Adriel BACON Young

Freddy, Maria och Alice

Alice

With Carro

With Freddy, cooking up a storm:

Here I am on the other side of the world in beautiful Sweden. I am staying in a small town just out of Gothenburg called Mölnlycke!

I know I’ve only been here in Summer but I could live here it is beautiful! I’ve been here for more than a week now and have done so much!

My trip started off with bags not arriving I was very nervous my bike wasn’t going to make it. But it did and it is in one piece!!!

It’s been 7 weeks since I’ve been riding or running so to have got here and been able to do both with minimal pain has been so good. I am very happy!!!

I’m staying with my girlfriends wonderful family while I am here and on Saturday I went to Freddy and Maria’s 60th Party (joint 30th).
This is them with Alice the cutest baby I’ve ever seen:

During the day it was all family:

Then at night the party kicked off and I can honestly say I don’t ever remember dancing so much. Such a fun night and a looong day. We headed home and got to bed by 2.

After 5hrs sleep we were up and on our way to the Kilsberg Triathlon a 4hr drive. I was struggling not sure if it was the shots, dancing or the lack of sleep. I was excited to test out the knee in a race even know I was super unfit after not training for so long. It was a 1.5 swim 44km bike and 10km run. I had entered months ago from back in Sydney and some how through a miscommunication they had entered me in the Pro field. The race was really well organised although I didn’t know this when I signed up.

The swim was in a lake at the top of a ski mountain which meant the bike ride was 2 laps of down a very big hill followed by straight back up similarly the run which was a trail run 2 laps going to the bottom of the chairlifts (just to demoralise) and back up. When I was finished they translated the slogan of the race: “Sweden’s toughest triathlon” they weren’t wrong. The swedes smashed me, but I was happy with 8th overall and even more happy the knee pulled up ok!

From here it was off to Stockholm for a few days of being a tourist.

Such a lovely city. Had a great time site seeing. Even popped by the ABBA museum:

The water that’s keys Stockholm so special:

Skansen, hanging out with my mate:

👍

DAY 7

We had a fairly relaxing day, I kicked off the morning with a little stretch session in the gym, followed by a VERY little swim
In the afternoon we headed down to the IronKids triathlon, I love watching these kids race. So talented and always having so much fun.

I was expecting to just cheer the kids on but we were lucky enough to get to go to the finish and give out medals to these amazing young athletes. We were in very good company:

Yep that is Pete Jacobs, current Ironman World Champion.

After the IronKids we grabbed dinner and had a quiet night ready for tomorrow’s racing.

DAY 8

Our last day on this amazing trip, I can’t believe it’s ending. Today we raced Cairns 70.3 finishing an awesome week together. We finished 4th out of the Open men’s teams. I felt ok in the swim, coming in, in 2nd. Reidy had a great ride in tough cons

Corey finished strong on the run, we got to be out on coarse with him and then run down the finishes shoot together.

In the 70.3 Pros, it was:
1st Courtney Atkinson
2nd Brad Kahlefeldt
3rd Tim Reed

And in the Ironman, it was:
1st Luke Ma
2nd Tim Berkel
3rd Chris Mccormack

WRAP

What a week, I was truly blessed to spend a week with great guys, I met some awesome people, experienced some mind blowing places. I will be forever grateful to be able to have this amazing experience!
Thank you everyone!

Day 4

After an amazing time in Port Douglas it was time to head back to Cairns for the rest of our trip. On our way to Cairns we got the opportunity to stop in at Hartley’s Croc Park, I was so excited for this I haven’t had much to do with crocs and I don’t think you can come up here and not see them. At Hartley’s they have a croc called Ted, 5.8m long and over 900kgs. Almost a Ton!!

This guy has a dangerous job but I’d definitely love to have a go:

We also got to pole feed them, which was pretty exciting. You really see how powerful they are! They can launch the height of their body!!!

There were also other animals there:

I got to hold this little cutie:

The afternoon was spent at the Cairns Cable Water Ski Park. Unfortunately with my knee I didn’t have a go but the boys had a great time, and it was very entertaining to watch!

Reidy:

DAY 5

We were up early and heading out to Green Island off Cairns for the Reef Swim. A 3km and 1.5km ocean swim race. I jumped in the 3km and finished 3rd and the boys did the 1.5km and Corey got 3rd in his age group.

The island was beautiful and after the. Swim we got to have a wander and check it out:

DAY 6

We kicked off the day with the 5km Fun Run. Was a great run with awesome scenery.

First time I have run since my knee injury, it felt really good. I ran with a few young local kids and they were fast! Crossed the line in 11th in 18.06 lots of improvement to be made but happy to be running again!!!
Here is the boys crossing the line, Reidy just piping Corey:

We spent the day in Cairns before heading out to Palm Cove, we were invited out to do some training with the nippers of Cairns SLSC. Great bunch of kids, we had a great time!!!

Now we have only 2 days left on this awesome trip!

I have been lucky enough to be apart of a trip with Corey and Reidy to head up and enjoy Poet Douglas and Cairns for the Adventure Festival. How lucky I am. It has been an amazing experience.

DAY 1

We had a triathlon that I couldn’t do because if my knee but I got to watch the Pros and Reidy do there thing in the Coral Coast 5150 Tri.

Clayton Fettell:

There was a 70km mountain bike race the same day and it was apparently a tough day. Here is Corey crossing the line:

Sun setting on a perfect first day:

DAY 2

We headed out to the Lower Isles of the Great Barrier Reef. I was so pumped, I’d never been there so was super excited and it lived up to my expectations. It was Reidys Birthday and we celebrated it in style!

Lower Isles:

Got to jump in and swim with these boys:

Happy Birthday mate, With a cake in the face!!! Reidy and I watching the footage of me smashing a cake in his face:

DAY 3

First off we headed for some spear fishing with a local down the beach and the through the mangroves. Lucky no Crocs, I speared a mud crab, and we collected some muscles. So interesting, I was in my element:

Then we head to St Agustine’s Primary School, for some water safety education but mostly fun! I think I always enjoy these school visits more than the kids!

From here we headed to Mossman Gorge. Such a beautiful spot:

Here we were treated to a show and even got to dance with this great team:

Still such a raw and natural environment: