Almost. There.

The Danskin Triathlon is next weekend! After getting into great shape for it last year, I followed it up with a slow decline into the worst shape I've been in years. Without a goal, I floundered, then got bored, then got busy, and then just stopped.

So I started pre-training in Jan, and actual training in March. I modified last year's program to be harder. Frankly, it was a little too easy for me. This year, I took the training and basically doubled distances and ramped intensity faster, with time off for my travels last month.

And at this point, I can kick your ass. Well at least if you are small and exercise less than me. OK, so maybe I can kick a pre-teen girl's ass. Or that small grandmother I see at the gym, but I'm not down with grandma beatings.

I digress.

My point is not beatings. My point is that I feel really fit and healthy, and it feels great. I thought I was in the best shape ever last year, but I have definitely progressed this year. I bike faster. Swim faster and longer. And hate running less, though haven't made much headway on increasing my plodding 12 minute mile. I don't get wiped out by my work outs, and they are long.

Last week, for example.

• Tues - Ran 3 miles than swam a mile intermingled with funny dances to shake out a crippling Charlie Horse in my foot.
• Wed - Biked 16 miles home. It took too long, but I hit like 40 lights and some headwinds.
• Thurs - Swam a mile. Skipped "walking" portion cause that is boring.
• Ended up taking Friday, Sat and Sun off due to camping and camping recovery so....
• Monday - Did 15 mile hilly ride on stationary bike in 50 minutes, followed 4 mile run. It would be really nice to do a tri in the A/C. Also I would appreciate if the Texas rain would be more attentive to my training schedule.
  

Today I biked home from work again. This ride was a million times better. Longer - 18 miles - but better roads and less lights so I finished significantly faster than last time. I averaged 12 mph, which Brian tells me is really good for that route.

I'm not going to end up on the cover of any fitness magazines any time soon, but I gotta say, I look (and feel!) pretty damn good. Though I am really, really looking forward to having my evenings back. And dialing back this work out routine. Think I can keep this well sculpted ass with a a diligent routine of aimlessly trolling the Internet in the evenings?

My goal for next Sunday is to beat my time from last year - I need to swim 1/2 mile, bike 12 miles and run 3 in less than 1:58:51. I feel ready!

Packing it up

Australia and the US share similar histories. In the grand scheme of things, we are young countries. We do not have centuries of protecting our land and people from warring neighbors. We were founded by white Europeans determined to crush indigenious people. The expanse of our land is vast. Waves of immigration have shaped our populations and diets.

And in many ways, my time in Sydney and Melbourne has felt familiar. There are no cobblestone streets leading to decrepit castles here. Many people have cars. The cities sprawl and lead to vast suburbs with big houses. There is no lack of good Italian or Asian food. I see Weber barbeque grills on many apartment patios.

But Sydney is distinctly different than say New York. It’s cleaner & safer. The people are much more friendly, and don’t carry that grim determination of bustle and rush that American’s tend to have.

And of course there is the lovely accent, the backward driving and those pesky doorknobs, which I’ve narrowed down to possibly being an attribute of this cool old brownstone Liz lives in.

New cities and countries are always measured with the “how much would I like living here” stick? I think Australia would feel most like home, which puts them pretty high on the stick.

While I barely had any time in Melbourne, I think I would prefer it over Sydney. It’s smaller, and has a pronounced streak of community around art and music that is specific to the city. Like Austin, but bigger! Though Sydney has miles and miles of swimmable ocean beaches, which is awfully tempting.

Sydney

Any band who says that Austin is their favorite city to play in (and there have been many) are lying. Or haven’t played in Sydney.

Sunday night, Liz and I went to see Architecture in Helsinki at Metro, a medium sized venue with good sound. When the band came on some people screamed and ran in from the bar. And the dance floor was teaming with bouncing, joyful, dancing kids. The reckless abandon was infectious, and makes a much better show then the overly-reserved self-conscious head bobbing hipsters at Austin’s indie rock shows.

My time in Sydney was fantastic. We had perfect weather and my jet lag wasn’t crippling at all. I got home last night, and still feel mighty out of it, but that’ll pass….. eventually.

Friday night, Liz and I grabbed tapas in the Sydney Harbour and ogled the bridge and opera house. Saturday morning, we went running in a gorgeous city park complete with an equestrian area and several sport fields. We followed this up by stuffing ourselves silly at a packed dim sum restaurant.

