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Canada, Cuba and Covid 19Canada, Cuba and Covid 19
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Canada, Cuba and Covid 19

March - December 2020
In March 2020 a group of 16 riders from the Australian Ghostriders cycling group travelled to Cuba to complete an extended cycling adventure around the island. This journal documents Cuba and the COVID aftermath that cut our trip short. Read more
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  • The World on Two WheelsCanada, Cuba and Covid 19
    Day 26

    Day 8 of Quarantine

    March 27, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    I think my body clock is changing. Anybody who knows me would already be aware that I am something of an early riser, but the situation is getting more extreme. Since I am not watching TV, I find myself with nothing worthwhile to do after about 8.30 pm. That means I go to bed and listen to my Internet radio instead.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra is my station of choice as they have an interesting mix of radio dramas and comedy. When you are really lucky you can even catch an episode of my favourite TV comedy - Dad's Army.

    After an hour or so of radio, I drift off to sleep, sometimes waking in the middle of the night to discover the radio still on. At the other end of the evening, I have been waking up around 5 am. Although I have tried to go back to sleep, once my mind is alert, there is little use looking for more refuge in the Land of Nod. I listen to a little more radio and then get up and start the day.

    After all the financial disasters of the past couple of weeks, today I had my first little win. For the past couple of days I had battling to cancel a booking for 5 nights in a hotel in Vancouver. I made the booking through Booking.com some months ago and paid the full amount of $AUD 651 in advance.

    Although the original booking had been non refundable, I had rung the hotel a couple of times and explained my situation. It was not so simple working with Booking.com, however I think I have now been successful in getting the booking reversed. Even better is the fact that the AUD has collapsed so badly when compared to the CAD that I now stand to get a refund of over $700 AUD. I could pretend that it was a wise investment, but I will not celebrate until the money is actually back in my bank account.

    I am still battling with webjet and Air Canada to get some sort of refund for the return flight that I was not able to use. The problem is that no one in the travel industry is currently answering their phones.

    Since the weather was beautiful and since I am not able to walk or ride my bike, I took the opportunity to catch up on some painting that I had been postponing for months. Small achievements, but still worhwhile.    Read more

  • The World on Two WheelsCanada, Cuba and Covid 19
    Day 27

    Day 9 of Quarantine

    March 28, 2020 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    What a glorious Autumn day. It would have been ideal for a group bike ride or even for just a nice walk in the sunshine. Unfortunately I am still in quarantine, so neither of those is an option for me.

    I awoke early, as has become my new daily routine. After a solitary breakfast I went back to finish the painting I had started yesterday. At least my time in quarantine won't have been a total waste of time.

    I am not sure how many phone calls I received or how long I spent on the phone, but it must have been at least two hours. This has become my new normal, but at least it allows me to maintain contact with the friends that are so important to me.

    Later in the day I tried watching a movie on the computer, however it failed to grab my attention, so I abandoned it about 60% of the way through. The news is almost entirely bad, so I have stopped watching it altogether.

    Six days to go till I can leave the property !    Read more

  • The World on Two WheelsCanada, Cuba and Covid 19
    Day 28

    Day 10 of Quarantine

    March 29, 2020 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 20 °C

    It seems that summer is not quite finished with us yet. The past three days have certainly felt more like summer than autumn. Each day has been warm and sunny with a top temperature in the high twenties.

    I must admit that this is making it very difficult for me not to step out past the end of my driveway. It would be so nice to be able to go for a walk around my familiar neighbourhood. It would have been even better if I could have stopped for a coffee along the way. They were previously such simple pleasures, but seem so far away from me at the moment.

    This morning I received the latest update on the government restrictions on meeting together. They have now made it illegal to organise a bike ride where two or more people are involved. That's right - two or more. That means we can no longer even go riding with a friend. The only exeption is where they both reside at the same address. That will be a bitter pill for many, but I can see that such measures are required if we are going to avoid even worse pain down the track.

    The run of hot weather came to a dramatic end with a thunderstorm, accompanied by much thunder and heavy rain. The temperature has fallen considerably, promising cooler weather ahead.

    And how did I pass my time ? As usual I spent a lot of time on the phone and answering emails. I also set up the high pressure washer and finally washed away the last remnants of the red dusty rain that fell on Melbourne a couple of months ago. It gave me some feeling of achievement.

