Outback Odyssey - The third third

We were only two weeks from winter, so it wasn't a huge surprise when the weather turned ordinary again for the first two days of the last section of the Odyssey. We encountered fairly serious, impassable mud on the way in and out of Quorn. It was a case of picking up your bike and walking, or trying to push through it. It was similar on the way to Hawker.
I had an extra dimension to my trip. As I was leaving Quorn, in the early morning rain, my bike got stuck in a muddy patch. I couldn't turn the cranks. I couldn't remove my shoe from the pedal (mud build up) and I had a cleat fall, landing solidly on my left side. It hurt a fair bit, but I was resolved to riding this thing out. Especially as I had come so far. So I swore a little and carried on. Despite the fairly lousy weather, the rides to Quorn and Hawker were still enjoyable in the main.
The weather brightened a little for the penultimate day, and our big ride into Rawnsley was largely unaffected by damp or mud. I could, however, have done without the headwind as we rode the rocky, climby and seemingly endlessly juddering Moralana Tourist Drive though. Me and everyone else.
The last day of our adventure took place under blue skies, and the breeze was negligible. I finally recalled just how good the Odyssey could be. Even with sore ribs...
It's been a long time since I was so happy to be anywhere, as I was to be in Blinman. I was slower in 2013 than on other Mawson rides, but I'd expected that. It didn't affect my happiness on finishing, that's for sure.

I went to the doctor once I'd gotten back to Adelaide - it turns out that two of my ribs were broken in the Quorn tumble. No wonder it hurt.

Time for a rest I think.

www.davidrobinsononline.com

Outback Odyssey - The second third

The second chapter of the 2013 Odyssey was a vast improvement on the first. Not only was I feeling better, fitness-wise, but the weather was a significant improvement on what had come before. My back had improved considerably after the rest day.

The ride from Burra to Hallett was long but enjoyable. Close to 100 kilometres, with the last stretch being the toughest, but I made it without drama.

The short burst to Spalding on Friday was fun, even the massive climb up through the wind turbines. I had a sense that my body and brain had clicked into gear.

Saturday's ride to Laura was also pretty good. Ups and downs, in and out of the Bundaleer Forest, and some sketchy stuff early.

On Sunday we enjoyed another sunny day as we made our way to Melrose. A shortish day, but with some decent climbs on the way into Melrose.

On Sunday night I spent a couple of hours with my guitar entertaining those who were happy to sit around the campfire. It was a late night, but my performance went down well.

Monday was a rest day. I slept in until 9.20 and missed breakfast. A day of chores (not many) and rest... All very pleasant.

www.davidrobinsononline.com

Outback Odyssey - The first third

I was a long, long way from being anything like prepared for this year's Mawson Trail adventure. Overseas travel, the associated jet lag, a head cold and a cracked rib conspired to put paid to any plans I had about getting fit.

The first four days were pretty hellish for me. Due to bushfires we (somewhat thankfully) dodged the Castambul climb on Day One but still endured some decent bitumen ascents through Kangaroo Creek and also on the approach to Lobethal. It hurt.

The second day was the usual hell on wheels. The middle stretch of the day, on the way to Steingarten, was very tough. As was the undulating ride into Tanunda after the super fast downhill. I was very happy to see camp. That is the understatement of 2013.

Day Three was filled with mud, rail trails and some decent riding into Riverton. I was still struggling to find my lungs and my legs. It was all about getting there.

The ride to Burra on Day Four was OK. More mud, rain, climbing and a bitumen detour. My back also decided to play up which was exactly what I didn't need. It's an old injury that barely affects me these days but, if it does, it is generally when I am riding.

