October 2006

With the firm intention of "just having a look" at the You Yangs (a mountainous area about 50km from Melbourne that had been recommended to us for mountain biking) we went to our car with the usual equipment: sun cream, sun glasses, hats, extra sweaters, coats (it's cold around here, unless you're in the sun in which case you're baking and in danger of developing skin cancer, so you need to take everything for every conceivable weather with you. Last night we had a hail storm. Just goes to show.). Anyway, we haven't yet got around to buying some bicycle carrying equipment, hence the "just taking a look" intention. Then we sized up our huge Honda CRV. Maybe the bikes would fit in the back...? If we put the back seats up...?

The Obsessive Cyclist went back up to bring down one of the bikes. Just in case. Sure enough, if you take off the front wheel, it would fit. It turned out that two bikes would fit, too. So we got both bikes, cycle helmets (mandatory in Victoria), and, as an afterthought, water bottles -- going anywhere in Australia without water is just stupid, something foreigners do.

Of course, something else that only stupid foreigners do is go mountain biking without puncture repair kit, bicycle pump, map and compass. But then we hadn't really intended to go mountain biking, it just happened.

I'm deliberately skipping the second petrol crisis here.

We found the You Yangs Regional Park without any trouble, stopped in the first (ok, second) car park we saw, marvelled at the fact that there were no mountain bikers anywhere and took our bikes on something signposted "Great Circle Drive". It goes only uphill. Or that's what it felt like. Considering that this is one of the mountain biking areas around Melbourne we were a little mystified to find absolutely no other mountain bikers at all. Not to mention that all the inviting tracks off the Great Circle Drive were signed "No cycling".

Eventually we returned to the car, and decided maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to check the map at the information office, possibly an idea that should have occurred to us before. The map showed the areas of the park reserved for mountain biking, and the one we were in wasn't one of them.

After a slight detour to resolve the petrol crisis we found us the less technical of the two proper mountain biking areas -- Western Plantation. It was lovely. 12km of fairly level single track through Eucalyptus forest, with only a few technical details that one could (mostly) avoid, especially if going with a Serious Cyclist who doesn't mind having to do the technical bits twice, on both bikes.

We finished the 12km loop after 1 hour and 20 mins (it was, annoyingly, signed as taking "between 20 and 70 mins" to ride -- Australians are simply far too physically active). Our excuse is that we stopped for an echidna. This one was the variety not used to humans and thus was too scared to behave normally in our presence, so we left it alone, after taking a photograph. We have now seen more wild echidnas than many Australians. I'm basing this statement on a straw poll of one colleague in the office; surely that is a representative sample?

Having completed the main objective we then drove around the Great Circle Drive.

At the top there is access to the more advanced mountain biking area. Perhaps in a little while, when I'm more confident.

For some reason, an abundance of helicopters was in the air today. We watched one taking off from the field outside. It was the first time I've been able to look down on a helicopter.

It was much too windy for cycling today. In fact it is usually too windy for most activities (sailing, swimming in the outdoor swimming pool, etc). That didn't stop another awesome sunset though.

Got home from work early enough to take our bikes out. This had to be done because a bicycle computer was resurrected today by the simple expedient of spending $10 on a magnet. The Bicycle Geek scoped out a nice 1-hour circular ride a couple of days ago so that's the route we took. Managed to run straight into a mountain bike endurance event in the park and sensibly kept out of the way of people clad in lycra with lights mounted on their helmets.

On the way back another glorious sunset. Also a moon. The weather here is really crap but their sunsets are fantastic.

Noticed the first Christmas Tree today so it must be nearly Christmas. A Christmas Tree in bright sunshine with people sitting on the grass outside enjoying the warmth came as a bit of a culture shock.

Some time ago we acquired tickets to the Australia vs New Zealand Tri-Nations Rugby League Match, which took place today at Telstra Dome. After all, one cannot live right next to the Telstra Dome and not take part in an event there -- and the only other option until next March would have been soccer. (From March onwards Aussie Rules Football should be on again.)

We had good seats and enjoyed the experience. From the point of view of rugby though I have seen better. The referee seemed to want to avoid being on the same pitch as a decision and referred practically everything to the video referee, who seemed to favour New Zealand. At half-time New Zealand were well ahead, not entirely deservedly as both sides gave the impression of lacking enthusiasm a bit.

During half-time, Melbourne school kids were playing on the pitch. The under-fives (they said there were under-nine but they looked so small!) gave a terrific performance and looked awfully cute.

Ten minutes before the end, and more than a converted try behind, Australia suddenly recalled why there were on the pitch and managed two converted trys in that time. Final score: Australia 20, New Zealand 15.

Took our bikes out for our first ride together. A windy day -- it's Melbourne, after all; it is always (too) windy here. We decided on the cycle path to Port Melbourne. The Thermo 1 is lovely; an absolute joy to ride. I didn't get overtaken once all the way to Port Melbourne (unless you count The Obsessive Cyclist, who wasn't so much overtaking as acting as wind break). Cycling along the beach, the sea looked rough, not surprising given the gale. This didn't seem to stop some real sailors at the Port Melbourne Sailing Club from readying their Hobie Cats.

Got my bike! A Giant Thermo 1. Isn't it pretty? Especially in blue?

Rode it home at lunchtime. Did not enjoy cycling in traffic, hemmed in by trams on the right and maniacs in cars on the left. In addition, it was (predictably) blowing a gale and started to rain. However, there are two hills between the bike shop and home and I barely noticed them. Hoping for better weather tomorrow so that we can go for a bike ride.

Still no bike but the correct colour is important so I'll have to wait until tomorrow. Also, looks like I'm allergic to Australian sun block. Not happy.

However, a beautiful reflection of Flinders Street Railway Station was noticed by Someone With An Eye For A Striking Shot, and today's sunset was gorgeous even by Docklands high standards.

At lunchtime today it looked like summer might be arriving at some point after all, so we went for a stroll along the South bank of the Yarra for a change. It felt like the North bank but then Melbourne is fundamentally upside-down (or perhaps I'm just too used to the sun being in the South at noon so North inevitably feels like it ought to be South).

Anyway, the North bank viewed from the South was a new angle for us, so I took some pictures.

Having crossed the bridge back to the North bank again, the Eureka tower looked imposing.

As an added bonus, the Country Gent spotted a heron catching dragonflies.

The summer weather didn't last long -- no weather lasts more than a few minutes in Melbourne. By this evening it was still warm but blowing a gale. Again.

Bikes tomorrow.