Officially day 2 of holidays from work ..... After the weekend and a day of errands yesterday with just two kids in tow (W and T were at a two day cricket camp), Damien and I decided to have a 'day date' together. So we organised for our new nanny, Heather (or Feather as Sammy calls her) to look after the littlies while the biggies were at cricket, and D and I had six hours to ourselves!
We wore our running gear, and packed a change of clothes plus the bikes into the back of the black car, and headed straight to 'The Tan'. It is such a great run - it is about 3.7km round with a steep hill once side and a long downhill onto a straight along the river. It runs around the Botanic Gardens so it is fresh, green, lush and so picturesque. Lots of runners, walkers, pram pushers.
We did the Tan twice - the second time was a lot easier for me, I find the first 2 km of any run hell and then I settle into a rhythm. So I ran about 7.5 km, and Damien ran backwards and forwards from me and he ran 9.5km! It was definitely tough at times for me but really not tough, but enjoyable 80% of the time.
Back in the car, we dialed the air con right up to tame our red faces (mine was a real beetroot) before having breakfast at The Botanical on Domain Rd. Damien had the best choice - crab omelette, but my poached egg wrapped in smoke salmon on top a leaf wrapped potato rosti was pretty special too. Due to my ongoing, lingering, annoying-as-hell cold (I am just a leetle rundown), my coffee made me very dizzy and light headed. But I did enjoy my Virgin Mary, shared with Damien who had never tasted one.
After that we drove back down to the Yarra and pulled the bikes out. We rode into town and then back along the river to Bridge Rd along the Main Yarra Trail (Capital City Trail). I think maybe 20km in total? Damien loved it and couldn't believe that you could keep riding out to Westerfolds Park in the far east - maybe 100 km?
It was peaceful, scenic and so nice just to meander together. It was sunny and rainy along the way, typical four-seasons-in-one-day Melbourne!
After that we drove into town and jagged a park. We ducked into Snap Fitness (D's 24 hour gym) for a shower and then headed down to Hardware Lane for lunch. Melbourne's lanes are famous and they surely do not disappoint. Hardware Lane has a huge selection of eateries - we chose one which had steak and seafood specialities. It was so so so nice to share a wine together and watch the crowd go by.
Of course after that, the day did go a little downhill. Mad dash to get car before carpark expired, mad dash to my office to grab computer charger left behind, mad dash (at zero speed) to exit the city when raining, mad dash for my M&D to pick up big boys from cricket (as we were not going to make it in time) ..... So no permanent escape from the madness but an escape nonetheless.