    I also managed to lodge an order with Woolworths on line. It is supposed to be delivered tomorrow morning, so I will be interested to see if it turns up as promised. As for now ? I think another early night might be the best way to finish the day. Television just has no attraction at all for me at the moment.    Read more

  • The World on Two WheelsCanada, Cuba and Covid 19
    Day 29

    Day 11 of Quarantine

    March 30, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Many years ago I remember that there was a novelty that was intended as a gift for wives to give to their husbands. It took the form of a flat disc with a hole in the middle. Boldly printed on each side was the word "TUIT".

    In case you are feeling a little confused, a bit more explanation might be in order. The idea was that when wives ask their husbands when they will be attending to certain items of home maintenance and the like, their answer is invariably they will do it "when they get around to it". So there you have it. If you give them a "round tuit" they will have no excuse for delaying the job any longer.

    With so many people now confined to home for an indefinite period of time, maybe now would be the perfect time to hand out the "round tuits". While many businesses (cafes, coffee shops, travel companies, retail, etc) are suffering badly, shops like Bunnings and Mitre 10 are doing a roaring trade. The supermarkets are struggling to employ extra staff to meet the demand. On a darker side, apparently the gun shops in the USA are also seeing record sales of firearms and weapons. Sad but true.

    This morning I had a small degree of excitement when there was a knock on my door from the Woolworths on line delivery man. Because I am currently in home detention, I am apparently a "priority" customer. That means I belong to one of the privileged groups of people who can have the groceries home delivered (for a fee of course).

    I have to admit that it was kind of like Christmas when I got the packages, especially since I had largely forgotten what I had ordered. I never received any of those Crisco Christmas hampers, but now I can understand a little of what it must be like.

    With the spirit of the "round tuit" in mind, this morning I attended to a vital chore that I had been joking about for days. I finally reorganised my sock drawer ! Out went all the ones with dodgy heels, the inevitable few odd ones that had no partners and a few that were not worth keeping. All the rest were paired up and packed away. Job done. Nobody can say that the day was wasted.

    I also took some time to catch up on the latest round of restrictions. It is hard to believe that we can no longer even ride with a friend. All rides must now be solo or with others who live at the same address. This is another sad reminder of how much everything has changed in such a short time.

    Tonight I will be enjoying the first piece of steak that I have had since leaving Australia at the start of the month. I can't wait.    Read more

  • The World on Two WheelsCanada, Cuba and Covid 19
    Day 30

    Day 12 of Quarantine

    March 31, 2020 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 15 °C

    It would not be so bad if it had been pouring rain all day. Then I would have had a great reason for staying indoors. My problem was the day was just too perfect - just the sort of day that makes autumn my favourite time of the year. It would have been the ideal weather for enjoying a ride or walk, but instead I had to watch the proceedings through my front window. It was a bit like looking through the window of the world's best chocolate shop and not being able to walk in the door.

    The only good thing is that I can feel my period of enforced confinement is drawing closer to an end. By Friday afternoon I will be able to at least enjoy my favourite walk to the local lake and parklands. It will be a glorious feeling of freedom, even if I cannot get within several metres of another human being. I am not sure what the advance weather forecast is for Friday, but it would just be my luck if it was for a day long downpour.

    My day was busy spent writing a weekly email to the Ghostrider group, answering emails and having a delightful video chat with my newest grandson. It was wonderful being able to see him enjoying his dinner, but it is distressing not knowing how long it will be before I can again pick him up in my arms.

    I am also extending my limited culinary skills and beginning to experiment with some meal options that I haven't tried before. The toilet rolls are holding up well as I am still on the same roll that I started when I first got home. At that rate I should be able to last until the end of winter.

    I can feel another early night is instore for me. After all, it's almost 9 pm.    Read more

  • The World on Two WheelsCanada, Cuba and Covid 19
    Day 31

    Day 13 of Quarantine

    April 1, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Sometimes the weather can be really cruel. Today was another of those idyllic autumn days that makes everyone glad to be alive. As I looked out my window into the park opposite, I could not help but think how glorious it would be to go for a walk or get on my bike. As it was, the furthest I was allowed to venture was to my front nature strip to bring my rubbish in.

    According to the calendar I now have only two more days of self isolation to get through. Then I will be able to cast off the home shackles and set out to rediscover my neighbourhood. The only problem with this plan is that the Weather Bureau is now telling us that the spell of marvellous weather will come to a crashing halt. When will this happen ? You guessed it - Friday !

    I have previously said that the next few weeks would be a great opportunity to master a new skill. I have already chosen one skill that I would like to learn and have already started on the learning trajectory. And what is that skill, you might ask ? For the moment I will keep that to myself. I want to see if I make any progress before I tell the world about it. I promise to let you know by the end of the month (but only if it works out).

