyGMpYV3f5O-1-6T79NZDtBP8c19hQEJtxydFjzxMRH2gy7uEe4rI/s1600/IMG_0777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-nrJKGAcUGzeWRnk81CdKlZoPqjJ-1M4xGDOo2KKGIqXqkvU2ikheUU4-iKSNDHu0pUeQc4zVxXSucUrC1coJVuyGMpYV3f5O-1-6T79NZDtBP8c19hQEJtxydFjzxMRH2gy7uEe4rI/s320/IMG_0777.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moor Hens before the snow</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Apart from today, most of the training this week has been on the exercise bike; including 21 miles on Sunday which is a 1/3 of the distance so <b>woo hoo</b>. Thankfully for my nether regions the Parcelforce postie delivered the gel cover for the exercise bike yesterday. Although apparently with a smirk since he 'had read all about me in the paper and I am going to need more than a gel cover' - the cheek of it!<br />
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Getting a little worried about my lack of natural sporting ability and failure to be up to the levels of fitness that the training pack suggests. After a bit of a heart to heart with my archery cycling bud she queried why I was doing this in the first place given my tendency to sloth, lack of enthusiasm for exercise in general and apathy about cycling as a sport (I have only ever seen it as a way of getting around that doesn't stretch my limited parallel parking skills to the max). One thing that cycling around does give you (besides body parts that could probably crack a walnut - if we break both sets of nutcrackers this Christmas - but on second thoughts we will get another pair as that would be unsanitary) is time to think. So, after a bit of a muse today I decided to try and put my motivation down on paper, well cyberspace anyhow. I'm not great with explaining this sort of thing so hopefully it doesn't sound too trite.<br />
<br />
The last year has been a difficult one for me personally: my mother has a particularly horrible illness, both me and hubs have had to take serious pay cuts and, well, let's just say I have 'a bit of a personality clash' with someone at work which resulted in me taking time off for stress. I was wallowing a bit about all these maladies and then I thought about the traveling that I have done, the absolute poverty, malnutrition and obstacles to life that I have seen and having to pull in the belts a bit, not giving expensive Christmas pressies and being a bit more careful about how long we have the heating on and such just seemed such a small set of problems to have. In this slightly evangelical mood I did a bit of an internet search, found the MAG cycle ride and pretty much signed up for it there and then. While I may have a bit of a leap then look personality one thing I am generally pretty good at is following anything through no matter how insane I subsequently realise I must have been at the time - so - I will be cycling the distance or will die in the attempt. <br />
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I suspect that I will not do anything like this again, particularly since I have recurring fantasies about taking the trusty steed and the exercise bike to scrap merchants and putting them both in the crusher, but I am glad that I am doing this and the amount of support that I have received from so many people has really put a smile on my face and helped put the minor problems into a bit more perspective.<br />
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Today I realised that I might not be the only woman with this type of personality; I watched a lady not assisted by her dog, breaking her wooden barge out of the thick ice round her mooring and trying to pilot it through to the lock. After about 10 minutes I had to start pedaling or lose my feet to frostbite but her efforts during this time had moved her about 2 foot closer to the lock but no further from the bank since she couldn't get on the angle because the ice between her and the far bank wasn't cracking. As I left I took one look at her face and I am pretty sure that she is now either moored far closer to London or her barge is sitting on the bottom of the canal. Either way I suspect that the ax tied to the roof of the barge would have been involved.<br />
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TTFNVicky/Victoria/Vic/V/'Toriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07891404217313811840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311470426683016657.post-51324777499223878222010-12-02T08:35:00.000-08:002010-12-02T08:35:39.288-08:00Gaggling Geese and goggling glamas<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivaWAIATQ6nBT-wYQ1wHd3ctEgFCzr5f20ZGiodqL1oIJHRpRzFHkogQVMquwq5zD72_cJqYVk7OLoAxjOgsrFCjc49KnAA___FttMqVM4chfeHSo8gFJ2xao9gvZ4DcNq1GcBlVzxhkM/s1600/IMG_0776.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivaWAIATQ6nBT-wYQ1wHd3ctEgFCzr5f20ZGiodqL1oIJHRpRzFHkogQVMquwq5zD72_cJqYVk7OLoAxjOgsrFCjc49KnAA___FttMqVM4chfeHSo8gFJ2xao9gvZ4DcNq1GcBlVzxhkM/s320/IMG_0776.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Polar bears spotted .... ok lamas but they are white :-)<br />
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</tbody></table>Ok - all been a bit fraught... what with the fact that England suddenly migrated to the North Pole tail end of last week. Went out for a 17kms ride last Thurs and came back meaning to do a blog but due to frostbite I was unable to type..... I did manage to do 7 miles (after the ride!) on the exercise bike once I had chipped my legs out of the ice though.<br />
