Sunday 2nd November
It was SO HOT... usually Conondale is nice and cool - and as much as the riding as tiring, it's not usually so hot that you're exhausted from simply riding from section to section... (no wonder the cake melted!)
My scores reflect my lack of time on the bike this year.... next year, this will be better! Though, the sections were definitely not at the same level as they usually are.... and I wasn't upset about this... I like a challenge... unfortunately the challenge exhausted me way quicker than some of the previous years "straight through" type sections....
Again, I learnt that I should just follow my own lines and not listen to other people giving their suggestions about what is a better line... because, I always find that my lines work better for me.... Plus, if I stuff up on my line - that's ok.. if I stuff up on someone else's line - then it's THEIR fault for making me do it.. eheheh.... easier if I just blame myself :)
(as you can see from this - I didn't complete 4 of the sections... I got back to Section 1 (or on the second lap - it became Section 9) and I was sitting there, two riders away from entering the section and I realised that I just didn't have it in me... three of the four sections that I didn't do were rocky sections and if you stuff up in those - you walk away (or limp away) in a severe amount of pain.... I had to drive home with the kids on my own (Rob was still in the USA) and I just didn't feel safe doing it...
It's the one thing I love about trials... you decide if the sections are safe or unsafe... you choose to keep riding or to stop... you're only competing against yourself.. (well, for me that's what it is... as long as I do better than I did last time - then I feel I've won.... I'm never going to take out first place at a comp like that, so why stress it?)
After handing in my card (and being told that there was still 2hrs left to complete those four sections and that I should have a break and then go and do them) - I packed up the caravan, attached it to the car... and it was time to leave....
Blake was asleep before we'd even go to Conondale the township... (Jade took this photo for me)
We drove in convoy with Drew to Childers where we stopped at a park and walked to Subway to get lunch (3pm lunch - but still, lunch) - the kids then played while Drew and I chatted until about 5pm... then we headed to Bundy and Drew headed back to Rocky....
We unpacked, got the kids ready to bath - at which time I realised that Blake did not have a spare pair of PJ's - because I'd packed winter ones for him for Conondale and Summer PJ's for Bundy - and with it being so hot in Conondale, he'd worn his summer PJ's - and they'd been packed away with all of the dirty clothes locked in the caravan...
Luckily, I knew what Grandma had bought Blake for his birthday - so we said to him that Grandma had requested that his present be opened early.... He was very excited about his new PJ's and the day was saved!
The bathwater after Blake got out.... (Jade had showered - so this was purely Blake-dirt....
Grandma also got Blake a giant Snakes and Ladders game... the kids loved it....
The PJ's.....
Presents all out ready for the morning......
