If you need emergency services, please contact 000
Are you feeling burnt out? Consider aged care respite.
Looking for a rewarding career in aged care and ready to start now?
View our current retirement living homes for sale.
Search
Contact Us
Close
Services to keep you independent
Government-funded support
One on one care and support
Support to help you stay at home
Allied health support services
Everyone deserves a break
Government or privately funded
Connect with others
Help to access support services
Personalised care and support
14 locations across Victoria
Principles of Montessori
Tailored to individual interests
Helping everyone adjust
If you care for someone, we’re here
Maintain your quality of life
Here for people of all ages
Take a break and have some fun
All your questions answered
Independent living for over 55s
Our latest properties available
Inner Melbourne communities
Camberwell
Deepdene
Kew
Hawthorn
Toorak
Suburban communities
Clayton
Kyneton
Trentham
Eltham
Bacchus Marsh
Pakenham
Balwyn
Brunswick West
Greensborough
Torquay
Everyone deserves a home
services for 18+
Great places to call home
Reach your developmental goals
Pathways to paid employment
Small group programs
Stay independent at home
Get the best out of your NDIS plan
support for 13-18 year olds
Reach developmental goals
Fun programs for your teenagers
NDIS planning
programs for 0-12 year olds
Support for developmental delays
Fun programs for your kids
A school where your child can shine
About St Paul’s College
Prepare your child for school
View our for school policies
Commited to the safety of your child
Menu
Back
Enter your search term below
30 April 2018
Jake Farrell feels fitter and healthier at 71 than he did in his 40s. He credits his love of bike riding for his excellent fitness.
It wasn’t until he was 40 that he took up bike riding and now in his 70s he is taking on his biggest adventure yet – cycling the Camino Trail, in Spain.
People have walked the famous trail to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, for more than 1000 years as part of a spiritual pilgrimage to the grave of the apostle Saint James the Great. Legend says that he was buried at the Cathedral after he died.
“My friends talked about it and I eventually asked, ‘can I join you and can I give it a go?” he said.
“The spiritual side of it for me is important too. I had heard about this trail and it was something in the back of my mind I’d love to do.”
Jake is joining a cycling tour that will ride about 500 kilometres through mainly rural Spain over 10 days. He will need to ride at least 50 kilometres a day to complete the bike ride.
“At one stage I thought it was beyond me. I thought, I’m getting too old to be doing that sort of thing. But now I am getting fitter and feeling quite happy about cycling. The hills don’t worry me anymore.”
Jake moved to VMCH retirement community Shanagolden Village, in Pakenham, after he retired from his cab driving business. He says retirement for him means more time for fun.
“With cab driving you’re working 12-hour shifts and you don’t get a lot of time to exercise. Now that I’m retired I have a lot more time.”
He says the Camino Trail bike ride has motivated him to get on his bike most days and train.
“With the training I am doing for the bike ride, I’m fitter now than when I first started riding,” he said.
“I’m enjoying it even more now. I enjoy the scenery and the freedom. You commune with nature and it’s really wonderful.”
His trip to Spain will be his first time out of Australia and he plans to travel throughout Europe once he has finished the tour.
He will meet some other friends and they will travel to Italy, Austria, Germany, France, England, Scotland, Ireland and Canada
“That will be an extra bonus on top of everything else. The trip of a lifetime.”
More news articles in Retirement Living
Locating the information you need has become far easier with our useful guide. Answer a few simple questions and you will be on your way.
Not sure where to start?
Contact us
→
Who needs our services?
Our Digital & Marketing Agency - ID Digital Agency
Locating the information you need has become far easier with our useful guide.
Answer a few simple questions and you will be on your way.