Trek 100

Several cities claim to experience four seasons in one day, but I think this is most true in Melbourne. The weather here changes very rapidly from blue skies to hard rain and strong winds. Similar to Portland, the rain leaves the earth green and lush.

When we left Portland at the end of July, Tom and I packed the essentials in suitcases while the rest of our belongings and a few pieces of furniture were boxed up and shipped across the Pacific Ocean. I was warned that our container would not arrive quickly, but I genuinely believed that it would be here by the 45-day mark when we left our temporary furnished apartment in Docklands.

 

 

Fast forward another month and a half of living in an empty apartment in Abbotsford with a few kitchen and furniture items that we borrowed from friends or purchased from Kmart and Ikea. I quickly learned that online ordering is slow and expensive. Let's just say I would have done things differently had I known what I do now! Nevertheless, it was a happy day when our container arrived.

The first few weeks of work at the bike shop were challenging due to the steep learning curve, but I am feeling more at ease now. The Trek 100 is a group ride hosted by Trek stores around the world to build community and fundraise for breast cancer research. It's meant to be 100 km (62 miles), but the Melbourne stores led a handful of rides of varying distance, pace, and terrain. I joined the 65 km ride along the bay to Modialloc, where I enjoyed the sea air and learned how to cycle safely in a group. 

For Tom's 33rd birthday, I made a reservation at Smith and Daughters in Collingwood. The Chef's Table is an intimate dining and drinking experience with head chef, Josh. It was exciting to sit in front of the kitchen and watch the team move efficiently through the space. Josh served an innovative eight-course vegan dinner sourced from local farms. He encouraged us to take advantage of farmers markets, especially through spring and early summer. It was a fantastic evening, and further confirmation that Melbourne's dining experience is next level.