Ok. So here's a *cough* short (hopefully) run through about the Bike Camp I experienced. The first thing: The food. The food there was awesome. It was a whole new diet for me and you know, I could live on that diet! We mostly had Pita Pockets for that five days and we had things like canned mixed beans, canned peas, canned lentils, fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and ETC. Yes. That was what we had almost everyday. Of course there was normal bread if you wanted. For breakfast we had cereals and toast. Dinner was usually special. Sometimes it was the same Pita Pockets with additional stuff, like barbecued chicken or beef or sausages and stuff like that. On the rest day it was good. Everyone had a choice of either: 1. Fish (grilled or fried), chips or potato cakes (?), a steamed or fried dim sum (?!) OR 2. Pizza of your own topping. So that was good. Sometimes there was dessert like just ice cream, or pancakes (yum!) with ice cream and maple syrup and stuff. Apparently the people here eat their pancakes with squeezed lemon juice and sugar. Have yet to try that. Haha.
So anyway, we started out at Wangaratta. It was in the country side and apparently we weren't in Melbourne. We were north from Melbourne and would have reached Sydney if we didn't get off the train at Wangaratta. Well, technically we got off the train at Seymour because they were doing some track work, and we took the bus from there to Wangaratta. So from there, we cycled to Eldorado (26km) and camped there (Yes! With tents and all that!). That first day was really, really hot. You could feel the water just evaporating from your skin (haha). But yea, it was the only day I had to refill my water bottle. Then the next day we cycled to Beechworth (20km) but, the first part of the ride was on a seriously bumpy, unsealed road and the second part was up a huge hill which was about 6km, the last 3km ALL uphill. Crazy, huh? I didn't get to experience that because me and Sum Sum were cycling together. We didn't cycle for very long and the road was really bumpy and we were going downhill when Sum Sum fell. You know, *whispers* I think (or probably know) that this was probably my fault. I was in front of Sum Sum and going downhill, I didn't put on any brakes because I love the feeling of speeding downhill. I was looking at the road before to watch out of any bumps or rocks, which I always do. So I guess Sum Sum thought it was all good and she followed me going fast down that bumpy road. She fell, and it was quite a bad fall. Thankfully she didn't break anything (though the basket on her borrowed bike (courtesy of Ms Green and husband Mr Lee =D!) got a huge dent in it). Grazes covered her from her right shoulder to her leg (well.. almost) and she had quite a deep cut (in between scratch and gash) on her arm below her elbow. If it wasn't for that, we would have not gone to the hospital. But we did, because the teachers were worried it might need stitches. I went with her to the hospital and thankfully it didn't need any! So yea, that's why I didn't need to go up that huge hill (thank goodness?).
From that day on, me and Sum Sum didn't need to camp out because she had this HUGE bruise on her right thigh. It was awesome slash disgusting! Seriously. It was really swollen too. Her arm where the cut was was also quite swollen. Anyway. So the teachers all insisted she sleep in the cabin and I don't know.. I guess it was sort of unspoken that I would stick with her and so, I got to sleep in the cabin too. You know, *whispers!* I feel so bad because I felt like a total leech. I was just totally reaping the benefits of being her friend. But oh well. We were each other's (only? Nah.. not that bad) company. Which is sad. Sigh.
Anyway. So after that, because of Sum Sum's thigh, the doctor said not to cycle until it felt much better if not the bruise (internal bleeding) would get worse. So, moving on! From Beechworth, we cycled through Yackandandah to Myrtleford (63km!!!). We visited the bakeries at Beechworth and Yackandandah. Overrated, in my opinion, but not bad I guess. This ride was seriously tiring!! There were so many hills!!!! BUT, I DID IT! I survived and I'm so surprised too. Haha. I did it as in I didn't stop once (except for the drink stops) and didn't get off my bike to push it uphill once! I'm so proud in myself because never before have I done riding like that, and while I was puffing up a hill, thoughts about giving up kept floating to the front of my mind, but I didn't succumb to it, and I also did the whole ride at a nice, constant pace (a slow one)! Wow! Seriously surprised I could do it and totally patting myself on my back! =D Although I was really slow, slower than almost everyone (but NOT everyone), regardless of what other people say about my speed, I'm still very amazed that I pulled through. Haha. I arrived at the campsite at about.. 4pm? We started out at about 10am. So do the math yourself.
At Myrtleford, me and Sum Sum slept in a bunkhouse. It was just this empty 'house' with rooms of bunk beds. It was cool. (sigh.. reaping benefits!!!). The next day was the rest day. It was pretty boring because of the *cough* *whispers* friend factor. But it was good. Mainly because I'm the type of girl who doesn't mind just sitting at the back and watching everything go by.. observing. So yea. I was really tired from the ride the day before anyway.
The last day, we rode back to Wangaratta (52km). This ride was absolutely FLAT with only about two hills. I realized I preferred a ride with hills, because when there is an uphill, there usually is a downhill. And downhills are the only time when you can sort of rest your legs for a while, whereas if it's flat throughout, you just keep pedaling and it never stops. I think everyone was pretty nervous about this ride because we had a deadline to meet: we had to catch the bus to Seymour. We usually start riding at about 9.30am or 10am, but this time, we had to leave at about 8am. For the 'slow' group, we had to leave by 7.45am. So yea, I was really nervous I would be too slow or something. The teacher said 'ride with determination, not sight seeing'. At the start of the ride, it was really hard for me because it was so COLD. A few others including myself rode with out jackets on. It was so hard for me to warm up. My fingers were numb, my eyes were hurting because of the cold wind going against them. It was horrible. But after I got warmed up, I really started to 'ride with determination'. It was the first time I kept pushing myself to keep up that 'fast' pace. I'm so proud of myself about that ride too. It was the first time I arrived at a stop earlier than some people I never used to go ahead of before. Seriously. It was really tough though. It was also the first time where my thighs and butt were REALLY sore. We stopped at this place where we all of us were entitled to a free ice cream (paid after by teachers) at this shop (not soft ice cream, Magnum and stuff like that). I had a Magnum Sandwich. IT WAS AWESOME. I loved it. But yea, when we arrived there and I got off my bike, wow my legs felt numb like it couldn't hold my weight anymore. After that, we had about 16km to go and I willed myself to go with that 'fast' pace like before, but I guess my muscles were all used up. I went at a 'faster than my slow' pace, but it wasn't as fast as before. It was fun, pushing myself. =D So of course, everyone arrived in time for lunch, then we waited for the bus. So yea, that was the last day of the Bike Camp. Seriously tiring, but cool to see where your limits actually are, and seeing if you can push it further! =D
I think that was the best part of the bike camp. Never thought I would be able to cycle distances like that and get through hills with nothing but willpower. Oh and the view at the countryside was absolutely beautiful. You know how in Asia, the countrysides are usually filled with paddy fields and stuff like that? Here the countryside was just so hilly and plain. It was so empty and beautiful. Combine that hay-coloured hills with the blue, blue sky, it really was breathtaking. =D I'm going to miss that.
So yes, that is my 'brief' (sorry!!) account of the Bike Camp. Will I go next year? Undecided.
Anyway. I really miss the healthy food we ate at the camp, because since I came back, I've been eating so much. The Smiths Potato Chips, cookies Kat baked, cereal, bread, rice, snacks, snacks, snacks! Gah. Oh well. Self control!!!!! (not happening).
And as for the title of my post, I'm so PROUD of it!!!! It's not mine though, I just HOPE that I'll be able to work hard enough to get something close to that, that I'll be able to seriously put my head down to get something better than that. *cross fingers and slaps self hopefully into shape and takes deep breaths*
Hope.
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