    So how did I pass another day in solitary confinement ? Like many of the previous days, I have found myself spending an increasing amount of time on the phone or in video chats. A few weeks ago I had never used any of those video apps, but I think we are all learning quickly. It will be increasingly important as we head into winter.

    The warm sunshine was also the catalyst I needed to get out into the yard and prune all the hedges around my house. Sometimes I could almost swear that I can hear them growing. I trimmed the hedges about noon and I wouldn't be surprised if they have already grown several cm since then.

    According to the thermometer, I am still free of fever. Does that mean that I can relax ? Not quite, but each day that passes by, I do feel more confident that I didn't bring anything nasty back with me on the plane.

    Tomorrow will be my final full day in lockdown, so maybe I should do something special tomorrow night to celebrate. I will feel a bit like a prisoner who has come up for parole at the end of their sentence. If I had some fireworks I might also be tempted to let off a sky rocket or two.    Read more

  • The World on Two WheelsCanada, Cuba and Covid 19
    Day 32

    Day 14 of Quarantine - almost over

    April 2, 2020 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    At around 9.30 am on Friday 20th March I touched down at Melbourne airport after an exhausting 3 day journey from Havana, Cuba. At the time I was just relieved to be back home. Throughout the journey I had seen the international situation change almost hourly. Borders were closing so rapidly that I was fearful that I could have been left stranded somewhere along the way, with no immediate prospect of getting home.

    Of course I knew that I would be arriving back home and going straight into a 14 day self isolation period. That seemed like a very reasonable precaution to take if it meant ensuring the safety of my family and the general population. Today marked my last full day in isolation. This means that tomorrow morning I will be legally permitted to leave my property. It is a day that I have been eagerly counting down to.

    It seems a little ironic that the past week has consisted of a succession of glorious autumen day. The forecast for the next few days is not encouraging. Apparently the skies are about to open and the temperature will plummet. In spite of this, I am so looking forward to being able to go for a walk, that I plan to do so, regardless of the weather.

    It is worth noting that I have started to receive emails from others in the Ghostrider cycling group telling me how they have been passing their time. I plan to include these accounts in the weekly newsletter as I think it will be benefical to those who do the writing and also for those who do the reading. Perhaps the newsletter will be one way of keeping us connected during this stressful time. Perhaps we should make a temporary change of name from Ghostriders to Ghostwriters ?

    My temperature is still perfectly normal, so medically I feel fine. I am however suffering from a severe case of bike withdrawal. The only effective treatment for such an illness is to get on the bike and start pedalling.    Read more

  • The World on Two WheelsCanada, Cuba and Covid 19
    Day 33

    Free at Last, Free at Last

    April 3, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Way back in August 1963, Martin Luther King gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. The immortal closing words of that speech were "Free at Last, Free at Last, Thank God Almighty we are Free at Last". Almost 57 years later I was tempted to utter the same words as I stepped onto the footpath outside my home for the first time since arriving home from Cuba.

    That might have been just slightly over dramatic, but I have to admit that it was a moment that I had been counting down to for the past two weeks. Although it is not a terrible fate to be confined to the house for a relatively short period, it still gave me something of an insight into how much we can take for granted.

    I was also relieved that the rain had temporarily stopped and the sun had reappeared, just in time for my walk around the neighbourhood. My favourite local walk is down to the large lake and then do a few laps of the lake itself.

    When I arrived at the lake it was soon evident that quite a few others had decided to exercise at the same time. I joined dozens of walkers, dog walkers and joggers as we made our way around the perimeter walking path. I had not walked far before having something of an epiphany.

    The biggest potential risk in exercising in a busy location is from other walkers and joggers coming from the opposite direction, This could so easily be minimised if everyone moved in the same direction. All it would take would be a few strategically placed signs to initiate the one way rule. It would not even cost much money to implement.

    I decided to share my idea with the staff at Cardinia Shire Council. I might as well have discussed it with one of the ducks in the lake. The receptionist did not seem to know who to put me through to, and then decided that it would be better if I "contacted the police" ! I am not kidding, she wanted me to ring the police. I could have said that it is the council that I pay $3000 a year in rates to, not the police force, but I could see that I was getting nowhere. At least I tried.

    After lunch the sun was still shining, so it was a perfect excuse to put on my cycling gear and head out on the bike. I cannot describe how good it felt to be back out on two wheels again. It would have been even better if I could have stopped somewhere for a coffee, but you can't have everything.

