sustainability
Good cheer and ginger beer
Wednesday, December 10, 2008 | Terms: bellimbopinni, cycling, nswtour, Otesha, portmacquarie, sustainability
Bellimbopinni to Port Macquarie
Yesterday we cycled 60km along the Pacific Highway to Port Macquarie. Despite the constant truck-noise and endless flat tyes, our smiles continued thanks to ginger beer/ icecream stops and Sherida's lovely "flat tyre song" (adapted from a Bob Dylan tune.)
One thing I've really enjoyed along the way is sparking people's interest, prompting questions and watching responses. e.g. On our ginger beer stop, a lady dressed up in glitzy yellow came up to us with a wonderfully honest comment:
"We've seen about 15 of you along this highway. It's amazing. Let me just say that you've made me feel guilty as I drive past you all sitting on my fat arse!"Read more >>
Bellingen reflections
Wednesday, December 10, 2008 | Terms: bellingen, nswtour, performance, retreat, sustainability
Sunday saw our last day in Bellingen. We workshopped the play in the morning and came up with some groovy new moves. Sunday arvo saw some free time for some and others meeting up with the Bellingen EYE group (Environmental Youth Experience) at the Never Never River. The EYE group returned to Sue & Col's place (our place of refuge!) and we performed for them.
It was a really special cosy evening performing in the kitchen for our wonderful hosts. I think we all felt a sense of belonging and gratitude. I know some of us would have loved to stay up and chat but with a big day ahead we had to hit the sack.
Three cheers to our gracious hosts for the weekend : Sue and Col and Amy (so much beautiful cooking and food advice!)
Peace
- Vicky
Trailer wobbles and chipped teeth
Wednesday, December 10, 2008 | Terms: bellimbopinni, bellingen, cycling, nswtour, sustainability
Bellingen to Bellimbopinni - 90km
During our tour to date we have all grown to appreciate the freedom that our bicycles offer. Not just freedom in a transportation sense but freedom from guilt associated with congesting roads, polluting the atmosphere and directly consuming oil - the shortage of which most certainly has and will lead to international conflict.
Today though, we were reminded of our own vulnerability against cars, trucks, asphalt and occy straps.Read more >>
Stacks of love
Wednesday, December 10, 2008 | Terms: crash, cycling, grafton, nswtour, sustainability
After a presentation this morning at McAuley College I chatted to one of the teachers. "I can tell you're all very passionate," he said. "And I can tell you all get along really well."
It's true. You'd think that in bringing 16 random strangers together in a situation where they get up at 5 or 6 each day - facing pouring rain or hot sun - and spend every waking moment together, there'd be potential for lots of friction, personality clashes and tension.
But there's none of that. This mobile community we've created is amazing. There is such a huge diversity of personalities and experience -- yet that only serves to make the group richer.
---
It has been a few days since I wrote the above, but yesterday I had the opportunity to experience the best of this community in action. Coming down a steep hill with the B.O.B trailer I stacked my bike. Within minutes Barb-the-nurse was cleaning my cuts, Jodi was giving me reiki treatment and Robyn was giving me homeopathic first-aid. Meanwhile, Thomasen and Mel put my bike back together and got rid of the trailer.Read more >>
26/11/08 Lismore, Casino and Evan's Head
Wednesday, December 10, 2008 | Terms: Byron Bay, Evan's Head, rain, riding, sustainability, NSW Bicycle Newsletter
~ The world has an amazing way of putting things into perspective. ~
Today began with a delighted cheer around our breakfast bowls as we discovered a poem left for us from our lovely host Silve:
You rode, you glowed, upon our hearth.
Your smiling, compiling, One Blooming Path.
The beds, for heads - Who could ask for more?
Sustainably creating, artistic initiating - These beds are (were) yours for sure.
You cooked, we looked (and smelt!)
And into 'tum it fled (and busted belt!)
Tomorrow, you'll follow, with hill defying speed,
While we are now sleeping - we're comatose,
we dream, a ream 4 you - of love, tea and toast.
