6th Eastern Link June 2010 - Province 20 Catenians of Western ...
6th Eastern Link June 2010 - Province 20 Catenians of Western ...
6th Eastern Link June 2010 - Province 20 Catenians of Western ...
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By Brother Noel Braun, Pittwater CircleA moment <strong>of</strong> madness must have seized me when I received last July an email from a travel agencyfor singles <strong>of</strong>fering a ‘Cycle and Walk Tasmania’ trip. Why not? I hadn’t visited Tassie since thesixties. Cycling from Launceston to Hobart along the east coast seemed an interesting way to seethe island, and sounded far more adventurous than a coach tour.The agency was <strong>of</strong>fering the tour to the over 35’s, so I emailed, ‘What about a 76 year older?’ Backcame the reply, ‘As long as you’re fit.’ I reckoned I was fit enough, but I hadn’t done much cycling. Acouple <strong>of</strong> years ago the cycle shop at Glenrose was relocating and <strong>of</strong>fered a <strong>20</strong>% reduction oneverything. If ever there was a time to buy a mountain bike, this was it. However, the bike had beenhanging up in the garage for nearly 18 months. Last October I took it down and began cyclingaround Belrose and Frenchs Forest.A hazardous enough occupation even inthe <strong>of</strong>f peak hours. I started to havemisgivings as I experienced the shortness<strong>of</strong> breath and pains in my legs as I tackledthe steep hills around home. I attended afew spin classes at the local gym but mylegs were just as sore. What had I letmyself into?So January 30 th found me in a YouthHostel in Launceston meeting my fellowcycle travellers. As expected I was theoldest by far, most <strong>of</strong> them being in theirlate thirties or early forties, all womenexcept for one bloke aged 28. The agedifference didn’t seem to matter. I think atfirst they regarded me as a curiosity, thisold bloke on a bike, but, as I more or lesskept up with them, I think they decided Iwas a fit old bloke. Many times, in fact,every time I struggled up a hill, and feltthe pain in my legs and soreness in myrear, I chastised myself. Why in heaven’sname am I doing this? If I wanted to seeTasmania, why couldn’t I have done itcomfortably sitting back in a coach?Needless to say, we developed a great camaraderie, the ten <strong>of</strong> us, in our mutual struggle againsthead winds and steep hills. We supported and encouraged each other to keep trying. The girls werea delightful bunch. We had lots <strong>of</strong> laughter and one evening we had an impromptu concert. Mycontribution was a song about us, which I called Kings <strong>of</strong> the Road. It was sad to say goodbye.However, as nine <strong>of</strong> us came from Sydney, we are organising a reunion in March to share storiesand photos.Picture; Noel having a well-earned rest!!!26EASTERN LINK NEWSLETTER 26 JUNE <strong><strong>20</strong>10</strong>