Thu - Doss day.
Wed - Spin/abs as usual.
Tue - New theory - 20 mins swim after work, felt a lot of laps. Pool chillers seem to be working.
Mon - Up late. Spin/Abs with Walid. Felt tough again, but my "planks" are getting better.
Sun - Stoker left late after a final swim and attempt to have a drink at a meal at the Country Club - last year there were serving, this year not. The thought police are clamping down.
Sat - Found a great shop (Kondor) in Seef Mall to get Blackberry covers and a charge (USB Micro B) cable for Stoker's new Curve. 20 lengths again, chatted to neighbours who had returned from vacation. Spin/Abs in evening with Ole, then went to Butchers Shop in City Centre Mall for best steak in Bahrain - no alcohol though.
Fri - Managed 20 lengths with Stoker in pool, then a short 15k tandem ride in late afternoon. Dinner at Jeff and Vi's. When we drove there the road was empty with locals at home Iftaring.
21-27 Aug: Still hot & humid & Ramadan
Thu - No exercise in the morning, I was tidying up for Stoker arrival tonight at 7:00 pm airport.
Wed - 30ish lengths of the pool. I lost count again, so decided that I will bring a watch, set the alarm and use that next time. Spin/abs in evening.
Tue - Despite aching after last nights later spin, I shuffled out of bed at 5:30 and went for a MTB ride through the plantation where the green and irrigation make it degrees cooler, then around AlJasra for 25k. Followed by 20-30 lengths in the pool - I got in a reverie about how tough it was in Bahrain and lost count. A nice way to start the day.
Mon - Spin/abs in evening. Its starting later at 8pm, so missing Dilmun Diving, but thats OK as the Stoker is coming out for the weekend. When I got in the car at 7:30pm it was still 41C. Walid was a bit grumpy over have a late class and gave a tough session. I canvassed others to get the time changed earlier but 2 fasters wanted it at 8 for Ramadan.
Stoker send me a picture of her training in the garden
Sun - Lethargic. Must be Ramadan!
Sat - Ramadan starts. Small lie in till 8:30. 19k on MTB exploring date plantations north of Waqif. Could be 50 years ago with a bullock cart loaded with dates, labourers hiding in the shade and being relaxed about working. Then to Hamal to see the seaside. Had to sneakily drink from the camelback to avoid a 100BD fine. Cooled down in pool. Spin/Abs in evening.
Fri - None saw the moon last nigh so we could drink on the ride. 62k to Awali, Riffa Golf, HR 155 - couldn't keep it up so fell off back of peleton, Oil Well No1, (Ironman Ruth tagged along) down and up track to Banyan Tree, Al Areen, Zallaq (water stop) and home with a nice limp SE wind.
Wed - 30ish lengths of the pool. I lost count again, so decided that I will bring a watch, set the alarm and use that next time. Spin/abs in evening.
Tue - Despite aching after last nights later spin, I shuffled out of bed at 5:30 and went for a MTB ride through the plantation where the green and irrigation make it degrees cooler, then around AlJasra for 25k. Followed by 20-30 lengths in the pool - I got in a reverie about how tough it was in Bahrain and lost count. A nice way to start the day.
Mon - Spin/abs in evening. Its starting later at 8pm, so missing Dilmun Diving, but thats OK as the Stoker is coming out for the weekend. When I got in the car at 7:30pm it was still 41C. Walid was a bit grumpy over have a late class and gave a tough session. I canvassed others to get the time changed earlier but 2 fasters wanted it at 8 for Ramadan.
Stoker send me a picture of her training in the garden
Sun - Lethargic. Must be Ramadan!
Sat - Ramadan starts. Small lie in till 8:30. 19k on MTB exploring date plantations north of Waqif. Could be 50 years ago with a bullock cart loaded with dates, labourers hiding in the shade and being relaxed about working. Then to Hamal to see the seaside. Had to sneakily drink from the camelback to avoid a 100BD fine. Cooled down in pool. Spin/Abs in evening.
Fri - None saw the moon last nigh so we could drink on the ride. 62k to Awali, Riffa Golf, HR 155 - couldn't keep it up so fell off back of peleton, Oil Well No1, (Ironman Ruth tagged along) down and up track to Banyan Tree, Al Areen, Zallaq (water stop) and home with a nice limp SE wind.
14 - 20 Aug: Hot and humid
Thu - "Last supper" with guys at lunch (takeout Chinese). Played with www.Bikehike and downloaded the Corsica routes to Garmin.
Wed - I am pathetic. Failed to get out of bed in time. Humidity has shot up. Spin/Abs with Walid
in evening, heart rate up more than last time. This must be doing me some good?
