Early starts

I woke at 3:45am and knew I'd need the toilet soon. It's 5⁰, but feels like half that. The slight breeze isn't helping. The toilet isn't close. And I need to pack up first. I'm lucky it isn't raining. No dew is a bonus. The tent is dry. 

I've contemplated leaving everything, going to the toilet and returning to pack up later. But that seems a waste. I don't leave my tent up. I'm not going to go back to bed. Two trips, and I'd still need to pack up. 

I change clothes, rugging up for the cold. Pack the sleep wear, sleeping quilt, foam mat, and the tent. As the toilet urgency increases, I get more efficient packing. 

Riding, thankfully, delays the need. I wonder if it's evolutionary adaptation or just the way the muscles work. 

The deed done, I'm free to think about what next for the day. The sun isn't up for hours yet, and it feels colder now.  

Enjoying the peace of this early morning, I walk pushing, or scootering my bike. On one slightly downhill section of footpath, I pretend I'm competing in a luge. I crouch over the handlebars, one foot on a pedal, the other leg stretched backwards, coasting, trying to get as streamlined as I can. Each day I note how far I make it compared to a street light pole. Some days more, others less.  My best day might have had a tail wind, but there's skill involved too. The straightest lines, avoiding holes and bumps. 

The sun isn't up yet, and it feels colder. Though I wear sandals, I switched to wool socks on my feet a few weeks ago, so my toes are okay. I've put thick socks over half finger gloves to keep my fingers warm. My sock friends. Thumb at the heel, fingers in the foot and they work like mitts. I keep meaning to find my full finger gloves, but forget in the afternoon warmth. Today I'll remember. Rain is coming. The full finger gloves are waterproof, unlike my sock friends.

A Sock Friend

A life outdoors

After selling my caravan, I started designing a new one. It started with all the high quality materials, but then I worried about the time to build it, and the cost.  From my first caravan, I'd learnt my time estimations were consistently severely underestimated. The "perfect" first caravan wasn't, and I thought I was unlikely the second build would be. I decided to build a quicker model, using just Bunnings materials. Simple and cheap. Try quickly. Make errors fast. Correct from there. 

But before I started, I had to leave Sydney for a while. I was away for a month. It gave me time and space to consider where I was at. 

I decided I didn't want to spend more time building. I needed accommodation now, not in weeks to months. 

I'd been doing some house sitting while the trike and caravan were sold, but that was over. I'd kindly been allowed to stay longer, but I felt it was long enough. I wasn't comfortable continuing. I wanted my own place.

An eBay order later and I was ready.

It's a cheap 2 person single walled dome tent. Does the job. Keeps the rain out. It's been cold and wet lately. Fog at times.   Condensation happens. I dry it out at lunch time.