Dave's ACT: December 2012

Friday, December 21, 2012

SECRET MEN'S BUSINESS

I called this post ‘Secret men’s business' as a reminder to men to have regular health checks. This post also might seem a bit clinical but I think it shows the results of neglect which in some ways I think equates to incompetence.

I was amazed when I discovered they take pictures of your operation (left)

The story simply reads that 10 years ago after some minor bowel symptoms was sent off for a colonoscopy. At that time a couple of small polyps were discovered and removed. All good. I was then warned to have regular colonoscopies… Nip them in the bud so to speak.

(The post’s point) I didn't have regular check ups and the story continues 10 years later… Symptoms again that could easily be ignored but this time the blood results came back as showing elevated cancer markers. Again off for a long delayed colonoscopy but this time with an added endoscopy. Results… one 10mm pedunculated polyp, one 7mm pedunculated polyp, one 40mm villous tumour and a large polypoid tumour removed in 3 pieces… All off for biopsy and all because of missing regular check ups.

I'll find out if my neglect has the potential to kill me early next week. So an example of what can go wrong for middle aged men who think 'it will never happen to me' or who ignore minor symptoms. I urge you to have regular medical checkups. We are not as tough as we think we are.

David.

Friday, December 14, 2012

COTTER DAM UPDATE

On a ride the other day we called into the Cotter and snapped a few pictures. Its the first time I had been there in a while and was impressed with the revamped recreational area. The only shortcomings from my pre fire-storm memories is the absence of a Cotter Pub.

As chance would have it the Canberra Times reports that the new enlarged Cotter Dam will reach its biggest milestone to date when sometime on Saturday evening the last of 365,000 cubic metres of roller-compacted concrete will be placed. This will take the wall nearly (cap remaining) to its maximum 80-metre height.

A zoomed in photo on workers on the dam wall gives a little perspective to the size of the undertaking. One million tonnes of rock were crushed to make the concrete. Completion is scheduled for sometime in the Autumn.

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Thursday, December 13, 2012

A RIDE PAST CORIN DAM

Good weather for a ride, a few available mates and we took advantage of it. One of the pleasant things about a week day ride in Canberra's mountains is the near total absence of traffic. Its a nice run leaving the traffic at Banks via Tharwa to Tidbinbilla Road, up Corin Road, looping back through the Cotter, back through Weston Creek and home.

Corin is of course a part of Canberra's water supply. The dam is the first in a 'chain of ponds' system flowing down through Bendora Dam to Cotter Dam and the pumping station. As John Evans says we'll be drinking it in a couple of weeks...

Dam levels seem to have dropped a little since my last visit when it was full to capacity...

The view down stream...

Looking down the rock wall...

You can see the latest high water mark...

Cotter River...

Ride or drive its a picturesque destination.

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Thursday, December 6, 2012

Motorcycle Riders Assoc. ACT Toy Run

Update: 8/12/12 - It was a perfect summers day...

After an absence I'll probably be posting a bit more soon...

Today was the Annual toy run for the ACT branch of The Motorcycle Rider's Association. Canberra turned out a beautiful clear summers morning for the ride from Old Parliament House out to Woden, returning Kings Avenue Bridge to the Carillon.

The run is in support of the work of the Salvation Army and hundreds of Canberra's motorcyclists turned out to enjoy the ride. I was hoping to get some better pictures today but alas never seemed to be in the right place having joined the packs end. Regardless.

We got there a bit late. This was about half way towards the end of the line on the old House of Reps entrance (bowling green side)...