Riding Down Under - Tropical Cairns Australia

Crazy girl - insane traffic in Afghanistan
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In Wordle there are 1500+ solutions recorded with no duplicates so being able to look up a potential guess only eliminates it and very few games offer up multitudes of solutions.....todays did.
:?
:doh:


Lotsa neurons applied AND the look up.
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Brain power birdie

ugh nasssssty Wordle

a nothing burger day...Screen Shot 2021-12-20 at Dec, 20 2021 6.01.10 AM.jpg
Damn 9 hrs 9 min sleep ......was very stiff when I woke...that's a long snooze.
Having a good Wordle run

Lotsa sleep yesterday .... nada today sigh. Lots of reading tho. 💻
on a roll
 
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Now
UPDATED 4:20AM AEST
24.1
°
FEELS LIKE
30.0°C Toasty at 4 am Tropics re-assert
Will get up and have some tea and watch v-logs.

Last ride for Marc on his original EV bike

Noraly on the road to Kabul being cautious with Taliban about.

Maybe get out for a lunch ride - or not ...dentist :(

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Riding buddy is bringing his new to him 2016 Triumph Tiger 800 back from Brisbane today. Will try and meet him in Babinda when he gets there. It's a 1,600 km ride.
 
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I just reminded him since he's doing 130kph 2025 speed fines
  • Between 11 km/h and 20 km/h over the limit: Approximately $501

  • Between 20 km/h and 30 km/h over the limit: Approximately $751

  • Between 30 km/h and 40 km/h over the limit: Approximately $1,252

  • More than 40 km/h over the limit: Around $1,900
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Like the looks of that seat. Meeting at Babinda Bakery if weather holds ....good smoothies

 
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2 am Even with the table to see what was still available it was work ....nassssty Wordle.

Sold a computer and the guy confirmed late so have to hustle to prep in the morning by 11 and then be in Babinda for 2.30 to meet up.
Buddy on the Tiger XCx spent 5 hours stuck in the outback sand. :eek: 🍿

Lucky I was sick and did not try for a Babinda meet...buddy did not arrive home until 7pm and it was a very hot ride on the coast. He switched up to the cooler tablelands partially from boredom.
He was beat and tired after a long hot day but :love: :love: :love: :love: his new ride.

I'm feeling better now but woke up at 4 am hungry. Wordle first tho.
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Legit shot at an eagle if I'd thought a bit more.
I'll take the birdie tho.

Marc on a new adventure not on an EV :unsure:

Noraly taking silly risks with the Taliban
 
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Happy with this birdie
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Woke up way too warm
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and had to pee at midnight anyway...catheter is rather reliable alarm. Tstorm would be very nice to clear the funk. Feels like 30 ???!!! and it does. Nice night to watch Planet Earth 1 .....standard Blu Ray but still very good and picked it up for $5.
Not quite up to the 4k Planet Earth II but at 3m viewing position it's very good and the HDR on the new screen is useful enhancement, maybe even upscaling.
 
Well I did wish for a Tstorm :eek:
Screen Shot 2025-10-14 at Oct, 14 2025 4.37.12 PM.jpg

UPDATED 12:50AM AEST​

23.8°

FEELS LIKE​

29.5°C drier air mass. Pleasant.


Noraly in the Hindu Kush
 
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Flew to Melbourne for a very brief bday visit. Chillier.

Melbourne living up to its multiple seasons in one day,
11C now at 5.30 am going to 29 !!!!
Wind 6 kph going to 57 !!!
Clear now with rain this evening
on foot what to wear ???!!!! :unsure:

Screen Shot 2025-10-16 at Oct, 16 2025 5.25.21 AM.jpg​


Flights were okay yesterday tho the veg samosas Qantas offered up were disgusting.
Once thing with Qantas, seats are a bit more generous tho the Airbus seat belts left much to be desired ….Boeing better.