We headed back to the harbor to catch a ferry to north Sydney to go on a gorgeous walk along the coast line, and followed that up with more eating, and then some drinking in Newtown. Liz’s hottie boyfriend met us out for a bit and watched me shove falafel in my mouth on the street. It was lovely. Really.

Sunday, we had a leisurely breakfast over some Internet, and then headed down to Bondi Beach for the market, lunch and another gorgeous coastal walk.

Monday, I hit up a local breakfast spot for some coffee and a tasty ricotta, pumpkin, sun dried tomato omelet, and then stared at tall buildings on my way to the Art Gallery of New South Wales. I was lucky enough to catch the exhibits for 3 annual painting prizes. One was for portraits, and was endlessly fascinating. Afterwards, I wandered through the immense Botanical Gardens mesmerized by sizable spider webs and wombats!

Tuesday, Liz and I hit the Fish Market, which is the biggest market outside of Tokyo. We got ourselves some fresh off the boat sushi at 10 am, and then headed to The Rocks to wander around. We hit up the Modern Museum of Art. After lunch we headed to Paddington for window shopping and dessert. My time was cut short by an urgent need to hang out in the bathroom. We missed our fabulous dinner at a Thai place, but otherwise I was fine. At this point, my various travel illnesses are comedic.

Quick

Coffee shop is getting ready to close so here is a quick post.

PICTURES!

I fly back tomorrow. More then.

Doorknobs

I am here.



To open a door you turn the door knob to the left, not the right. Stay tuned for details on this and other bizarre southern hemisphere quirks. Coming soon.

Melbourne

I am here after 6 hours at SFO, an impromptu dinner with Randy in LA and a 15 hour flight. I am getting good at these obscenely long flights. I didn't take drugs. I didn't sleep the whole time and I didn't get stir crazy. Thank god for on demand movies in the seat backs.

I spent much of today wandering around Melbourne city center. It looks like this.



There is a great combination of Victorian architecture with hyper modern buildings. I liked the juxtaposition. While there are the clear homages to their British heritage, the city itself feels more like home. It's big. Not L.A. nightmare sprawl, but definitely not crammed together like a small European village.

I didn't get to see a lot of the city today, but I was just so glad to be walking outside.

I grabbed a bowl of Pho (chicken soup) at a super crowded Vietnamese place for lunch that just hit the spot, checked out the artsy Fitzroy district, and the art centers down by the river.

2 random observations
- Australia is expensive. Bottled watter is a minimum of $2.50. Cheap clothes were hovering around $50.
- There is no lack of good looking men to oogle at down here. Yummy eye candy.

Perfect: The Roundup

So our Napa trip was basically perfect. Amazing food and wine. Great company. Spectacular weather. I am freshly arrived in Melbourne, Australia and trying to stay awake the ungodly hour of EIGHT PM. But more on Melbourne later.

So, Napa. Pictures!

We stayed at Rancho Caymus Inn in Rutherford, which was build from a 80-year-old barn in Ohio that was dissembled and moved out to California.

It is also home to La Toque, the fabulous restaurant where we had dinner Friday night. Sadly, I was feeling a bit under the weather so I skipped the wine pairing, but the food was amazing.

Saturday we hit the already mentioned Larkmead and Barnett vineyards.

Sunday we had lunch at Auberge du Soleil, which was my favorite part of our vacation. It's a secluded hotel/restaurant up on one of the hills in Napa. We sat in the sun on the deck and had a long leisurely lunch and some delicious white wine. The food presentation was as gorgeous as the view!





After that, we hit up the ornate Darioush and Del Dotto wineries. Del Dotto built their new facility in the past year. Personally, I wasn't that impressed. It is ornate Italian that is too clean and obvious. It doesn't have the charm of their cave space.

All of this amazingness was followed by an epic nap and a raging hangover that kept me from pigging out on our light dinner - a delicious collection of Oakville cheeses, breads, salami and olives.

But let that not detract from a fabulous vacation. I didn't want to leave, and I was heading for Australia!

Perfect

I am in Napa. It's basically perfect here. Today we visited the Larkmead & Barnett Vineyards. Barnett is up top of Spring Mountain, which has a very fun, windy road to get there.

They got themselves some nice digs, huh?


At both places we were graciously hosted by recent Austin transplants. The husband at Larkmead & wife at Barnett. They seem quite happy with their new Napa Valley life....It's just so tempting.