Nervous about the Jobs

Jen and I are getting nervous about landing our jobs in the US. Things are all hinging on a position that might come my way, but with the collegiate track season still going strong the coaching decisions are still in the back of the minds of the playmakers. So fingers crossed Jen & I get that email/call that we are hired and can head to the US with something to look forward to. Due to all this waiting and filing out of applications we have had to delay our Canberra-Sydney Touring trip. We are now looking at starting that on the 1st of June.  This could all change though.....

Great Ocean Road

The 12 Apostles
Jennifer and I went on a road trip down to Geelong which is on the other side of the Bay from where we stay at Frankston. These giant rock stacks soar from the swirling waters of the Southern Ocean. We had a nice drive down there after I had seen a soft tissue therepist, who was very good BTW. Yes we happened to get lost along the way, but the trip as fun and we got some nice photos and video (all of which I plan to get on a DVD sometime in 2006).
More trips are happening next week with another road trip to Sydney and Canberra. 

Chilling in Australia

AS 'up-to-date' people would know, I am back in Melbourne to see the family and have a good travel around to certain parts of Victoria and NSW. I have not been running too much due to my heel problem, but I have seen a few people and I am more optomistic than other times about getting rid of it by the end of July. I cant believe that I have been here for nearly 5 weeks. It seems like i have done nothing with my time...alot of lazing around and wasting time. A day goes so quickly! Jen and I are planning a road trip up the coast of Victoria and N.S.W hitting up such areas as Eden, Kangaroon Valley, Canberra, and Sydney before we head inland and back to Frankston via a route that will include many small Victorian towns. There is something about a small town that I like. I plan on getting some photos for the blog. I hope everyone who is reading this is going well and ready for what seems to be wet and cold winter (in Melbourne anyway!).

Not running at the moment

After some easy runs and alot of stopping due to my lower leg pain, I have decided not to push the body too hard and not compete for the Hunters this weekend. I wouldn't have done any justice to the team as I am simply not in shape to run 6km hard on the cross country. We'll see how they preform this weekend.
The family is going...well, you know...every family has their problems. But all in all, everyone is finding their own style of living.

Cruising at home in Frankston

OK, I have been home for a week now and it has been great to see everyone and all the little things that have changed over the past 2 years that I have been away. Jen and I are finally over out jetlag and are off to a day in Melbourne tomorrow. We are meeting up with some friends for a bite of Chinese and then some good laughs at the Comedy Festival watching 'Danny Bhoy'. Should be a fun night. Running is on hold as I have still taht bloody sore leg! :-(

Back on Spanish Territory

In Spain!
This is us on the border of Spain & France (Port Nou). We had a stop of 2hours and so had a walk along the beach to enjoy the view and a few Estrella Damms. Good to be back with the spanish language in the air! 

Carcassonne - Day 9/10

Carcassonne - Castle to beat all others
After a 45 mins train ride from Toulouse we made it safely to Carcassonne. A fantastic castle (cite) was the main thing about this stop. Jen and I both love castles and this is rated as one of the best in the world. This medival castle has over 2500 years of history and you can walk right through it! A walled city still has 120 people living there full time and the day just made the trip all the better. What a finish to our 10 day trip around France. The city centre of Carcassonne is a fortified city that has been growing, mainly due to the tourism, but also because of the cloth trade that is very popular there. Ok, back to Barcelona tomorrow.

Toulouse Day 8/9

Toulouse - A little bit of a downer
We came here with limited fresh clothes and tired legs, but made the best of our situation. Again we were lucky with our accomodation and found a good place close to the station and city center. We walked a long way the first day as we got there about 11am. After some local food (kebabs!) we made it to the internet place to play around. The next day we left for Carcassonne with a whole lot of excitement. I think we will love our next and fnal stop.