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Having been unable to fathom how to either take the central heating on the bike or keep several hot water bottles attached to various bits of my anatomy while cycling I have confined myself to the exercise bike. Unfortunately I have discovered that it has a far more uncomfortable saddle than my bike, even with the benefit of the nappy leggings. So, I am now debating the merits of adding a gel cover to my Santa/Amazon wish list but also wondering if there is a bogof offer and whether double gel is better than single gel? hmm - I believe that there will need to be some empirical research done and whether there is a manufacturer out there willing to sponsor it...if so I am willing to go the extra mile to find out the answer :-)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVK08bxQlWYFn5OMZ_EfFURUCwN6DswJ6Ap1zfPjomD3awkSqF7rCmROJeZI9UJEZgCXvx9XwQwx6XFO6Zx7CAM_bPiT8qnYWvxfY_yxMRgp4LldLdk9DUK_aGTn_-s3Crh267VKABL5I/s1600/IMG_0765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVK08bxQlWYFn5OMZ_EfFURUCwN6DswJ6Ap1zfPjomD3awkSqF7rCmROJeZI9UJEZgCXvx9XwQwx6XFO6Zx7CAM_bPiT8qnYWvxfY_yxMRgp4LldLdk9DUK_aGTn_-s3Crh267VKABL5I/s320/IMG_0765.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter sun near the Barge Hertford </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Even with the resulting - ahem - hurty bottom difficulties I am doing a regular 10 to 17 miles on the exercise bike which I reckon is about 14 - 25kms so 25% of the way there... not brill but an improvement. There has been a theory, proffered by a number of people, that suddenly it will all click and I will double my distance overnight. I must admit to being a bit cynical about this and am just trying to get myself into the sort of shape where teeth gritted, British stiff upper lip, alcohol (possibly) fueled determination will just have to carry me over to the finish line. I realise that this might not be the approved training method but it is all I currently have as an option :-)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGqadqwa20UzCtQgOnZaGHZqY3IhIGldjqTbujd94t4Xol3q8JErC29YFIzJfq-fUCgbnLA6YTvS4njwPbiG9YKT6kZ1HX0n8ftHGr6jGClCKMGdEBNlfMAqGlEa6MjplP2EMmlugKRo/s1600/IMG_0769.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGqadqwa20UzCtQgOnZaGHZqY3IhIGldjqTbujd94t4Xol3q8JErC29YFIzJfq-fUCgbnLA6YTvS4njwPbiG9YKT6kZ1HX0n8ftHGr6jGClCKMGdEBNlfMAqGlEa6MjplP2EMmlugKRo/s320/IMG_0769.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A gaggle of geese giggling... ok maybe not :-)<br />
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</tbody> </table><br />
I have been advised that I need to get one of these hydrating camel gizmos... I like the idea but bit put off by the fact you have to wear it as a backpack. As I am sure everyone knows ladies do not perspire but glow; having said that in 30 degs I think I will be glowing like a good 'un and don't fancy having a plastic bag on my back preventing said 'glow' evaporating.<br />
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Piccies this blog were mostly taken before last weekend... as the lack of icebergs following the geese demonstrates. Vicky signing off, not even contemplating going out for a walk and will definitely not be going to be some time. <br />
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TTFNVicky/Victoria/Vic/V/'Toriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07891404217313811840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311470426683016657.post-83301407390466531022010-11-18T06:36:00.000-08:002010-11-18T06:36:11.748-08:00Happiness.... is a padded bottom :-)The padded cycling leggings have been a revelation - on the serious upside the padding relieves quite a bit of saddle pain in your.... well let's say nether regions and leave it at that... the downside is that when you get off and walk you adopt a stance somewhat like John Wayne in a nappy. I am also having a bit of a sizing issue: the cycling has meant that my legs have become somewhat thinner but has had little affect on my torso area and whoever designed these did not have in mind a woman with a profile of toffee apple (on a stick....).<br />
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Great ride today (Hoddesdon and back then a few turns round Hartham Common) - been just over 25kms and only came in because I was starting to get cold, so, 25% there on distance and feeling ok. Will aim for 30kms at the weekend or possibly two days of 25kms and see where I get to with it but the short bursts of frantic cycling on the exercise bike most nights seems to be the right training strategy for me. I do need to devise some different routes as getting a little bored but listening to podcasts whiles away quite a lot of the monotony. For those of you into Kermode I will be saying 'Hello to Jason Isaacs' while on my trip...<br />