The rest day wasn't good. My back felt terrible and I thought I might have to go home. I decided that I would try and tough it out and visit the pharmacy. I placed my faith in drugs. I went to bed hoping that I'd feel better for Day Six.

www.davidrobinsononline.com

Holly Bush

My second performance in England was at the iconic Holly Bush Inn in Makeney. The pub was recently featured on Tony (Baldrick) Robinson's series 'Walking Through History' and is a popular place for locals in search of decent real ales and/or a top-notch Sunday lunch. It is quite close, about five minutes' walk, from another of my favourite Derbyshire pubs, The King William in Milford - so it means I get double the fun whenever I visit the area...
I saw an advert for a Thursday night spotlight evening as I left the pub after enjoying an Easter Sunday pint, so I quickly fired off an email when I got back to my digs. "Can I play?"
Sometime on Monday, I got a response. Affirmative.

We caught a taxi down on the Wednesday night. If anyone needs a taxi in Belper or nearby I can recommend Steve's Taxis. Nice car, top fellow, fair tariff.
We got to the pub and I ordered a beer, as you do. A real ale named 'Halcyon'. It wasn't until I'd paid for it that I realised it was a strong one - 7.4%
"This is like wine", I said to the barman.
"Yeah I know, I probably should have pointed that out..."
I nursed my pint for what must have been a world record duration. The chap running the venue, Howard, was a nice guy and kicked things off with his take on a few timeless classics. A bloke named Gordon assembled what he called a Djembe from some pieces of wood stored in what I thought was a laptop case, and he provided accompaniment for performers, if they wished. Very good it was, too.
The small room filled with performers and punters of all ages.
When it was my time, I explained to my new mate Gordon that he wouldn't know the songs, but I thought he'd manage them without any danger if he wanted to play along. Gordon nodded in a quietly confident manner that suggested I'd not needed to say anything.
I did my set, calling (once again) on songs I've known and loved for years. I didn't have the luxury of rehearsing so it was a case of diving straight in with another borrowed guitar. I managed to get through my short set without resorting to making up lyrics or fudging chords. I guess I know my songs pretty well these days. Somebody has to, I guess...
I'm not sure if it was the novelty of coming from 12,000 miles away (as introduced) or something else but I went down a treat. Again.
We hung around for a while afterwards and watched a few more of the performers. I drained my Halcyon and plumped for a pint of the exotically named 'Jesters Ferrett' - a much gentler 3.6% abv.
It was a shame to leave but time waits for no man, nor does a late night cab booking. As we rose and made our way towards the door my understated attempts at saying farewell and thanks were trumped by spontaneous applause and wishes of goodwill from all and sundry. One lad yelled "Epic!" and I knew my night had peaked.
Well played, Holly Bush. I hope to see you again soon.

www.davidrobinsononline.com

Beer Hunter: 20/3/2013-20/4/2013

One of the joys of visiting England is the opportunity to drink a decent beer or two. I am a fan of real ales, from the cask, and here is my 2013 list.
This does not include repeat beers in the same pub, but does include repeat beers in different pubs. If you know what I mean.
There's one beer on the list that wasn't a real ale. See if you can find it.