Been having some slight ache at the front of the knees, and I read that this can be due to the saddle being too low, so I've raised it on the bike and at Spin the last couple of times. Seems much better. could be coincidence, but I'll keep it this way.
Tue - Recovery day
Mon - 32k local. Light dust haze so less direct sun, but humid. Saw Mike & Steve (AWs) cycling other way round. Toughish Spin/abs in evening with Walid, and popped into diving at Dilmun. Their kitchen is still under renovation, so left after a chat to prepare dinner at home. Diving already full for Friday which is a relief as I think its too hot to be out all day on the boat, but I still want to appear keen! Booked Stoker to come out in 10 days for a long weekend, something to look forward to.
Sun - quiet day
Sat - Diving cancelled as not enough signups. Probably for the better as it is damm hot. Cycled my tuna roll that I had made for lunch to Hamala Beach Resort and sat by the seaside to eat it. Strong headwind as I meandered back on tracks across the fields to the pipeline (I was on the MTB). 12k. Spin/Abs in evening.
Fri - 57k with AWheelers. Awali, Riffa fort, Hamad, then I slipped off back of peleton and came home via Malakiya. Felt much better than last week, though eyes are watering even though I have been back on anti-histamines again. I can keep up with the group for about an hour, then I feel like slowing down....so I do.
Yesterday friends John Scoble and Paul Stephens (+ his son Charlie) finished walking the GR10 from Atlantic to Med in 45 days. Well done guys! It sounded like it wasn't much fun, with lots of up and downs and alongs, and big storms, without the biking thrill of descending without brakes. I think I'll stick to cycling.
Wed - I am pathetic. Failed to get out of bed in time. Humidity has shot up. Spin/Abs with Walid
in evening, heart rate up more than last time. This must be doing me some good?
Been having some slight ache at the front of the knees, and I read that this can be due to the saddle being too low, so I've raised it on the bike and at Spin the last couple of times. Seems much better. could be coincidence, but I'll keep it this way.Tue - Recovery day
Mon - 32k local. Light dust haze so less direct sun, but humid. Saw Mike & Steve (AWs) cycling other way round. Toughish Spin/abs in evening with Walid, and popped into diving at Dilmun. Their kitchen is still under renovation, so left after a chat to prepare dinner at home. Diving already full for Friday which is a relief as I think its too hot to be out all day on the boat, but I still want to appear keen! Booked Stoker to come out in 10 days for a long weekend, something to look forward to.
Sun - quiet day
Sat - Diving cancelled as not enough signups. Probably for the better as it is damm hot. Cycled my tuna roll that I had made for lunch to Hamala Beach Resort and sat by the seaside to eat it. Strong headwind as I meandered back on tracks across the fields to the pipeline (I was on the MTB). 12k. Spin/Abs in evening.
Fri - 57k with AWheelers. Awali, Riffa fort, Hamad, then I slipped off back of peleton and came home via Malakiya. Felt much better than last week, though eyes are watering even though I have been back on anti-histamines again. I can keep up with the group for about an hour, then I feel like slowing down....so I do.
Yesterday friends John Scoble and Paul Stephens (+ his son Charlie) finished walking the GR10 from Atlantic to Med in 45 days. Well done guys! It sounded like it wasn't much fun, with lots of up and downs and alongs, and big storms, without the biking thrill of descending without brakes. I think I'll stick to cycling.
7 -13 Aug: Dusty and hot
Thu - Rest day. Busy at work phoning up guys to tell them their bonuses.
Wed - 28k to new area and around Aljasra. Spin/Abs
Tue - Rest day
Mon - 21k exploring the housing area other side of pipeline road (between BDF and main saudi highway). No traffic, clear roads around big houses. Police presence so security is good. Spin/Abs
Sun -
Sat - 48k to Riffa fort, Golf Club cafe for bacon butty (yummy), Hamda and home. Felt much better than yesterday.
Fri - 85k with Awheelers. Very fast run down to Soap Box Hill, Tree of Life, left on Al Dhurat highway. Rest peeled off to Al Dar on coast. There was a N headwind so I carried on slower up highway , round back of Awali, Zallaq and home. 3:30 hours. Suffered from heat even though drank 4 litres of water on ride. Whacked for rest of day.
Wed - 28k to new area and around Aljasra. Spin/Abs
Tue - Rest day
Mon - 21k exploring the housing area other side of pipeline road (between BDF and main saudi highway). No traffic, clear roads around big houses. Police presence so security is good. Spin/Abs
Sun -
Sat - 48k to Riffa fort, Golf Club cafe for bacon butty (yummy), Hamda and home. Felt much better than yesterday.