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Will be working out the injections needed for Vietnam and Cambodia and booking in with the doc, so next week I will mostly be a pin cushion. Hopefully it will not be as bad as when I ran out of time before a trip and had typhoid, cholera, polio, japanese encephelitus and rabies all in one go then spent three days wrapped in a duvet about 2 inches from the gas fire because I couldn't stop shivering. To be fair the doc did express some qualms before administering but I believe I told him to stop being a wimp and get on with it which, with hindsight, might not have been the best decision.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTP1lRVkqz9HdrWyqy_-lfW1tiFJ-MHiMLO4jjeEUqQP4TrmHv9H1AZzKF-C4wxfO9di_23GS-Rdh9dMRREcxi8gWFXoN_lv_Xr2MocApzD9_mpk9KyZvacSiPyNK1GdZVI7sYhcwPkY/s1600/20101111-IMG_2156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTP1lRVkqz9HdrWyqy_-lfW1tiFJ-MHiMLO4jjeEUqQP4TrmHv9H1AZzKF-C4wxfO9di_23GS-Rdh9dMRREcxi8gWFXoN_lv_Xr2MocApzD9_mpk9KyZvacSiPyNK1GdZVI7sYhcwPkY/s320/20101111-IMG_2156.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No proper piccies but me as I now appear on the work intranet</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>No piccies this week due to serious camera malfunction.... battery is dead. Bit of a pity as weather good today and some fantastic scenes of the trees with the last few leaves clinging onto them but perhaps I can catch them at the weekend. Assuming I can find the charger :-)<br />
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Managed to get me, my bike and a few words on the company website and already had the promise of a donation so well impressed with that one. Although I am not sure my colleagues will look at me in the same light. Sponsorship is still going well and I am really grateful as so many people have donated. But still a bit short on the minimum level of cash plus I want to get as much in as possible given that I am unlikely to ever do anything like this again so we are also planning a party in Jan for a joint birthday/please give a fiver to MAG event. Details will be coming through shortly.<br />
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That's about it for this week<br />
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TTFNVicky/Victoria/Vic/V/'Toriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07891404217313811840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311470426683016657.post-69988335060373471752010-11-14T10:06:00.000-08:002010-11-14T10:06:01.950-08:00Completely inspired....<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzfY1vzCgh9y1n7v_hCUBpkU_rLVt9TN45XK_7MDKUJJkDZko9_ve2yLHHS8OL2reQaU3FrqG0YqBXLZHxh6MZN97ArvjtTJTnlwj0b9sghEVeNYJQHlomIfEGvNZqLQNC9Cj06ehwi0/s1600/IMG_0772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzfY1vzCgh9y1n7v_hCUBpkU_rLVt9TN45XK_7MDKUJJkDZko9_ve2yLHHS8OL2reQaU3FrqG0YqBXLZHxh6MZN97ArvjtTJTnlwj0b9sghEVeNYJQHlomIfEGvNZqLQNC9Cj06ehwi0/s320/IMG_0772.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Presentation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Podged up to Manchester on Saturday for a MAG briefing and was surprised to be on the train meeting the oldest person on this years cycle ride who happened to have booked the seat next to me. Coincidence is a funny thing!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWV3ydcGvXAhVi39vLU0prSAUGp5dCIx2rKGVOIe0cg_JmHxPdsmWwW0cmIYSkzvP_VJsg4vVUeFsVU9R0mOL5LE6yAZimSUeCPmNC1AB71H0z2j2krlvRq85uUCD6kamYr4QJJcxDRQ/s1600/IMG_0770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWV3ydcGvXAhVi39vLU0prSAUGp5dCIx2rKGVOIe0cg_JmHxPdsmWwW0cmIYSkzvP_VJsg4vVUeFsVU9R0mOL5LE6yAZimSUeCPmNC1AB71H0z2j2krlvRq85uUCD6kamYr4QJJcxDRQ/s320/IMG_0770.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch is Served</td></tr>
</tbody></table>As Vito appears to have little shame she went round keeping a book on what age everyone is and there is a span from 22 to 73... I was just relieved that there was someone doing it who was older than me as I thought I would be surrounded by young, fit, cycling blokes.... In fact I was rather looking forward to it :-)<br />
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There was a number fitting that description but I was relieved to see that I am probably average age for the group. I am also not the only one whose training is not going well as there were a few who aren't getting as far as me including the chap who hasn't actually got on his bike as yet.<br />
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The briefing did bring it home to me that it was actually going to happen and I do need to step up a gear on the training although praise be that they showed the profile of all the hills and there is nothing over 20 metres to climb...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHNg7X5LIE1cJWleYVSE3CSEJeGwWzazscsbwNca632x5v_JxVOaaXPa2zw5d2BgWgHQiaLbUb8qYI5T6Gpz8DXJ4fc3BhBx7Lz6lr16derBBRhaNXF0FyBx5tA6gBvmxBVIheeKMi54/s1600/IMG_0771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHNg7X5LIE1cJWleYVSE3CSEJeGwWzazscsbwNca632x5v_JxVOaaXPa2zw5d2BgWgHQiaLbUb8qYI5T6Gpz8DXJ4fc3BhBx7Lz6lr16derBBRhaNXF0FyBx5tA6gBvmxBVIheeKMi54/s320/IMG_0771.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Talking brass tacks (and sore bottoms)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Training this week has not gone badly - the Thursday ride was a little truncated due to gale force winds (I may be mad to decide to do this challenge but I am not completely insane) so I ended up on the exercise bike doing 16 miles - the longest yet. Today has been 7 miles so far but intend to do a few more after finishing the blog as I got diverted this afternoon by more important stuff - I went shopping for clothes for the event. After several hours at the Galleria I now have various travel shirts, zippy trousers and some padded legging things - plus a cycle helmet as they have been quite clear on the fact that I cannot ride without it. Bah.<br />
