Day 344
The 'journey' began a long time ago but today I finished making the journal for the actual ride. Tomorrow, as I pack, I will do the first few pages and then it will be ready for Thursday's departure. It has smooth, hot press slightly off-white 180g/m2 papar, opens flat and a double page spread will fit on the scanner. I wasn't able to find any smooth bright white paper - I didn't want to use the w/c Moleskine as it's too long, when open, for the scanner and I wanted a book with fewer pages, just for this trip. I will give it a title later. 10 km cycle into town

Day 343
A morning on and by the harbour. While waiting for the ferry, I sketched the Opera House - I was low down and any boats could only have been ferries drawing in to the wharf, obscuring the Opera House, so the water looks unrealistically empty. We took the ferry to Mosman then walked around Sirius Cove to the Zoo. The Heidelberg group of artists had a campsite in the area during the 30's and did many landscapes there. We saw several of these enormous nests in trees but fortunately, perhaps, no residents thereof.

Day 342
In Sydney for the weekend, we went to the NSW Art Gallery to see the Archibald portrait exhibition. It was poorly reviewed and I think the critics were correct. It was very unexciting with few surprises. The cream of this year's high school art projects were much more interesting. Here I have sketched a sculpture outside the Gallery while waiting for a shower to stop. I forgot to write down any details of it.

Day 341
A message from the forest floor? I went for a cycle ride around south Canberra but it was windy and unpleasant to sit and sketch so I collected some lovely coloured leaves and painted them at home. We're off to Sydney for a couple of days tomorrow, leaving just Tor at home. I leave for Orange next Thursday if the weather looks suitable. 15 km cycle

Day 340
Yesterday, I bought a trip computer for my bike so I will know how far I've travelled throughout the day - otherwise, with frequent stops for sketching and very few road markers along the way, I would have little idea how to pace myself. So today, I did two of my regular rides to confirm their lengths and on the way home from the second, stopped to catch the last of the sun on these trees. I walked my bike over about 3 metres of grass and then, to my horror, noticed the tyres were stuck full of those dreaded organic drawing pins. I thought I might just be able to get home before the air leaked out so I sped away - and have just done this from memory. Seven holes in one tube and 6 in the other - it's back to the bike shop tomorrow for another pair of of spare inner tubes.

Day 339
I cycled into town to get some thermal wear and several half pans of water-colour. I have refilled my travel set but the cadmium yellow won't dry and the Australian dark green dries very crumbly and all the little pieces scatter around the box - a pity as that colour only comes in a tube. Perhaps it needs to be mixed with some gum? I saw this fellow sitting by the lake near the Cirque du Soleil and stopped for a few minutes to sketch him. 12 km cycle

Day 338
I found my water soluble ink brush pen while getting stuff ready for my trip so with possible rain brewing, I walked up to the dark pine wood to try to catch the downhill feel. There was a man with a red hat - having a pee probably! 4 km walk

Day 337
This evening, I cycled to the Art School, arriving 15 minutes early - just time for a quick sketch of the courtyard before the group began. As often happens in classes and workshops, it's a bit different from what I expected. We have the facilities of the sculpture workshop at our disposal and two tutors to teach us new skills. Yesterday, I learned how to braise fencing wire and use an angle grinder. Now there is a two week Easter break during which we are supposed to clarify our ideas. A number of art school students and staff will be contributing to the exhibition but they are not at these evening meetings so it will be a while before I have an idea of what the exhibition will look like.

Day 336
I cycled to Maxine's whose place I last visited, by bike, on the first day of this challenge. On the way back, I sketched these magpies - they are 30-40 cm and have one of the most complex (and beautiful) warbles of any bird. 18 km cycle

Day 335
After I put the Sunday evening roast in the oven, I nipped on my bike towards Manuka and decided that today was the day to try riding up Redhill. There were half a dozen cyclists on the way up or down. I stopped once, but made it up without walking. We are looking down upon 'old' Canberra - it all suburbs, with 1/4 acre gardens or larger - so you can't see the houses for the trees. 8 km cycle

Day 334
Lots of riding today as I need to do some longer training rides and the weather was lovely though just a bit windy. I cycled up Mount Stromlo where I sketched the dome of the burned 74" reflector (you can look through the window and see it all rusting inside). The dome itself has been repaired and repainted and can be seen from many parts of Canberra, as before. Then I cycled round the other side of the lake and back through Manuka, about 50 km. After a rest at home, I cycled a 10km route to Mum's and returned via the same way - 70 km for the day. My legs are fine but I do get a stiffness in my shoulders from the hunched position though I have a touring bike, not a drop handle bars style. Anyway, I think I should manage the daily distances to Orange comfortably enough.

Day 333
I was busy all today, finishing off a set of memory paintings. At four, I cycled over to Mum's and after my time with her, cycled to Manuka to collect an extra ball of wool for my autumn knitting. Then I sketched it at home while Ralph cooked dinner. 11 km cycle

I cycled via a 10km route to Mum's where I found her in an unusually crabby mood. I thought I might as well sketch her while I listened to her rant and we had tea. I haven't got her eyes right - well she kept moving and sometimes they were above her glasses or obscured by them. Then we went shopping and for a walk and she cheered into her more usual self and started sing the Water Lou song (which I've never heard before). Julie and Penny - I have sent you an email about the Art of Moving Exhibition that I wrote about in January. Please let me know if you don't receive it.

Day 331
Two more library blokes. The one on the left kept opening one eye and looking at me but didn't seem to register that I was sketching him. 12 km cycle

Day 330
Better weather today, so I headed up Mt. Stromlo again, sat in a warm sunny spot and sketched a few things on a page. 27 km cycle

Day 329
I'm just back from riding up Mount Stromlo, an area which was all burnt out during the 2003 fires. The observatory, library and other scientific facilities were ruined. The Brindabellas, in the distance, were all ablaze and the fire rushed across the pine plantation valley and up Mount Stromlo before anything could be saved. There were lots of possibilities for sketching but by the time I got there it was starting to rain - almost snow, it felt like- so I found a spot under the closed cafe and did these three views. I should have taken more clothes - I was fine when I was cycling uphill but sitting sketching and, even worse, cycling downhill, I was freezing and could hardly think.

Day 328
A very quick effort today, while I was out strolling with Mum. Tomorrow, I will be doing a long ride with a 3 km hill.

Day 327
I wizzed twice round the lake this morning and just got home before the rain. I added another mini-landscape to my page while Mum had a quick sit down on her walker-seat this afternoon (too soggy for her to lie on the ground today). This view is looking south-east, towards the Tinderry Mountains. 34 km cycle

Day 326
I took it easy today as I had to wait around to be 'squeezed in' at the doctor (to look at my finger which is mildly infected - sigh) and after that it was too hot and horribly humid for exercise. At four, I cycled to Mum's and we went walking in Commonwealth Park on the northern edge of the lake. She had a nap while I did another credit-card view looking across the lake toward the National Library which looks like the Parthenon. 2 km cycle;1 km walk :)

Day 325
Today, I cycled twice round the lake and then on to the cyclists' clothing shop. There wasn't much choice for the 'femmes' but this outfit will do. The shorts feel like wearing nappies but are very comfy when riding, and top and bottom can be washed and dried overnight. 40 km cycle