    I decided to head to the Pakenham Wall and ride to the highest point of the city. At the summit I enjoyed the 360 degree views and tried to ignore the broken glass which some air head had spread liberally all over the bike path. I should have shouted "Free at Last", but there was a lady and child in the nearby picnic shelter who might have thought that I was a recently escaped convict. At least I mouthed the words to myself.

    Over the next couple of days the rest of the returned Cuba riders will also be reaching the end of their captivities and will probably be experiencing the same feelings.    Read more

  • The World on Two WheelsCanada, Cuba and Covid 19
    Day 34

    The Rains Came

    April 4, 2020 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 11 °C

    It was great while it lasted. We all love those beautiful lingering warm and sunny days that are inclined to tease us that winter is not really on its way. These sequences of late warm days used to be called "Indian Summers". I don't know if that term is used any more, but whatever we wish to call it, our run of glorious weather came to a sudden halt late yesterday.

    Sometime after nightfall the wind picked up, the temperature dropped and the rain started. I went to bed relatively early, with the lovely sound of heavy rain on my iron roof. I awoke a couple of times during the night and each time the rain was still falling steadily. It was still falling when I awoke at 6.30 am this morning.

    Today was my second day of comparative freedom, however there was no way I was going to be able to enjoy a bike ride in this weather. I decided to go on a short drive around my neighbourhood instead. The car had only been driven once in the past five weeks and I was getting worried about the state of the battery.

    As I headed off down the hill, the first thing I noticed was how wet everything was. It was obvious that a LOT of rain had fallen during the night. Our lake had risen markedly and a lot of surface water was lying around the lower areas.

    There has been a major level crossing removal project taking place on Cardinia Rd and it was interesting to see how much progress had been made in the past month. Three large concrete bridge supports have now grown where there was previously just level ground. Work had also started on a new high school building in Henry Rd. I was surprised to see so many tradies in their high vis gear working on a Saturday.

    After driving around for some time, I found a nice place to park and resumed work on a crossword that I had been battling with. I figured that, as long as I did not leave the car, I was not in danger of inadvertently breathing in a virus particle.

    Tonight marks the end of daylight saving for this season. I usually get a little excited at the prospect of an extra hour's sleep, however it all seems a little meaningless in the current lockdown. Time has lost its relevance in most respects.

    I could also mention one other event that took place this morning. At 9.00 am I had a ring on the doorbell that signified my second delivery from Woolworths on line. I never thought that I would get excited over a delivery of groceries, but somehow it felt like Christmas, especially when I had forgotten exactly what I ordered. With apologies to Forrest Gump, I think that a bunch of Woolworths delivery bags is just like a box of chocolates - you never know what you are going to find inside. And guess what ? I even found a chocolate bar in one of the bags !    Read more

  • The World on Two WheelsCanada, Cuba and Covid 19
    Day 35

    The Icy Blast

    April 5, 2020 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 12 °C

    I should have known that the temperature had plummeted. No matter how much I pulled and fought with the doona, I just could not get warm during the night. I even tried cuddling the spare pillow, but it was just no use. I was freezing. Although the Weather Bureau had been predicting that an Antarctic blast was coming our way, I did not expect that it was going to make its way right into my bedroom.

    After a long and cold night, I awoke to the sound of wind blowing against my windows. It was not any ordinary wind, it was actually blowing like a thousand demented banshees. For a few minutes I could have believed that I had somehow woken up in the middle of Antarctica. And then the weather took a turn for the worse.

    By 10 am the wind has risen to hurricane force, the rain was sheeting in horizontally and icicles were starting to form on my ceiling. Yep, it certainly felt like winter. I was sorely tempted to just head back to bed, except I knew how cold and lonely that place had been.

    So on went the trakky pants, fleecy jumper and thick socks. I would not have scored well in the fashion stakes, but I did finally start to thaw out. I would like to say that I spent the rest of the day engaged in home improvements and fastidious cleaning, but that would be stretching the truth just a bit.

    I did tidy the kitchen, catch up with the laundry and cook a nice pasta dish for dinner. The rest of the day is a little hazy, but I know that quite a deal of it was spent on the phone and on emails. I also watched a movie on Netflix. It might be just as well that my time alone is drawing to a close. Within a couple of days I will moving to rejoin Maggie and the dog down at Inverloch. With three of us in the bed, at least I won't be as cold down there.    Read more

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