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Not quite got round to actually purchasing the cycling shorts yet as am still mentally scarred from the sight of myself in spandex from the '80s but I think it will have to be done.... maybe over Christmas....I did work out that I needed to buy ladies cycling shorts as the gents are not anatomically padded to fit someone of my - ahem - stature....<br />
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That's about it<br />
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TTFNVicky/Victoria/Vic/V/'Toriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07891404217313811840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311470426683016657.post-2303610101961610832010-11-07T08:47:00.000-08:002010-11-07T08:47:15.644-08:00Red Riding Hood aka Fluorescent Yellow Riding Buff ...All feeling a bit more hopeful about my ability to stay the course. I did 20kms on Thurs along the tow path then another 20kms today along the <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT52KsIdlnb0tq0w_CF841o9k2pbrMprLNOhjKZsTQHUMX2Kp28-CHNwDqovkTI39u7WAuGw5_b9enDy5wDJCzNVaHMA6kgdw6UG5dSLbJUBpB_ZquovDk6dS6Yo3Tv7KgO-CZLybnlD8/s1600/IMG_0760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT52KsIdlnb0tq0w_CF841o9k2pbrMprLNOhjKZsTQHUMX2Kp28-CHNwDqovkTI39u7WAuGw5_b9enDy5wDJCzNVaHMA6kgdw6UG5dSLbJUBpB_ZquovDk6dS6Yo3Tv7KgO-CZLybnlD8/s320/IMG_0760.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barn ... the Slaughtered Lamb is just round the corner</td></tr>
</tbody></table>roads and back today, all supplemented by 5-8 miles a night on the exercise bike (except Tues and Fri as we were out). On Thursdays ride had a very nice man doff his cycle helmet to me as I pedaled past so nice to see the old manners still extant.... Although today had the interesting experience of waving frantically at a man who looked exactly like my husband in a car exactly like ours which drove past me while I was taking a breather at Hertford Heath. When I spoke to hubby he denied all knowledge of ignoring me and stated that it must have been doppleganger that also happened to be driving back from the archery field at the same time since he must have missed me by several minutes :-)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3uw6TTv3rY1BSmG8NLZLm-w9cqTgWgABO88Nyyv0uo_n70oKrGiiwGX8jiMOXrPPqjhXRi_PjHvfs-kn_UnfyOABpWAY1DmO6B9dtgq7nj88TaymF9J7GyemtS6OOf3v_GgzJCyt4Y10/s1600/IMG_0761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3uw6TTv3rY1BSmG8NLZLm-w9cqTgWgABO88Nyyv0uo_n70oKrGiiwGX8jiMOXrPPqjhXRi_PjHvfs-kn_UnfyOABpWAY1DmO6B9dtgq7nj88TaymF9J7GyemtS6OOf3v_GgzJCyt4Y10/s400/IMG_0761.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bit of mud on Ermine St</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Todays ride was a bit of an experiment as I have got a little bored with the tow path and Cole Green Way and thought I would expand my horizons. I cycled out into the countryside on the roads intending to meet up with a bridleway on the line of an old Roman Road (Ermine St). After a couple of close encounters with Range Rovers and the like where I ended up taking refuge in the ditch, multiple stops to consult the OS map plus my bike getting stuck in the quagmire on the Roman road I decided that it was not particularly successful. This was compounded by getting back and finding I had only done 12 kms so ended up circling various bits of Hartham Common overtaking one particular dog walker 5 times which may end up with me being labeled as a bit of a nutter... Despite the mud it was pretty and I did get to see some of the farmland around Hertford albeit that I did keep thinking of 'American Werewolf in London' for some reason.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgYPmvn_FwSqXK1LlEcViyTFWriER7YJ6e_Zz8pUrDwgBFadi1IjFXsGrADj-nBru1TNjl-FNc06Pg4UcGyX2Sg0yaWR194RvB3Nv7riCiM77ijfeX9L47uhNZPp094JiXB8jsWxZnng/s1600/IMG_0763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgYPmvn_FwSqXK1LlEcViyTFWriER7YJ6e_Zz8pUrDwgBFadi1IjFXsGrADj-nBru1TNjl-FNc06Pg4UcGyX2Sg0yaWR194RvB3Nv7riCiM77ijfeX9L47uhNZPp094JiXB8jsWxZnng/s320/IMG_0763.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slightly pink after 12 kms (mostly uphill and muddy)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>But the big news is that after the ride today I still had enough energy to do a further half an hour on the Wii Fit rather than having to limp upstairs and have a sleep in the bath... so - next weekend target is 25kms.<br />
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Going up to Manchester next Saturday for the briefing at MAG and to meet the others who will be doing the ride (around 32 this year). As I will have to share a room with someone I will be putting on the charm and not necessarily be mentioning that I tend to talk in my sleep, especially after late night cheese. Hubby also alleges that I snore but I think that is complete tosh and he is just hearing the echo of his own. As always sharing a room with me should be considered a privilege and I am sure I can convince my new roomie of this :-) Especially since I am Now Famous...<br />
