A lunchtime ride

I went for a brisk lunchtime ride today with my mate Mike, who works in the CBD. We rode from the centre of Hobart, up the rivulet track, then up Macquarie Street, Cascade Road, past the brewery and up Strickland Avenue. I lasted about 1500 m past the brewery, while Mike carried on grinding uphill for another ten minutes or so. He commutes from his house, just before the start of the Pinnacle Road on Mt Wellington every day, so he should be bloody fit. I was pleased with how I went, considering the bike hasn't been getting much use lately.

Here's a pic of Mike on his way down, from where I conked out:
Click the image for full size.

There's not many capital cities where you can get surroundings like this on a lunchtime ride from the office. He was back at his desk by ten past two, after a one o'clock departure.

Now I'm off to find some lard to make pork pies with the leftovers from my Buck's Weekend. Watch this space.

Tour de France Prologue

A bunch of us found our way down to Hyde Park a couple of weekends ago to watch the Prologue of the Tour de France. It was quite spectacular watching the various competitors race against the clock in one minute intervals. We perched ourselves at the top corner of the course, just before they turned to hurtle down the Serpentine, down towards the place where the ruler of our empire lives (when she just HAS to be in London, it's so dreary and full of commoners you know), and up to the finish line in The Mall.

Of course, we furnished ourselves with ample provisions, and ate and drank our way merrily until the sun went down.

There's an album full of pics (action shots by Dave) here.