Fortunately Friends and Family prices for the 5 star hotel at $130 very useful. Helps to have Marriott exec in family
This happens to be our exact view
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https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hote...Esqpb_KCDspMUZjNh-ts8hLF4VFaDMYoaAq-UEALw_wcB

We’ve been here before and liked it.

Museum this am for bday lunch at Star Wars Cafe.

Melbourne Museum

museumsvictoria.com.au museumsvictoria.com.au

and then tonight Marvel.

Marvel Studios’ Infinity Saga Concert Experience​

Screen Shot 2025-10-15 at Oct, 15 2025 11.42.04 PM.jpg
terrific - fastest 2 hours evah
 
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Very long day in Melbourne CBD with two highlights.
The iMax Theatre which is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere was just fantastic in near field 3 rows from the front. Had the entire row to myself. Full edge to edge POV visual experience in 3D!
A Beautiful Planet.
Insanely immersive from that viewpoint and I learned a fair bit. Very enjoyable.
My feet hurt getting home as we have not sorted the tram system but that was nothing compared to the allergies.
I cannot recall suffering from allergies so badly and I did have antihistamines ...coughing, scratchy throat, eyes watering every minute I was out of air conditioning. Not sure what is in the air but I was not happy.....hard to breathe even. Collapsed in bed when the walk home ended and slept for 3 hours which helped.

Then in the evening
Was perhaps the most effortless and fun 2 hours I've spent in a while even tho allergies still present tho not disabling.

At least we cabbed it ...which in itself was a chore to get back to the hotel as line up cabbies refused short rides - we'd had this issue before but at least one caved and took us home figuring better bird in hand than sitting there. Even he was complaining about the system that allowed refusals - by the time we left there were 30 cabs lined. Our was third in line and we were happy when he waved us over after an initial refusal.
Legs were sore and wobbly so cab ride was welcome after a few KM walking earlier in the day. ******* flat feet - no sign of tachycardia even tho heart rate got to 110 on one hill - it was the allergies that were dire - should have grabbed a cab - made the day a bit more enjoyable.
There were some interesting exhibits at the Melbourne Museum to wander through after the iMax thrill which was almost as good as the Florida short film on the shuttle at the Kennedy Space port that then had the screen open and the actual shuttle was hanging there .....mind blowing that one

Okay for 4 am brain.
 
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Walking like a zombie with stiff muscles but wonders of drugs has now helped. Half way back home - nother 2 hour flight and an interesting Audible book to listen to. The ANC on the Momentum 4 headphones is wonderful. Put the slider all the way over and the world goes away. (y)
Slept part way of the 2 hours from Melbourne to Brisbane...one more round of dismal snack....one bite of undercooked soggy kiesch and in the bin it went. Got a diet Coke out it.
At least the food in Qantas lounge is decent to snack on - cinnamon bun and a hot chocolate ....espresso is now a past memory for me .😢
 
Trip from Brisbane was entirely slept through


Had a lazy bday - out with rellies - unfortunately the chicken pasta lunch had too many onions and unappetizing cold sliced chicken breast plus marginal cold pasta.
Complicated by my new Ozempic higher dose kicking in big time. I had almost zero bites, was satiated and was barely hungry at all even at supper time. Brought it home to dissect.
Speaking of want to get under 90kg so body can be donated to science..


Weather a pleasant 20c at 1 am and hopefully get out for a ride for my free bday Whopper 🍔
Still trying to find a way to cook the leftovers ....soooooo much onion permeated everything,
Chicken is okay but the pasta I think is in the bin.
Marc on a regular bike in the mountains. I like his riding companion Candi.

Life in the tropics ...we've had a whole chorus of white lipped tree frogs in the area and one decided to move it.
Fortunately I discovered it before the dog snacked and he is now safely back in a tree.
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Had a legit shot at an eagle ..was on the correct track. Will take the birdie.