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TTFNVicky/Victoria/Vic/V/'Toriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07891404217313811840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311470426683016657.post-18563621977538608332010-11-04T01:26:00.000-07:002010-11-04T01:26:31.226-07:0020kms achieved!Trusty steed was returned on Sat after intensive surgery and it was well worth it. Riding out on Sunday was a revelation: when changing gears there was no longer a crunch, crunch then lack of any motive power for half a pedal space or so. Consequently I hit the determination button and decided to do 20kms. There was some sort of space/time continuum problem on the ride though as while I did 10kms and turned round on the way back I had only clocked 19.7 kms when I got home but a couple of turns round the block soon sorted that one and the goal of 20 was achieved. So, can now do 20% of the daily ride for once I am out there...and as I have now booked our flights (Trailfinders were fantastic) I feel I have definitely passed the point of no return.<br />
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The exercise bike has come into its own this week as I have done 5-8 miles (approx 7.5 - 12 kms in new money) every night except Tuesday. As I seem to be struggling to put on distance I thought that a few weeks of intensive, nightly training at a 5-10 mile distance might help to increase the stamina and at this point I am a bit desperate since I should be up to 30kms a ride.<br />
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Following a good talking to delivered by a lady that knows her bike stuff I have purchased some toe clip things and will be trying them out at the weekend. As a slight geek I can appreciate that they should help on the distance since you will be gaining some motive power from the upswing on the pedal as well as the down but I am not convinced they won't make me crash and burn. As a bit of a beginner with this sort of stuff I have got the ones that you are supposed to be able to slip your foot in an out of easily rather than the sort that has you nailed to the pedal but given my ability to fall over with no assistance (ie not alcohol induced) I still think that this is a dangerous idea.<br />
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My knees are a bit of a worry since they have locked up a couple of times, luckily not when I am on the bike and it is now both of them rather than just my left knee. So, I have decided that a couple of nice neoprene knee supports are in order. This has a double gain since hubby has mentioned that he would like to see me in a rubber outfit so I will be off to Boots this morning and making his dream come true later; well the knee bit of me anyhow.<br />
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Fundraising is going well with a number of generous donations over the past couple of weeks but I am fast approaching the deadline of the 19th November and have several hundred left to go. Pursuing a few ideas to boost the total and am on line to get the minimum amount although maybe not by the deadline; I feel a bit of fast talking with MAG coming on :-)<br />
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Will be out on the bike later going for over 20kms down the tow path and will let you know how I get on.<br />
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TTFNVicky/Victoria/Vic/V/'Toriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07891404217313811840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311470426683016657.post-81360631960874500792010-10-28T08:51:00.000-07:002010-10-28T08:51:49.017-07:00Too much happening to blog...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIbzq0W5IzI2IkWKiE_gxpgp4qCBDWn2ERxIP7cXeuGDneh3XNFCS-WcAeF28-NlYQkp-VqegnVp3kRR3DIHDLWtudxdMwMLpT5eA2iTekD5Mkk0TokeLCuSl3QbJK7pWjs8Kg3K3esUU/s320/IMG_0754.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Autumn Colour on the Lee Navigation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The last couple of weeks have been a tad eventful. We had the second wine tasting last Sat which raised more money towards my target and also involved a hubby home brew beer tasting. Amazingly two chaps managed to guess the right commercial beer that hubs was aiming for with each of the two brews; well they got one right each. Not sure whether this indicates that we know people who drink too much beer or that hub's home brew is spot on; possibly a bit of both...<br />
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Special bonus was that I managed to judge the hummus volume better this time and we have not spent a week eating the left overs. This is especially good for me since after the last tasting I soon realised that a high fibre and garlic diet was not compatible with several hours on a bike without any public conveniences...<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNFstR31y4jxHffw-27B992-7zWCp9MInZrDM-Shob_vvBLm0wDncN2Dqo2214gEqsoWLfOWNstr10uudttRenVKXIHZWlzImLDfAtAnZTu0bP91Vd-z_orTjlsQUplmW79i6b5WJZuIg/s320/IMG_0750.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Autumn Berries on the Cole Green Way</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I have also discovered a few other things; one of which is when you are talking to a member of the professional biking community and they ask if you use baskets or clips the correct answer is not 'I have teal panniers'. And there was me thinking I had cracked the super biking stuff by mastering the gears! <br />
