Next stop: Down under

First of all: I write this in English despite this is not the best of my languages, so you’re totally allowed to smile reading this blog. But as I’m lucky to have friends all over the world I chose English to make it accessible to everybody.

Today is day number 5 in Australia. I departed last Friday from Malaga – Spain to London.

I had a beautiful day there with my friend Tarne, after a long sleep we went for a brunch and chatted all day long about all the crazy stuff that had happened since end of November. That date was a turning point in my life, when everything what seemed to be normal suddenly crashed and I found myself in Thailand, obligated to make decisions about my future. Finally I took that decision:

I will leave Spain, moving back to Germany, starting over again. So after packing, organizing everything and saying goodbye I took that first flight to London and last Saturday the big bird to Brisbane. Luggage: a 14kg backpack, my bike bag and a small backpack as hand luggage.

I was scared when I was about to enter the first plane, because I had no idea where I was about to go and what would happen there. During takeoff I cried, it was relieving, everything done, just adventure.

When I arrived on Monday morning I took the Sunair shuttle bus to Noosa, Sunshine Beach to visit 2 lovely friends who give me bed and home for my first time here in Australia, Amanda and Luke. The first day was rainy, a bit weird due to the long travel, but nice.

Tuesday: bike setting and turbo session, in the afternoon we head over to the Noosa aquatic centre for a swim, 2,4k in the 50m pool.

Wednesday at 5am out of bed, breakfast and on the bike with Amanda, riding trough the 100 roundabouts of Noosa, thinking: I will never get to know these, to a hill, where these guys do strength sets. There’s no car on that 3km Garmin marked road. So: 5 sets with big gear and low cadence. New for me and feeling good. After that at 9:30 am squad session at the pool.

Thursday: getting up at 5 again, grab a quick breakfast and the bike, meeting point: Noosa bike shop for a group ride. We go out quite easy about 1h, when we’re turning Amanda tells me how to get back, and some minutes later I know why: I so can’t go the pace; legs are burning, but no chance to keep up with the group. I will get fit here! We get home, have a quick shower and jump in the car to get to a nice little coffee shop called Costa Noosa.

In the afternoon I go for another swim, it’s interesting to have so much time, I’m not used to that. There is nothing else to do for me than train, rest, think and really enjoy that after 2,5 month of too much thinking and too many things to do. During the swim there's some seconds to enjoy the views

Friday: same bike ride as Wednesday, sore legs and swim squad after, tired arms.

We have lunch at a small place somewhere in Noosa and go straight to the beach: white sand and beautiful surroundings, a small group of youngsters learning to surf. The light breeze is very welcome to refresh a bit that hot day, I also welcome some cloud covering the sun for some minutes during our stay. The only detail disturbing this ambience is my fear to get burned by the Australian sun.

We don’t stay long, grab an ice cream and visit the Noosa National Park for koala hunting, and there it is: the little bear sleeping on a tree. Hanging around. Just like me these days when I’m not training. Hope to see more of them soon. The roos don’t want to show up today, would be too much to ask maybe, I’m sure I will see them, they are my personal favorite.

Later this evening another positive: I go for a short run to try if my injured rip is better, and it is! So welcome back to 3 disciplines. Although my legs were feeling heavy I enjoyed that run after almost one week off. Once a car crashed into mine the week before and a run in chilly London my rip went from bad to worse and made it impossible to run. But I’m back!