Upset digestive system from the upgraded Ozempic dose - need more bananas.
Need it under control before Sydney trip. Nice tropical night...no wind
21 feels like 23. Dawn just breaking at 5.30 am and birds being raucous.
 

Trying to get out for a short ride to collect my birthday whopper but is't so damn hot and humid already and heading to 32 real. Still I'm a sucker for a free meal and the bike needs fuel a bit of a run .....so do I.

Marc in the remote Himalayas with no EV

Scored my free bday Whopper, no onions but overdose of mayo.

Very short ride determining AirPod Pro 2 are not suitable for under helmet use.
These are working okay in the C3 Helmet.
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QT S Bluetooth Neckband Headphones, HD Sound V5.0 Wireless Neckband Headset Stereo Noise Cancelling Sweat/Waterproof Sports Earphones for Gym Workout Travel...
Click to expand...
No ANC but comfortable fit and just had to change to foam tips.
The ANC version are twice the price
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Active Noise Cancelling Headphones, Wireless V5.3 Bluetooth Headphones with 3 AI Mics ENC, In-ear Magnetic Neckband Earbuds 60Hrs Playtime, IPX6 Sweatproof...
Click to expand...
-32 ANC would be sweet but too pricey just now. Just not riding enough to justify. The ANC on my big Momentum cans is fantastic. So nice to fly with and watch big screen media....SQ is just superb.
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Sennheiser Signature Sound – Powered by Sennheiser’s audiophile-inspired 42mm transducer system for exceptional high-fidelity sound.
  • Top-Tier Battery Life – Outstanding battery life with up to 60-hours play back time with fast charging.
  • Adaptive Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode – Advanced noise cancellation automatically adapts your sound to your surroundings. Transparency Mode lets you hear external sounds without removing your headphones.
  • Premium Comfort – Lightweight design features a padded headband and deep cushioned earpads to ensure exceptional and long-lasting wearing comfort.
  • Customizable Sound – Listen your way with built-in EQ, presets, sound modes, and Sound Personalization feature, which tailors the audio to your individual hearing – all accessible via the Sennheiser Smart Control App.
  • Crystal-clear Calls – Four digital beamforming microphones ensure high quality voice pick-up and automatic wind noise suppression for optimized calls and easier voice assistant access (Siri and Google Assistant).
Click to expand...
 
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A very tired and hungry Noraly after 12 hours riding and .......Taliban.

I had a pretty good sleep - worked out a drug timing to deal with allergies and still be able to sleep
Would be nice to get one decent ride before leaving for Sydney for a few days.
Steak for for brekkie.... (y)
Non functional day tho Bowls Club was a treat as Black Forest bday cake appeared.
Came home slowly, no energy, went straight to bed and woke at 3. am feeling much better. It showed

Legit birdie at 3am

Glad of that has lots to do before leaving for Sydney - termites have invaded and I have to empty my bedroom for the pest control guy. Too many clothes.:eek:
 
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Bit of cautionary tale - damn she must have hit that hard....apparently she went flying

Clearly Black Forest cake is good for my brain

Off to Sydney soonish
 
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Sandals rediscovered!!!
Unlikely warm day in Sydney. Was dreading navigating subways/trains/ferries but partner lived there 50 years back so at least had a good sense of direction getting us out to Circular Key with a minimum of walking to save my sore toe.
164665%20-%20Circular%20Quay%20-%20Sydney%20-%20DNSW.webp