And ride speedily we did, with some riding teams averaging 25kms an hour, as we wound through the countyside to Casino. I, on the other hand, had sore legs screaming at me to stop pedalling.Read more >>
Ferry ride over the Richmond River
Sunday, November 23, 2008 | Terms: cycling, education, nsw, sustainability, NSW Bicycle Newsletter
23/11/08
Lots of sore butts tonight! It was an arduous ride from Mullumbimby to Broadwater with a head wind most of the way, but we had a fun ferry ride over the Richmond River.
- Robyn
TV Interview - check this out
Sunday, November 23, 2008 | Terms: cycling, education, nsw, sustainability, NSW Bicycle Newsletter
We were interviewed at byron bay this morning before another epic ride! Check it out at www.nbntv.com.au/index.php/2008/11/23/cycling-for-sustainability
- Robyn
Rain, hail & thunder
Sunday, November 23, 2008 | Terms: cycling, education, nsw, sustainability, NSW Bicycle Newsletter
23/11/08 Mullumbimby - Broadwater
Too busy to blog for days - so a quick update. From Nerang we headed to Coolangatta and had a huge chill out at the beach. We didn't make it to the Hare Krishna community because we got caught in a massive, awesome thunderstorm. In the end, we were separated into different groups for the night, as each group found themselves somewhere to stay.
The ride into Murwillumbah, along the Tweed River, was glorious with Mt Warning in the distance and huge storm clouds and lightning flashes. I was super high from the beautiful cycle and all that electrical energy.
Friday morning was a hard, hilly, hurried ride into Mullumbimby to present at the Sheerwater Steiner School, then back to a friend's house to pitch our tents for the first time.
Saturday was our first day off - yay! It was super hot & dry and we caught up on washing and sleep before moving to a new spot for the night. So nice to get all our gear dry again.
I'm loving living as part of a tribe. It's sooo different to our 'normal' western lifestyle. The group is amazing - totally committed, inspiring people. It feels really solid - just a big family. I could live like this forever.
We'll be uploading some photos soon - stay tuned!
- Robyn
Woo Hoo Take-Off
Sunday, November 23, 2008 | Terms: cycling, education, nsw, sustainability, NSW Bicycle Newsletter
20/11/08 - Nerang
Wicked! Well it's day II and i feel like i'm in a big share house. There's the cooking kids, the stretching kids on the floor and then our table - decorating things, writing on maps, drinking water and hanging out. We just finished a session of informal chatting with a group of girl guides - so much fun! Today we rode in the dry (as opposed to yesterday - heavy rain & weather warnings - all day 80km) which was rad too. We presented @ 2 skools today and met some awesome students who started thinking differently about a few issues - this was really rewarding. A touching thing also happened today - @ skkools we ask for a gold coin donation or a piece of fruit to help us on our way! People started coming out of the audience to give us their fruit! Really touching - thanks Benowa and St Hildas. And again - so grateful for a dry space to rest our heads (Nerang Scout Hall!) before heading to Murwillumbah and a Hare Krishna community that are letting us camp on their property! Here's Yon - i felt like rambling - it's actually his job for today.
- Mel
Today was rad. It felt awesome to empower so many youth today. This project is so positive! We are being the change we want in this world.
- Yon
Welcome to the VIC Bicycle Tour Groovy Vibes and Road Blog
Thursday, November 06, 2008 | Terms: 19 bicycle members, education, environment, social justice, sustainability, youth
We will try and keep an ongoing record of what's been happening along our 6 week journey throughout rural Victoria on this blog and our newsletter. We are all starting to prepare for this big journey and think it will be a really amazing rural loop. In the time that we will be on the road we will meet many different people, living in a cycling community for 6 weeks, and educating youth about sustainable consumption!
We all can't wait to jump onto our bikes and hit the road!
- The VIC Tour Crew
PS - Thanks so much to all of those individuals who have supported us along the way it means so much to Otesha and our ability to make this project happen each year!
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