Entries:

• September 5, 2010
• August 25, 2010
• June 16, 2010
• June 8, 2010
• March 17, 2010
• January 3, 2010
• December 10, 2009
• November 16, 2009
• October 18, 2009
• October 7, 2009
• September 30, 2009
• September 23, 2009
• September 14, 2009
• September 9, 2009
• August 31, 2009
• August 23, 2009
• August 17, 2009
• January 11, 2009

Who says travel is fun?

I can't believe that nearly two weeks has passed since I have last checked in!

My trip back to Australia did not start all that well - thanks to American Airlines! I missed Check In by two minutes for my flight from Miami to Los Angeles, and the staff member was not helpful at all. He certainly wasn't concerned about my international connection from Los Angeles to Brisbane, so, to my extreme disappointment, I missed my flight to Los Angeles, which caused me to miss the flight from LA to Brisbane. What a nightmare - thanks to the ignorance shown by the AA staff member in Miami. Fortunately, Qantas were more understanding, and they were able to find me a seat on the Brisbane flight the next day. So, I finally arrived in Brisbane on Sunday the 11th at 6:10am. The only problem I had then was rushing through customs to make the start of my bike race in Beenleigh! Yes, that's correct - I flew 13 hours to Brisbane, then rushed to Beenleigh, met up with my Mum and sisters Kylie and Melanie and was on my bike for 60kms at 7:45 to compete in the Brisbane to Gold Coast Bike Ride!!! I made the ride, and I finished!!

The bike ride was awesome to be a part of, and I will certainly  be part of them in the future. I will be honest - I thought I had been on the bike for a long time and was pushing those pedals around at a furious pace, when I looked at my watch, and I had only been riding for 30 minutes...... wooops. I did keep going, and we crossed the finish line 3 and 1/2 hours later (with a snack break at Coomera). It was so much fun to be part of something so big, and it was really interesting to see how cyclists work together to be aware of the other vehicles on the road. When you are on a bike, cars definitely go by too fast, and I will certainly slow down when I am driving around cyclists in the future.There are many roads that don't have the room for bikes and cars, so we all have to give a little more room. 

This week, I am traveling up North to catch up with some family, and will then will be back to Brisbane and the Gold Coast to get back into the practice for the upcoming Tour Championship. I will also make some room for some cycling too!! Thanks for checking in. Till next week, take care

Rachel