"Crazies" and others

My last bike tour made me think about some new goals and re-kindled a few others. Riding a fully loaded century which included Mt Hotham (and then another a couple of days later) made me realise I've been selling myself a little short the last couple of years. Then I brought up an old long-term goal I had that I'd departed from -- that being to ride an imperial century in every Australian state. Of the actual States I only have Tasmania (hoping for the Ash Dash in 2005), and Western Australia (perhaps a ride from Perth to Albany and back again(?) in 2006) to go.Then I started thinking about the territories, and this is where this post really gets started.

One day I think I'd like to ride from Alice Springs to Darwin in the NT. I think this has the potential to be a wonderful trip -- the hills rising out of the red rocks in the centre, gradually giving way to increased vegetation, flowing watercourses and whatever else in the tropics. However, it seems nobody agrees with me.It's not so much the experience or the ride that anybody's concerned about, it's just the "crazies out there". I find it ironic, nobody I've yet spoken to about this resides in a city of a population of less than 500,000. It's ironic, because, according to the stereotype, it's supposed to be the "crazies" in these remote areas who have issues with people "not from around here, boy." Could it be that the "civilised" urbanites exhibit the same traits as the supposedly "simple" country folk (i.e judging people in places they've never been)?

Of course none of the comments concern me, I heard them all just before I took off for Tasmania (Rowan, did you have the extra head specially removed? ).And if we want to talk about "crazies", allow me a moment to tell you all what happened on the "civilised", sanitised Gold Coast yesterday, shall I? Basically, some nutter barricaded himself inside a hotel room that he'd filled with explosives, and held a "siege". His demands? A cup of coffee. I am not making a word of this up. Just who are the "crazies" here?