Queensland, beautiful one day, apocalyptic the next.
Naturally with Cyclone Marcia Marcia Marcia bearing down on the coast, i decided against heading out on the bike today. Tomorrow and Saturday could be like something out of a Michael Bay film, so most likely no riding then either.
On a serious note, it should be making landfall in about 10hrs, possibly as a Category 5. There has already been a 189kmh wind gust recorded, so fingers crossed everyone near it manages to stay safe.
On the cycling front, i decided to try and make my Wednesday recovery ride a bit more interesting by taking the MTB into Tewantin National Park. To be honest i never particularly liked the tracks in there, and in the 4 years since i last rode them not much has changed. Specifically, they are still composed of 80% tree roots (especially on the inside of corners where you can't see them until they are spitting you sideways) and 20% rocks the size of your head. There is only so much that 2 inches of 18 year old suspension can do with that.
Apparently the newly built tracks up the top of the range are smoother and less technical, but after getting a bit lost i ran short of time to check them out and headed back to my car. As i was cruising along a fire road i noticed what appeared to be a small kitten up ahead; once i got a bit closer it turned out to be a guinea pig! I caught it surprisingly easily, but then i was faced with a dilemma.
Walking wasn't an option because walking is never an option, and the prospect of riding back with one hand on the bars and another holding the guinea pig didn't appeal either. I couldn't very well leave an introduced animal in a national park (even if the chance of it eluding hawks, snakes and dingoes for more than a couple of days would be pretty slim) so that left one opening. Specifically the opening in the top of my backpack.
Now before you get all PETA on me i was very hesitant, but he dived into the bottom of the bag and seemed quite content there, so i just rode back as smoothly and carefully as possible. I've never been particularly fond of guinea pigs, so i'm quite pleased that at the moment it looks like one of my wife's colleagues will be taking him. The sooner the better really, as Minty and Mango aren't stupid, and it's only a matter of time before they work out how to get at him.
Fair (and gentle) Winds,
LDR.