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Had to finally bite the bullet so Trusty Steed was dropped off at Marshalls bikes thirty mins or so ago. Explained to the nice man the litany of problems and there was a bit of head shaking and air being sucked in through the teeth. He has put Trusty Steed in the Intensive Care Unit and will be reporting progress throughout the operation tomorrow. Not sure I am too happy with his repeated promise to call 'if he finds anything major wrong' although this might have been caused by the fact that TS was caked to the eyeballs with mud as the towpath was a bit wet today...<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCROF3VK2qk1UyT6uVIJ2lWfhm-Xr3lEeszPqrnN-psrNZCJqkQfKEqMopuSNh0UmVE89Jgt_S49qx4O9a63HZeRLq5-DIbaWb0zjfh05-Ol07qbJ_xDaUy_4x4ZvXSOdAri9xz1DO_wM/s320/IMG_0755.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Evil Headless Goose of Ware</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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I have also decided that the Cole Green Way is safer at the weekend rather than the Lee Navigation as there are less Canada geese in a bread fueled frenzy either blocking the path with no sense of impending doom from an approaching cyclist or trying to peck your tyres.<br />
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I blame Mothers Pride :-) <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCROF3VK2qk1UyT6uVIJ2lWfhm-Xr3lEeszPqrnN-psrNZCJqkQfKEqMopuSNh0UmVE89Jgt_S49qx4O9a63HZeRLq5-DIbaWb0zjfh05-Ol07qbJ_xDaUy_4x4ZvXSOdAri9xz1DO_wM/s1600/IMG_0755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>The extra distance has not quite worked out as yet although I am managing the seven miles every other night on the exercise bike. Unfortunately this is leaving me with residual leg muscle ache and I haven't got further than the 18kms on the real bike, but I did the Cole Green Way again on Sunday (post wine tasting) and managed this distance even though most of the way out is uphill so I counted that as a victory. Hoping that the regular extra distance on the exercise bike will suddenly translate into a boost of stamina in a few weeks time<br />
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Sorry this post sounds a bit distracted; hubby has been expanding the music collection and when I started there was a polka rendition of 'The Wall', which didn't seem an obvious combination to me; however this has now moved onto Paranoid, and, say what you like about 'Sabbath, but their natural rhythm really isn't polka related...<br />
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The fame continues - I was in The Star last week as well. I am checking copy write and hope to post the articles on my blog shortly...<br />
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TTFNVicky/Victoria/Vic/V/'Toriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07891404217313811840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311470426683016657.post-29148377154957316652010-10-18T11:06:00.000-07:002010-10-18T11:06:45.436-07:00Now Famous WifeNo piccies this week but it has been an interesting one. Hubby is referring to me as his 'Now Famous Wife' since my appearance (with photos) in both the Hertfordshire Mercury and the Hertford and Ware scene. The Mercury even sent over a professional photographer which was great and caused a bit of a stir in Tamworth Road last Tuesday- I thought one motorist was going to end up through the hedge to the allotments he was goggling so much.<br />
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I have also discovered that I can pay for my own airfare which will mean that all of the money I raise goes to MAG so I have had a very long call with Trailfinders as the internet websites don't really cater for open jaw tickets too well. They have come up with a bearable flight (only one change) that is not too expensive so my credit card will be taking a battering shortly :-)<br />
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And - training has gone well. 'Now Not Quite So Famous Hubby fitted the bike computer on Sunday. It didn't work initially but gave it a couple of judicious thumps (as a mechanical engineer I know you have to show these electronics who is boss) and it started clocking the kms. Hence have found out that my normal ride is a little over 18.5 kms. Which on the positive side is about 20% of the distance I need to go in a day, or there abouts.<br />
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Decided to up my exercise bike regime to 7 miles at a time (I have been mostly doing 5 miles every other night) and am hoping to be at 25kms a go by the end of October since I felt relatively ok when I finished on Sunday. Just need to get over the psychological barrier of getting to Rye House and knowing that I can get back from there without a heart attack on the way back.... or I could take a detour at the end and go around Hertford a bit. Anyhow, 23 kms is the aim for the Thursday ride which gives me about a week to get another couple of clicks on there. Slightly disappointed at the lack of recognition on Sunday since the tow path seem to be very busy due to the good weather and I was hoping that there would be a few people lining up to give me a donation.... <br />
