Centralia

The front page of the NT News today read 'Boat rescues 500kg cow', yesterday it was 'Man drives over explosives to see what happens'. Nowhere else.

This morning on my ride I saw a man start beating up a woman, kicking her while she was on the ground, and then I went to work to work on my little, segregated section of the issue. Snot.

It troubles me deeply but I have adopted as my mantra two guiding policies 'do no harm', and 'if you're too frustrated, you can't do your job'. I often think if you aren't making things worse up here then maybe you're making them better.

The kids I get to work with are cheeky, confident, keen and cute. Aargh, what lives will they be living in 10 years time?!

I wish I could ride a bmx with no pants on...

Big smiles, snotty noses, azithromycin and cheese sticks

The colours of community

Singletracking in Versailles

Following a tip off from one of my classmates, today we caught the train out to Versailles with our bikes and a couple of scribbles on a map to find some tracks to ride. What fun! There wasn't heaps out there, but there were some fun, fast, flowy sections in between pretty, peaceful fireroads. Perfect for rigid forks, 27" wheels and 95psi, I wasn't after too much more.

Jarrad disappearring into the grey, handlebars sticking out a metre either side and waiting to catch on any trees around.

A happy, wide-eyed Jarrad, obviously excited after being deprived of regular singletrack
.

And finally, Jarrad on the train going back to Paris

a Parisian aout

So it's August and we're in Paris. The bikes have been exchanged for trusty, indestructible Velibs and the tent for a set of keys and 4 walls. While attending french classes, we're sub-sub-letting Joe's appartement in the 14e and, well, here are a few snapshots of what it's been all about, starting with a view outside the window and down the rue...

Ping pong by the Canal. There are lots of outdoor tables scattered throughout the city which are proving quite entertaining. Especially for Jarrad who is better than me. I will have the last laugh.

A Sunday evening pique-nique in the Parc du Villette. There are lot of free outdoor concerts on for the summer and the parcs are thriving.

Me and a borrowed cowbell having a rest from clanging away and cheering at the Australians for the Parisian stage of l'Hexagonal, the VTT Tour de France

The arrivee for the l"Hexagonal, right out the front of the Sacre Coeur. It was quite a bizarre experience to see all the cyclistes riding the hectic, slippery course descending and climbing/running up beaucoup d'escaliers, weaving through thousands of confused tourists and street hecklers. Certainly not your average mountain bike race.


A wall of apartments just near the Sacre Coeur

The Parisian skyline

Beer and crepes in Cholet


A ride in the woods, somewhere near Parthenay

images from Paris and Cholet

Apres-boulangerie et avant the Musee D'Orsay


le tour Eiffel


Jarrad's new, monumentally large stone helmet, perhaps better known as the Arc de Triomphe


Jarrad, Joe and our bounty of baked butter and peaches in Joe's Parisian apartment in the 14e


le premiere 'Chrono' for le Tour de France in Cholet. Also lots of older chaps wearing the spotted King of the Mountain hats...