Fri - 85k with Awheelers. Very fast run down to Soap Box Hill, Tree of Life, left on Al Dhurat highway. Rest peeled off to Al Dar on coast. There was a N headwind so I carried on slower up highway , round back of Awali, Zallaq and home. 3:30 hours. Suffered from heat even though drank 4 litres of water on ride. Whacked for rest of day.
31 July - 6 Aug: Back in the groove
Thu - Rest day after yesterday
Wed - 38k to Malakiya. Spin/Abs
Tue - Rest day
Mon - 36k Hamad and back. Spin/Abs
Sun - 29k around AlJasra
Sat - Spin/Abs at Ritz
Fri - Stoker and Jon left late last night. B&M from the Magic Kingdom stayed over. I was going to cycle with the AWheelers, but the weather was shite, very low viz with dust. So I stayed in bad, then went to the gym and had a swim.
Wed - 38k to Malakiya. Spin/Abs
Tue - Rest day
Mon - 36k Hamad and back. Spin/Abs
Sun - 29k around AlJasra
Sat - Spin/Abs at Ritz
Fri - Stoker and Jon left late last night. B&M from the Magic Kingdom stayed over. I was going to cycle with the AWheelers, but the weather was shite, very low viz with dust. So I stayed in bad, then went to the gym and had a swim.
Back on Air
After LE2JOG I had 2 weeks in Bahrain, then back to the UK for a week's work and wedding anniversay, daughter's graduation, parties and meals out.
Stoker and Jon came back to Bahrain for a great 2 weeks - we explored new places to have light lunches, and got in some early morning tandem riding having persuaded British Airways to allow on the brake-poor tandem. We just got in under the wire as now BA have sneakily put on their website that that forn Oct they are reducing the checked in baggage size to below what a tandem can be compressed into. Shame we don't have S&S couplings on the Thorn, but I had to buy what was on offer at the time.
They both went back 2 weeks ago, and I was faced with 6 weeks alone before getting back to UK for a week's cycle across Corsica with Bike Adventures again -yes we (or at least I and the Stoker acquieses) are suckers for this now. We are going to wedding in Kent on 12th September and have entered for the Kent Sportiv on 13th Sept as its just down the road from where we are staying. And then I decided also to "fill in the LE2JOG" hole by nipping down to Devon on 15th Sept and cycling from Crediton to Bridgewater to make up the day I missed due to the "St Neots experience". Trains are booked for a crazy day out.
So I need to get back into the routine. This isn't helped with the weather in Bahrain being unreasonably dusty if not downright unhealthy, and the temperature being rather warm (45C+ in the day). I decided putting down what I do in the blog makes it more likely I will continue to do it! I have reconfigured the blog to be active for what is the current escapade and focus, and to archive previous ones in links you can get to on the right. I've archived LE2JOG and put up an old writeup on the Coast to Coast (Whitehaven to Tynemouth) from Sept 2002. I'll put up weekly entried, adding to them daily as things happen and keep the lastest at the top for my blog stalkers (only one so far!) need not scroll down too far.
Off we go again!
Stoker and Jon came back to Bahrain for a great 2 weeks - we explored new places to have light lunches, and got in some early morning tandem riding having persuaded British Airways to allow on the brake-poor tandem. We just got in under the wire as now BA have sneakily put on their website that that forn Oct they are reducing the checked in baggage size to below what a tandem can be compressed into. Shame we don't have S&S couplings on the Thorn, but I had to buy what was on offer at the time.
They both went back 2 weeks ago, and I was faced with 6 weeks alone before getting back to UK for a week's cycle across Corsica with Bike Adventures again -yes we (or at least I and the Stoker acquieses) are suckers for this now. We are going to wedding in Kent on 12th September and have entered for the Kent Sportiv on 13th Sept as its just down the road from where we are staying. And then I decided also to "fill in the LE2JOG" hole by nipping down to Devon on 15th Sept and cycling from Crediton to Bridgewater to make up the day I missed due to the "St Neots experience". Trains are booked for a crazy day out.
So I need to get back into the routine. This isn't helped with the weather in Bahrain being unreasonably dusty if not downright unhealthy, and the temperature being rather warm (45C+ in the day). I decided putting down what I do in the blog makes it more likely I will continue to do it! I have reconfigured the blog to be active for what is the current escapade and focus, and to archive previous ones in links you can get to on the right. I've archived LE2JOG and put up an old writeup on the Coast to Coast (Whitehaven to Tynemouth) from Sept 2002. I'll put up weekly entried, adding to them daily as things happen and keep the lastest at the top for my blog stalkers (only one so far!) need not scroll down too far.
Off we go again!
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