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Fame has not changed me though and I am still doing my own shopping :-)Vicky/Victoria/Vic/V/'Toriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07891404217313811840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311470426683016657.post-70521349831815477872010-10-10T09:12:00.000-07:002010-10-10T09:12:59.475-07:00Bike Bells<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6D-dw7hRc7eIk8o0HnzdHVvtEFDPaCUCeLie7kn_IW71vPg1uDQGfDI_SKku6c9I_-v0lD4T0_-XkTcqpB4IIFO8rXif2TZxfH8BEiynLAGmWTaezqA0a6jyHNCb7Wbq8zQBFKI0CnVM/s320/IMG_0731.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favourite view - it means I am nearly home</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Training finally seems to be going better. I am managing to do the ten mile stints three times a week (admittedly with one of those on the exercise bike) and an evening or so of five mile sprints (again on the exercise bike). As a result of this my legs are starting to ache within the first mile of each ride but I am hoping that as the muscles build up this will start to ease.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRy5Q6kCAXUdzSDyoRsO-f0MmEBKlqUnvU2C1yJjBP502h9ngq_fuYTXrTY2GoHTMUFqRxhpEmsLpk1xzagQCougWpEU_Pump28-quIS9vZONln5tQGFQuG2hUaxG8z_OaB4AfN_kkuQM/s320/IMG_0730.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Bell loving fitted by my own hand</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Over the years our house has developed a system to address all DIY; I, as the trained engineer, am project manager while hubby provides the labour element. However, despite me adding all of the bike maintenance to hub's to do list there has been a slight lack of action. On Thursday I gave up and wielded the screwdriver myself, as a result of which I now have a bell, I worked out why one brake doesn't work (but need a piece to fix it) and my front reflector no longer has brewers droop. The new front light is now fitted but I am baffled as to where I fix the back light as the panniers get in the way and the bike stand is still wobbly since we do not appear to possess a socket wrench. I'm coming to the conclusion that I may have to bite the bullet and take it into the local shop for a full service; a little treat for the trusty steed after fifteen years in my possession with little more than a couple of squirts of WD40. <br />
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Having the bike bell has been a revelation; pedestrians seem to prefer the quick tinkle of a bell as opposed to a lady bearing down upon them shouting 'ding ding'. Previously some of the pedestrians have got a little shirty but now relations with those who amble along the tow path have improved, although not with the group of teenagers on Thursday who appeared to take exception to me shouting 'get out the way I am going downhill'. <br />
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Planning to up the ante shortly on distance so fingers crossed that I can actually walk the next day.<br />
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TTFN<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRy5Q6kCAXUdzSDyoRsO-f0MmEBKlqUnvU2C1yJjBP502h9ngq_fuYTXrTY2GoHTMUFqRxhpEmsLpk1xzagQCougWpEU_Pump28-quIS9vZONln5tQGFQuG2hUaxG8z_OaB4AfN_kkuQM/s1600/IMG_0730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6D-dw7hRc7eIk8o0HnzdHVvtEFDPaCUCeLie7kn_IW71vPg1uDQGfDI_SKku6c9I_-v0lD4T0_-XkTcqpB4IIFO8rXif2TZxfH8BEiynLAGmWTaezqA0a6jyHNCb7Wbq8zQBFKI0CnVM/s1600/IMG_0731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>Vicky/Victoria/Vic/V/'Toriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07891404217313811840noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311470426683016657.post-66877737866298027502010-10-03T09:34:00.000-07:002010-10-03T09:34:15.532-07:00A-llam-aNot been a bad week training wise. Managed a couple of evening sessions on the exercise bike of 5 miles plus a trundle up the Cole Green Way on the real bike (without any incident this time) and 8 miles today on the exercise bike. Really need to get up to a 14 mile minimum now though so not quite going to plan but intend to do another 2 miles today to round it off to at least double figures. There is a bit of benefit analysis involved as I do need to be able to walk the next morning for work and I have a nasty feeling that if I push into too high a double figure I will be requiring motorised assistance to go anywhere. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2RnMkybG5nBDPMqblDHkEZKhIxeojG1VEY_kQ2DO7WQQJ1oD0ZZRi0RA0HHf70CDUAtq3Vv_QTzfqEKg0LO-Jo9xTvQB9OvwJWY-hb_KGdYNgvv29gwLE__7nbn7VCy4uiKcUWy9UGY4/s320/IMG_0727.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strange Sheep for Hertfordshire</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Came to a horrible realisation on the Cole Green Way; I was biking along, happily listening to Gardeners Question Time and it occurred to me that I might be middle aged. As you can imagine this was a bit of a shock so quickly switched to some obnoxious rock music. Sadly, given that said music dated from the '90s, then concluded that it just condemned me even more. Then cheered myself up as I decided that proper middle aged ladies don't cycle along with their Ipod stuffed in their bra (lack of appropriate pockets) and so I didn't fit the expected decorum levels and therefore I could not be middle aged.<br />
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Reached the quarry (somewhere near Welwyn) and overtook the JCB that was driving along the edge which was a new overtaking experience and one I celebrated by stopping to get my breath back once I had rounded a corner and was no longer in view. <br />
