Stage One : Prospect to Lyndoch - No More Ping-Ka-Ping

Late afternoon, Monday.

Katherine is with Terence and baby B-B at the Prospect Street Party.

Terence has never felt so embarrassed in all of his life.

Except once when Saint Joseph pretended to tongue-kiss the Virgin at the head of a holy procession.

Ugh. But that was in Barcelona.

Katherine has come dressed as Marilyn Monroe. The white pleated dress, the platinum blonde wig, the ukelele.

Only the youthful glamour is lacking.

Katherine has joined up with a group of ladies all dressed as Marilyn Monroe, with varying degrees of success. Peter Coombe is there also, wearing a loud red Hawaiian shirt.

The attempt to break the record for the World's Largest Ukelele Ensemble is beginning.

Come here, Terence. Where's your ukelele? calls Katherine.

But Terence has no intention of playing his ukelele, anywhere near Katherine.

You go, he says to baby B-B.

Why me? says baby B-B. I don't even know how to play.

Have you still got my finger? says Terence.

Somewhere, says baby B-B. But it's broken, remember?

That's good, says Terence. It would have been too long for you. Here, have a go. Like this: Ping-ka-ping.

TERENCE! roars Katherine.

Peter Coombe comes over.

Are you Terence? asks Peter Coombe.

No, says Terence. He is.

Hurry up Terence, says Peter Coombe. You don't want to be the reason for us not breaking the record.

Baby B-B drags the giant ukelele over to the Marilyns, and starts pinging.

So he won't be the reason.

...........

Next morning, 11 am, Tuesday. "Tourrific Prospect". The start line.

Crowds have gathered; the street is abuzz.

Sweezus spots Terence at the barrier, with his scooter.

You got it back, says Sweezus.

I'm NEVER going ANYWHERE with Katherine, says Terence.

Follow us, says Sweezus.

REALLY? says Terence.

If you can keep up, says Sweezus.

Sweezus is practising the Daoist way. He is into it. It makes perfect sense. Dao is the process of reality itself, the way things come together, while still transforming.

In his mind this translates into Terence tagging along on his scooter, and one of ten thousand things happening.

In Terence's mind, it's the same.

Bang. The race starts. Bikes pour out of Prospect.

Ride, ride, pedal, pedal.

.......

Later, on the last stretch into Lyndoch, under sultry conditions:

Sean Lake has kept ahead of the peloton for 19 kilometres.

The gap is rapidly closing. The peloton is catching up.

At the head of the peloton one of ten thousand things happens.

Caleb Ewan sprints away in frantic pursuit of Sean Lake.

He passes Sean Lake, who is losing his wu wei, due to seeing a cherub on a scooter.

Caleb is inspired.

Is he dreaming or did he just see a cherub on a scooter?

Calen sprints to the finish.

Who can fathom the Dao?