1. Ruddles 'Best', Standing Order, Derby 3.7%
2. Falstaff 'Zsa Zsa Gabor', Spotted Cow, Holbrook 4.0%
3. Welbeck Abbey 'Henrietta', Dead Poets, Holbrook 3.6%
4. Ruddles 'Country', Dead Poets 4.3%
5. Timothy Taylor 'Landlord', White Hart, Bargate 4.3%
6. Lincoln Green 'Tuck Porter', Dead Poets 4.7%
7. Ringwood 'Filly Drift', Dead Poets 4.7%
8. Kimberley 'Best Bitter', White Hart 3.9%
9. Sharp's 'Doom Bar', Dead Poets 4.0%
10. Dancing Duck 'Ay Up', Dead Poets 3.9%
11. Sarah Hughes 'Dark Ruby', Dead Poets 6.0%
12. Wells 'Bombardier', Smith & Jones, Belper 4.1%
13. Marston's 'Burton Bitter', Eaton Farm, Long Eaton 3.8%
14. Marston's 'Pedigree', Eaton Farm, Long Eaton 4.5%
15. St Austell 'Tribute', Ye Old Dolphin, Derby 4.2%
16. Nottingham Brewery 'Centurion ND', Ye Old Dolphin 4.9%
17. Sharp's 'Doom Bar', The Lion, Belper 4.0%
18. Courage 'Best Bitter', Smith & Jones, Belper 4.0%
19. Oakham 'Bishops Farewell', Black Bulls Head, Openwoodgate 4.6%
20. Wadworth '6X', Queens Head, Belper 4.3%
21. Ringwood 'Boondoggle', Nags Head, Borrowash 4.2%
22. Marstons 'Pedigree', Nags Head 4.5%
23. Marstons 'Black Boy', Black Boy, Heage 3.9%
24. Falstaff 'Phoenix', Hop Inn, Openwoodgate 4.6%
25. Courage 'Best Bitter', Smith & Jones, Belper 4.0%
26. Marston's 'Pedigree', The Wheel, Holbrook 4.5%
27. Navigation 'Lepus', White Hart, Bargate 4.3%
28. Oakham 'Sweeney's Revenge', Hollybush Inn, Makeney 4.1%
29. Theakston 'Old Peculier', King William 5.6%
30. Peak Ales 'Bakewell Best Bitter', Red Lion, Bakewell 4.2%
31. Caledonian 'Deuchars IPA', Hurt Arms, Ambergate 3.8%
32. Lancaster 'Blonde', Coach and Horses, Ashbourne 4.1%
33. The Scottish Borders Brewery 'Foxy Blonde', Hanging Gate, Shottlegate 3.8%
34. Thornbridge 'Halcyon', Holly Bush, Makeney 7.4%
35. Oakham 'Jester's Ferret', Holly Bush, Makeney 3.6%
36. Sharp's 'Doom Bar', The Devonshire, Belper 4.0%
37. Vale Brewery Co 'Conspiracy', The Telegraph, Bridlington 4.1%
38. Theakston 'Best Bitter', Ye Old White Hart, Hull 3.8%
39. Tetley's 'Extra Cold', GW Horners, Hull 3.6%
40. Jennings 'Cumberland Ale', Stirling Castle, Bridlington 4.0%
41. Theakston 'Best Bitter', Stirling Castle, Bridlington 3.8%
42. Timothy Taylor 'Landlord', Stirling Castle, Bridlington 4.3%
43. Thwaites 'Nutty Black', The Plumbers Arms, Belgravia, London 3.3%
44. Hogs Back Brewery 'Rip Snorter', The Plumbers Arms, Belgravia, London 5.0%
45. Fullers 'Brit Hop', The Old Pack Horse, Chiswick 4.1%
46. George Gale 'Seafarer', The Old Pack Horse, Chiswick 3.6%
47. Fullers 'London Pride', The Old Pack Horse, Chiswick 4.1%
48. Thwaites 'Daniel's Hammer', The Eight Bells, Dover 5.0%
49. Sharp's 'Doom Bar', The Bell, Aldgate, London 4.0%
50. Timothy Taylor 'Landlord', The Bell, Aldgate, London 4.3%
51. Fullers 'Chiswick Bitter', Red Lion, Westminster, London 3.5%
52. Samuel Smith's 'Old Brewery Bitter', The Angel, Covent Garden, London 4.0%
53. Samuel Smith's 'Old Brewery Bitter', Chandos, Trafalgar Square, London 4.0%
54. Nicholson's 'Limehouse Cut', The Cambridge, Cambridge Circus, London 4.5%
55. Portobello 'VPA', The Cambridge, Cambridge Circus, London 4.0%
56. Fyne Ales 'Avalanche', The Crown, London 4.5%
57. Shepherd Neame 'Spitfire', The Barley Mow, Westminster, London 4.5%
58. Harvey's 'Sussex Best Bitter', The Barley Mow, Westminster, London 4.0%
59. 'Jester Jack', Zetland Arms, South Kensington 4.0%
60. Butcombe's 'Bitter', King William IV, Totnes 4.0%
61. Dartmoor Brewery 'Jail Ale'', King William IV, Totnes 4.8%
62. Hunter's 'Half Bore', Queen's Arms, Brixham 4.0%
63. St Austell 'Dartmoor Best', Queen's Arms, Brixham 3.5%
64. Marston's 'Single Hop - Pacific Gem', The Vigilance, Brixham 4.0%
65. Banks's 'Cereal Thriller', The Vigilance, Brixham 4.0%
66. Nethergate 'Bowler', The Vigilance, Brixham 5.0%
67. St Austell 'Trelawny', Blue Anchor, Brixham 3.8%
68. DBC 'Jurassic', Blue Anchor, Brixham, 4.2%
69. Bridgetown Brewery 'Whaler Ale', The Dolphin Inn, Dartmouth 4.3%
70. Otter Brewery 'FBI Bitter', Ferry Boat Inn, Dittisham, 3.6%
71. Sharp's 'Doom Bar', Ferry Boat Inn, Dittisham, 4.0%
72. Otter Brewery 'Amber', The Steam Packet, Dartmouth, 4.0%
73. Wadworth 'Henry's Original IPA', The Steam Packet, Dartmouth, 3.6%
74. Rudgate 'Pursuit of Hoppyness', The Vigilance, Brixham 4.0%
75. Orkney '1878 Strong Ale', The Vigilance, Brixham 5.5%
76. Vasileostrovsky 'Siberian Red', The Vigilance, Brixham 6.0%
77. Celt Experience 'Continental Drift', The Vigilance, Brixham 5.9%
78. Hunter's 'Pheasant Plucker', Maratime Inn, Brixham 4.3%
79. Palmers 'Copper Ale', The Poole Yacht Club, Poole 3.7%