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The exercise bike is proving to be a real godsend as I can get in a few miles most evenings and I figure that anything is better than nothing. But, we have been invited to a get together of MAG cyclists in early November so it is dawning on me that I might actually be expected to cycle the distance. Methinks a review of the suggested training plan from MAG and a bit of pulling out of fingers may be in order over the next few weeks, whether it leaves me unable to perambulate or not.<br />
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TTFN<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2RnMkybG5nBDPMqblDHkEZKhIxeojG1VEY_kQ2DO7WQQJ1oD0ZZRi0RA0HHf70CDUAtq3Vv_QTzfqEKg0LO-Jo9xTvQB9OvwJWY-hb_KGdYNgvv29gwLE__7nbn7VCy4uiKcUWy9UGY4/s1600/IMG_0727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>Vicky/Victoria/Vic/V/'Toriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07891404217313811840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1311470426683016657.post-72895193039588612732010-09-26T05:31:00.000-07:002010-09-26T05:31:51.739-07:00Me in the buff<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3Fsnp2z0vcF0ketFinfehAMGx2W-xW7WdfbKPyn4xtBhm0zYXWLbqv10iV5HsiD_zLIN1oOPhhE46ngRJRc07XD_Az7VLPQ2W2BIOMu8swr2ZlwUCgVj6kSWVGnQeROHlCQ2rRq81v0/s320/IMG_0717.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trusty Steed on the Cole Green Way </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Last nights fundraising did not start propitiously. At around midday had a call from Caroline to report that she had strep throat and was not well enough to come, then a text from 'Vets and Steve to report a family emergency needing them to cry off. Managed to scale down some of the dishes to suit the reduced numbers but think that Paulie and I will be eating our way through the hummous and felafel mountain for a few days.<br />
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So, apart from having a few less you'd have thought it would all go well from there on. Nope. Turned on the oven and it hadn't got up to temp after 1/2 an hour; realised that there was something seriously wrong so devised plan B: used the little oven (lucky we were only cooking for 5 and not 8 as not sure that both joints of lamb would have fitted in it). At this point I decided that we were probably doomed.<br />
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Chris, Sarah and Neil all arrived safely and a jolly evening of ribald comments and wine tasting ensued; until we got to the piece de la resistance; the dessert wine; which turned out to be corked. Definitely doomed. <br />
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Well maybe not: due to huge generousity on the part of our guests we now have a sizeable contribution to add to the fund and a good time was had by all so despite a few teething problems job's a goodun. Just the Oct one to do now where I think we may have 12-16 people coming.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZDaXY5g1IF7vrY_gSfwIEtVx980eVuiyoCQIIg7LkBlTFT1mMljfjhRyj0vzNj0KnXyQkxX4px9jslWF9AElJF5znSLX2yCyI61Mms9l3OP6op0ZUXTtmZeEJX_75ka1annq6L05cmY/s320/IMG_0716.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So as promised - me in the buff :-)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Now, to date I have been a little hesistant about wearing the full pukka buff gear as I think anyone seeing me in it would then assume I might know what I was doing. I have been sporting the buff and gloves as I realised both of them are marvelous: The buff soaks up the sweat/rain etc and stops it dripping in my eyes plus it has the added benefit of holding my sticky out ears down so stopping my glasses falling down my nose; The gloves are a joy; I think I mentioned that I kept getting aches in my shoulders and hands when riding but I have found that the padded gloves have stopped this. But, haven't ventured into the t shirt wearing since I am still panting like a steam train once I get peddling and not sure this is a good ad :-) <br />
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But, decided today was the day. So, despite having woken up feeling a little groggy and out of sorts (obviously down to overwork), I donned the full buff and cycled off down the Cole Green Way (for a bit of a change); where my gears jammed and I ended up coming off the bike. After some minor cursing gave Trusty Steed a bit of a talking to and then got back on the horse but think a visit to the bike hospital may be overdue. Tshirt did perform admirably and appears to make me more aerodynamic although not sure how that works. <br />
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So an eventful couple of days but do need to get the sponsorship up to secure my place on the ride so a few nagging emails to write today. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3Fsnp2z0vcF0ketFinfehAMGx2W-xW7WdfbKPyn4xtBhm0zYXWLbqv10iV5HsiD_zLIN1oOPhhE46ngRJRc07XD_Az7VLPQ2W2BIOMu8swr2ZlwUCgVj6kSWVGnQeROHlCQ2rRq81v0/s1600/IMG_0717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZDaXY5g1IF7vrY_gSfwIEtVx980eVuiyoCQIIg7LkBlTFT1mMljfjhRyj0vzNj0KnXyQkxX4px9jslWF9AElJF5znSLX2yCyI61Mms9l3OP6op0ZUXTtmZeEJX_75ka1annq6L05cmY/s1600/IMG_0716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>Vicky/Victoria/Vic/V/'Toriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07891404217313811840noreply@blogger.com0