The 7.30am start gave us a chilly welcome with 7º Celsius, so that we were yearning to warm up with the work out and the rising sun. It seamed to take ages until we were released to start to the 60km.



The glorious blue sky over Perth proved the weather forecast wrong, not one cloud in sight to deliver the predicted rain. So we considered ourselves lucky adventurers.

It is great fun being part of a team and sharing each other's ups and downs on this journey. The friend at my side had to face her first challenge - her fancy 21 gear city bike only allowed her to work gear 4 and 3, despite having proven the day before to be able to play the whole range! "So what" she said made a joke about it and gave her best in pedalling and pedalling and pedalling steadily her way along.

Oh my goodness I thought she may have to give up at latest half way up at the city centre. What a disappointment after investing so many hours into preparation!

I felt a bit guilty at times when enjoying the views and the excitement to ride nearly effortlessly on my flashy well functioning race bike. But my friend cheered us up with her so truly Australian sense of humour and continued pedalling and pedalling km 20 - km 30 - km 40 going on and on and on- I truly admired her determination and cheerful spirit and even more her acceptance of this adverse circumstances.

When I needed a "box stop" she went on saying: "I would rather not stop I don't want to risk letting my legs or bum stopping me from arriving at the finishing line", on she went pedalling and pedalling!

I could not find her again after my break on the way along to km 60, but in my thoughts I was still stuck to this experience. My mind took me on another journey and in a flash this very situation became to me like a teaching parable.

Had I not been like this struggling though my life? How many times had I felt like a mouse in the spinning wheel because I was not able to access my full potential!

Like my friend hindered in her ability by her dysfunctional bike, I had been limited and stuck by emotional scars, limiting beliefs and negative self-talk. This had made my life a battle and hard work or even hindered me at times in achieving what I wished!

All of a sudden I became very still and soooooo grateful in my heart - strong feelings of happiness flooded through my heart when I realised how easy and enjoyable my life was since I went on this amazing self-development journey!