www.sydney.com

Circular Quay

Discover Circular Quay, the heart of stunning Sydney Harbour. There are great views, fantastic restaurants and lots of things to do.
www.sydney.com www.sydney.com
Caught the slower ferry out and fast ferry back, plus a couple of subways for the grand sum of $7.50 each thanks to seniors deal for unlimited daily travel ferry/subway/trains !!! And that covers our next 2 days as well.
Sydney might be pricey but the public transit is brilliant and cost effective.
I'm usually barefoot or loose socks around the house so ongoing issue with a sore big toe problem in runners rarely surfaces and does not show with the motorcycle boots.
It did big time on the flight to Sydney....could barely walk when finally got to modest apartment hotel but had packed long forgotten sandals I'd brought from Canada.
Was a little unsteady in them and soles were slippy - partly from long without use and worried about strap friction.
One reason I bought my good runners were for stability on uneven surfaces and I'd gotten used to that but the toe thing made them no go.
As the day progressed the sandals were excellent and I got a bit more confident - no issue with toe and a surprise, my feet hurt far less than in the $$$ runners with socks.
Warm with a bit of rain which scored us a better seaside table for noodle bowl lunch with wagyu beef bits and excellent dumplings. Big serving but partner was hungry and helped finish mine. I managed to over ride my Ozempic
Could see why Circular Key very popular and has been since the 1890s.

 
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Off to the Maritime Museum today. Will rain later but very nice
23 at the moment and sunny - showers forecast
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Stayed mid 20s and sunny all day until 30 min before we got home.
Going down to 13 tonight and some rain forecast.
Noraly still in Afghanistan
 
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Legit 2 but of course there is luck in choosing the strategy plus used eliminating previous solutions which Wordle could easily incorporate.
There were 3 previous solutions so chased a remaining possible and scored a badge.
:dance:

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Back to my very engaging book....When the Sea Came Alive ..first person accounts of D-Day. Laugh and cry and marvel.
:thumbup:


Grey n chilly today for our evening at the Opera House.


Mountain_SOH_2560x854.jpg.webp

The Australian Chamber Orchestra are bringing back one of their most groundbreaking, award-winning and popular cinematic collaborations for a series of limited gala performances

After more than a decade of producing films, Mountain premiered in 2017 as one of our boldest explorations of music and nature. Only three centuries ago, the idea scarcely existed that wild landscapes might hold any sort of attraction. Mountains were places of peril, not beauty. An upper world to be shunned, not sought out. Now they hold us spellbound, drawing us into their dominion, often at the cost of our lives.

Created in collaboration with BAFTA-nominated director and filmmaker Jennifer Peedom (Sherpa 2015, River 2021), Mountain pushed the creative possibilities of presenting music and film live in concert in an innovative new direction. Tognetti and Peedom worked closely to assemble footage and soundscapes that collectively showcased the serenity, magnitude and terror of these jaw dropping landscapes. Music became an equal participant in the cinematic experience.

Mountain is shot by the world’s leading high-altitude cinematographers, with narration by celebrated British writer, Robert Macfarlane and spoken by award-winning actor Willem Dafoe. It is a visceral and immersive musical journey through vistas few have visited, and none have seen quite in this way. Don’t miss this limited opportunity to experience an ACO classic.
Click to expand...

The River

Beloved global star Miranda Otto (The Lord of the Rings, Ladies in Black, A Doll’s House) returns to the Sydney Theatre Company stage in this thrilling play by one of the world’s greatest living playwrights. On a moonless night, a lovesick fisherman entertains a woman at his family’s remote...
www.sydneyoperahouse.com www.sydneyoperahouse.com

Back to tropic heat in Cairns tomorrow

UPDATED 9:10AM AEST​

29.1°

FEELS LIKE​

35.0°C 🥵
 
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Lovely event at the Sydney Opera House, rain held off. Lots of stairs and walking...pretty done in when I got home.
The visuals in Mountain were breathtaking....and one of the almost solo pieces by the lead violin who was also conducting was a tour de force. (y)
Only home by 11.30 and too tired to wait for midnight on Wordle.
Woke at 4.30am and scored.
Back to back eagles :D

Too bad the Jays didn't.....what a marathon !!!!
Will be home to tropic heat by afternoon and complete sleeping upheaval thanks to termites.
Cannot use my bedroom for many weeks. :mad: banished to the music room. It IS the cyclone shelter ....small mercy.
 
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