Another yobbo

The second one of each I've encountered this year, at least this time they both happened in the one incident (whether I should be glad about that is highly debatable). Perhaps yesterday's trepidation about this ride had a meaning. This one happened at about 5pm at the start of this evening's ride, just as I was accelerating away from a red light at the intersection of Sunshine Boulevard and Markeri Street (i.e. only a few hundred metres from where I live). I knew something just wasn't right as I took off, something wasn't happening as it should, one of the cars behind me wasn't accelerating as it should have been.

Instinct took over, fortunately there's a small slip lane outside the bike lane in this section (so much for bike lanes being any use), I moved across quickly, to see the car in question zooming across the spot where I would have been, and some yobbo on the passenger side leaning out the window swinging what looked like a very poorly formed fist (he missed by more than the car did). It later occurred to me that the reason they hadn't accelerated the way the rest of the traffic did was that they were literally taking the time to line me up and have a really good shot. They missed anyway, stupid c*nts.

From what I could see of their attire, it appears as though they were on the way home from an afternoon spent getting very drunk and watching cars go around in circles very, very fast. Ironically, they were quite possibly stuck in gridlock every afternoon last week because of those same cars (something for which I feel absolutely no sympathy whatsoever). The interesting thing was the total lack of trepidation I felt both during and after the incident. About the only thing I felt from within was a mild irritation that I hadn't brought a pen and paper with me to write down a few details. Maybe I just wasn't that surprised.

Interestingly, it was actually the prelude to one of the most spectacular rides I've had this year. The next 92km showcased mist rolling off the ocean at Kirra (twice), an incredible sunset that lit up the entire sky over Bilambil, the glow-worms that greeted me in the John Hogan rainforest, the two thunderstorms creating a light show on The Pilgrims' Road that puts just about every fireworks display in the history of the universe to shame, and the stunning rainforest at night on Urliup Road (if you haven't ridden this at night, why are you still alive?), and the moonlight inspired silhouette of the surrounding hills that was almost a constant companion.

I can't say I'm terribly religious, but it's fairly obvious whose side the Gods were on in this one. Overall I'm glad I went out for a ride. Would have missed a lot by staying at home. Today's ride to and from work was just another obstacle course. The race doesn't appear to have cut up the road the way it did last year, but there did seem to be a lot of advertising hordings lying around in ridiculous places today. A nice headwind along the coast made for a more pleasant ride home, however. With a bit of luck that southerly might stay with us for a while.

Oh yeah, Man Utd 2, Arsenal 0. Now that was some good news, even if I can't watch it anymore. I seriously don't even know why I have a TV, apart from the occasional highlights on SBS World Sports.