ON MY MIND
Inspiration…
T
hey say inspiration comes to you in funny places. Less than a week out from publishing I was locked out of the iMotorhome website through a combination of automated caution and human ineptitude. I’d actually been locked out for most of October, following the discovery my password no longer worked and neither did the reset option. Repeated contact with the website company’s support department produced little action and I finally resorted to trolling their Facebook page to elicit a more urgent response. It worked, but still didn’t fix the situation. A possible workaround occurred to me as I gazed out the window from the ensuite loo. It came from nowhere and although simple, ended up requiring email and telephone conversations with the iMotorhome domain name hosting service (different from the website host) before I could enact it. At least they were on the ball and talked me through a solution to the intermediate problem. After that, regaining access to the website took less than five minutes. As of this precise moment, I still don’t have a solution from my website host. Technology – it’s not for the faint hearted… Apart from that, month seven of the Covid 2020 experience has largely been trouble free. How about yours? It appears we are either settling into this strange new existence or becoming Covid-institutionalised, but either way life seems pretty normal. Well, except for the lack of interstate and international travel.
Back on Earth, when borders open, what are your travel plans? November onwards is hardly the time to be heading to Far North Queensland or into the Outback, except to visit family and friends. Or, are you so stricken with cabin fever that any travel option is appealing? November leads inexorably to December and Christmas, and it was around mid October I saw my first Christmas ad on TV. Who can believe the year is now almost gone, or that having survived apocalyptic fires at the beginning, we’ve endured most of 2020 in some form of pandemic lockdown? I feel particularly sorry for Victorians and especially Melbournians, who really bore the brunt of the most severe restrictions. Well done all of you, you deserve an especially merry Christmas! Also deserving something special – in this case humble thanks – are those who gave to generously support my ride in the 2020 Virtual MS Gong Ride. On my indoor trainer I undertook to ride the equivalent distance of Canberra to Wollongong – 234 km – in the hope of raising $250 for Multiple Sclerosis Australia. I’ve now passed 500 km and $500 and with just few days remaining have targeted at least 600 km and $600. The Virtual Gong Ride finishes on this issue’s publishing day – Sunday, 1 November – and also the day for the Covid-cancelled physical ride. If all planets align I’m going to ‘virtually’ ride the 82 km from Sydney to Wollongong that day, just because. It will be my 6th Gong Ride and one to remember.
My ride that day will be using an amazing Australian app called FulGaz. Featuring a collection of more than 600 video rides around the world, FulGaz also has a Speaking of interstate travel, will November finally see the opening of the Queensland and Victorians borders? video ride of the entire MS Gong Ride. By connecting my road bike to a ‘smart’ trainer that talks via Bluetooth Whilst I don’t doubt the Queensland Premier’s original to the app, the video rolls along at the pace I ride while public health concerns, I believe the border issue became a convenient tool in the lead up to election time. the app recreates all the hills by increasing the trainer’s resistance accordingly. It’s uncannily realistic and as At least the Victorian Premier had an actual pandemic close to being there as you can get. On the day I’ll even on his hands and despite vilification from federal punctuate the ride with the traditional coffee and muffin politicians and much of the population and press, held his ground and effectively reduced it to zero. Yes, it was stop at Loftus Oval and a sandwich at the Red Cedar Flats picnic area, in the depwths of the Royal National mishandled to begin with and resulted in hundreds of Park. Watch for a feature next issue on smart trainers, unnecessary deaths and untold heartache, but at least apps and the brave new world of indoor cycling fitness. it has been controlled – something you can’t say about the UK, Europe or US. Until then, safe travels and all the best as the country struggles to find some cheer for the upcoming Festive On a lighter note and with tongue firmly in cheek, Season. If you’d like to spread a little extra, please Western Australia remains locked away in its own consider a late donation to help support the 25,000 private Idaho and I wonder if it matters or anybody Australians afflicted with the incurable scourge of cares? Perhaps now is the time for W.A. to secede Multiple Sclerosis. Simply click HERE. Thanks :) following this trial run? At least we’d have a reason to carry passports in our motorhomes and it might even become a desirable tax haven we could all escape to. Now there’s a thought…
Richard