Well this is the season to be jolly and the spirit of the occasion has certainly come out to everyone. I went to work yesterday and was able to enjoy cycling on relatively quiet streets – about as quite as they get for the last working day before Christmas.
I got to work and was able to have my choice of the bike parking. Earlier in the week we were parking our bikes on the first floor car park because there was a problem with the door on the bike room, looks like Santa gave the Customs cyclists a early present by making a tradie available before the big day.
We have had some really strange weather for this time of year and it has made some things difficult. We have had a wet and cool Christmas. Normally in Australia and elsewhere in the southern hemisphere the weather is hot or humid. We have had some wind and some rain and whats more it has been cold in the mornings at times. The this has made doing some long rides quite easy as I am not having to rehydrate myself as much. However the rain has occasionally made the roads slick, so I have had to be careful.
Yesterday everything was fine. There was some Christmas nibbles brought in by one section which did not have the numbers to polish it off so it became open to all and sundry to ensure nothing was left. This meant there was some good bicycle fuel in my stomach for the afternoon ride.
I got the early mark from work and rode to Centennial Park. The roads through Mascot and Kensington were not crowded. It was quite a pleasant ride. I was able to ride right up to the crossing of Anzac Parade. It was a good run right to the gates.
On passing pedestrians I made sure that I used the usual “Passing on your Right (or Left)” and added “Merry Christmas”. This kept the good will going even more.
On arrival at Centennial Park it became apparent that I had arrived at a excellent time. There was little to no traffic and it was quite a good ride. I rode the circuit and enjoyed the view. That is one thing you have to hand it to Centennial Park it is a beautiful place. One of the best in Sydney in my opinion. I could spend hours there if I had a day.
Of course one of the good things about Christmas is the amount of good will towards others that goes around. Like everyone I am a bit nervous around law enforcement (yes even though I work in it myself!) and it was the usual “have I done anything wrong?”, ”what does he want?” when one of the Centennial Park Rangers appeared to be walking towards me while I was resting having a bit of water.
It turns out that the Ranger wanted to remark on how empty the park was. We chatted about the usual Christmas issues – he remembered the usual story that Christmas was the time to go shopping because the smart people got their shopping done. With the economic down turn knocking prices down to rockbottom levels the reverse is now true. I agreed and mentioned that I was going to complete my Christmas shopping after I had finished training. He and I shook hands and wished each other a merry Christmas.
The ride back to Tempe from Centennial was quite good as well. I was able to get back before the afternoon peak (or what would pass as the afternoon peak for Christmas eve!).
I was able to get myself ready and buy Dad a couple of shirts and a mate a copy of Reservoir Dogs.
I have noticed as I have gone around Sydney and beyond (I am now in Lithgow writing this post) that there are now large numbers of Police out on patrol doing Random Breath Tests. I would like to wish them – those who try to prevent accidents the very best for Christmas (I hope you get to spend some of it with your families – take it from some one who missed one it is a crappy time without them).
I would also like to wish those who pick up the pieces after everything has gone wrong – the Ambulance officers, Fire Brigade, the telephone counsellors, Doctors and Nurses and the others who work at hospitals (especially to those at Prince Of Wales Hospital at Randwick who looked after me when I had my bike crash last year!) a merry Christmas and hope you have little to do and a Happy New Year. Your jobs are undervalued by a government that is only interested in getting reelected probably so it can continue mucking this state up.
I was able to test the bike bag that I will be taking the Katana in when I go down to Melbourne for the Amy Gillet Ride. I have worked out I will have to take both wheels off and remove the pedals and handlebars to fit it in. It is a good bag and a reasonable fit. I may even be able to a bit of cardboard into the sides to stiffen it up for the flight back to Sydney. It is my intention to do a couple of rides to Kurnell and to Parramatta over the break and after work. I will be writing soon on the progress with the preparations for the Amy Gillett Ride in Victoria.
Tags: Bicycles, Bike Parking, Centenial Park, commuting, cycling, Environment, Parks, Parramatta, Pedestrians, riding, shopping, Sydney, training