Cheers!

www.davidrobinsononline.com

Queens Head

I'd been trying to make contact with The Queens Head in Belper for months, hoping to get a gig there while I was in town. I particularly wanted to play at the Queens Head because Andy White seems to appear there whenever he tours England, and because it's close to "home".
I'd received no responses to emails and the website contact form, and the pub was shut when I visited, so I'd pretty much given up any hope of playing. Just before I went to sleep on Wednesday night, I made one more effort, using a Facebook link I'd discovered, to contact the Queens Head about playing there...
It worked. There was a reply waiting when I awoke. All hail Zuckerberg.
We arrived at the pub after walking up from the marketplace, cold and uncertain. I had a pint. Lynn had a half. After asking around, we made our way upstairs to the venue. I introduced myself, and got sorted out. Everyone I spoke to was warm and friendly. What a great spot. Because of the last-minute nature of things, I had to borrow a guitar from a fellow performer. I'd had to do exactly the same in 2010 when I played in Derby. This time though, I didn't have plectrums, harmonica, capo, tuner etc. I, who have nothing. I had to borrow a pick.
With a sense of joy outweighing any anticipation, I took the stage around 9.45. I was wondering how I'd go down with the crowd. Everyone seemed to be up for a good time, so I rattled out a few of my favourites. The banter was good; I trotted out some of my travellers' tales between songs. It was great fun and the time flew. I finished with Say Goodbye and then said goodbye.
Audience reaction was positive, and feedback was good.
Now I can add The Queens Head, Chesterfield Road, Belper to the list of venues played.

www.davidrobinsononline.com

Long Eaton

As part of my slightly absurd search for my roots, we went out to Long Eaton to have a look at the first house I ever lived in. It is still standing, and it sits on the Nottingham Road on the outskirts of Long Eaton itself, just over the railway bridge.
It was another cool morning, I was pretty happy that we managed to navigate the buses and find the house without any dramas or wrong turns. It was a nice moment, standing out front. I resisted the temptation to knock on the door.
Long Eaton itself looks to be a pleasant sort of place; it  is on the border of the Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire counties and, despite its Notts post code, it is most definitely part of Derbyshire.

www.davidrobinsononline.com