Montpellier Day 6/7

Nice little town: Montpellier
The 3 hour trip to Montpellier was pretty easy. Nice new trains make it a simple trip. Montpellier was suggested by a friend on mine and so we placed it on the agenda. We didn't struggle to find a place again and we have had really good luck getting cheap (under 40 euros/double/night) accomodation in the towns we have visited. We got some pizza, which wasn't very good but was food, and some beers (better than the pizza cos it was from Spain :-) ) and found the closest park to see the night bypass day. The 2nd day we were there we managed to walk the whole city a few times, finding the university, local hangout and a protest through the city centre by local youngsters (one of them had to stop at McD's for a bite to eat - must be tiring stuff all that protesting & Jen and I had a good laugh about it). Jen is just about right and I think the sunshine in Nice really paid dividends....or was it the spainish beers? 

Nice - Day 4/5

Nice - Southern France
After a 5 hours TGV train trip we made it to Nice, a nice town in a beautiful part of the world. Again we had no place to sleep as we stepped off the train, but had a place find us pretty quickly. We loved the old city and enjoyed getting some nice food in a little relax resaurant near the water. The 2nd day we were there we headed to Monte Carlo for the 'open car show' as I like to put it. These cars are sleek and expensive....and I got as close as I am probably ever going to be to them! Some nice photos at least. Jen is feeling alot better now that she sees the sun, so that is a big plus. We did however nearly call it quits on our holiday because she had her worst night since we have left Barcelona, but all is better now and we are off to Montpellier.

France Trip - Day 3

Day 3 - Paris Museums
Today Jen was not the best. She had more stops and was looking pretty bad before we even stepped out the door. But we did managed to get into the long line for the Musée d'Orsay (we only waited 50 mins before we were in the enjoying the museum which was surprising because the line was LOOOONG). This Museum, an old train station, is fantastic! and well worth the wait in outside with all the other eager tourists (for us there were alot of Italian students getting their 'history points'. Such a mix of things to see I had to leave Jen a few times while she rested to see the sculptures and paintings of the likes of Monet, Van Gogh and Degas. From here we had a rest and got some lunch. Then it was off to The Louvre . We got there earlier in the day, but found out that if we came back after 6:30pm Jen could get in for free and I for 6 euros. So, as we have no money, we decided to come back to get in 'on the cheap'. What a massive musuem! this place was huge, but we got to see all the main paintings and art works. A great day to finish off our Paris holiday. Now tomorrow we train it down to the south of France to Nice. 

Here in Paris

Paris and the Eiffel Tower
So as some people may know Jen and I are in Paris. We arrived yesterday and have found a cheap little hotel (31euros/night) near the Pantheon so we were pretty happy living in the Latin Quarter. Jen was a little sick with a cough and tiredness before she came on the trip, but she tried hard to forget about it and see the 'bigger than life' city of Paris. We hit up some sights today which included the Notre Dame, Champs-Elysées, the Arc de Triomphe and of course the Eiffel Tower (at dusk - into night). So a long day, but we got through it with some rest stops, easy walking and lots of crepes & Coke.

Last training for Barcelona Fit

Today was the last Saturday morning training session for Barcelona Fit. We had a solid turnout of 13 members on the coldish morning. The time of running was only 75 minutes and so everyone was back in a good mood and feeling fit for next sundays marathon. Di is injured and so will not be able to run the marathon, which is a huge dissapointment to him but I am sure he will be right for another one in about 5 weeks. I hope so because he has worked hard for this one. Congrats to all who finished the Barcelona Fit training. Stay strong for next week! 

Cadeques & Dali

We (Jen, Sarah, & Matt) travelled up north from Barcelona for the night. We went via Figueres and the home of the Dali Museum. A great side trip to rest the legs and see some strange Dali works. After a snack of bocadillos (con jamon y queso) & coke we travelled the windy road towards the fishing village of Cadeques. We found a place to lay our head for the night, after trying to drive up small, narrow and steep streets. Then we got some beer, cheese, wine and found a seat by the water. After some interesting discussions about God, religion, the universe, and 'if we are really here' we got some real food. On the way home to Barcelona I only went down 1 one-way street because, of course, Barcelona signage is shite! A fantastic 2 days.

Friends In Barcelona

This past few days we have had Matt & Sarah (on the left side of the picture) visiting Barcleona. We worked together in Ludus Torino and they are on a 'tour' of their own around Europe. We have been to some great eating places in town + Parc Guell, where this picture was taken.
We are heading north of Barcelona tomorrow for a few days in the Costa Brava....should be fun!