Going north

I'm sitting here contemplating another aborted ride because of bushfire smoke. At least this ride was almost saved. Earlier there was some promising lightning to the north, but alas it didn't bring any rain with it. It's ironic that I was contemplating whether or not to head north this weekend when the phone rang. My mother has informed me that one of the bicycle shops in Brisbane city is having a closing down sale. I can't remember the name of them off hand (and neither could she), but apparently I've bought touring equipment there previously. It didn't take long to put the pieces together.

The plan is a weekend in Brisbane, with a Sunday ride on or in the vicinity of the Sunshine Coast. Hopefully I'll get time for a century -- as I desperately need one. I'm figuring the recent flooding in that area might keep the bushfires away for a while yet. One can only hope so. I might also get to purchase some of the touring equipment I'm looking for right at the moment. The shopping list currently includes a Zefal HPX frame pump, a Topeak or Blackburn pannier rack, and a handlebar bag of some description. I'm not sure I'll get that lot this weekend, but it's something to work with.

• In other news, I passed a rocket on my ride to work today. I am, of course, feeling extremely proud of myself as a result. It came as I was picking my way through the gridlock as usual, and passed a "sports" car (an ironic term if ever there was one) with a sticker that said the words "Lil' yellow rocket". Obviously the owner has spent a lot of money on the ability to go really, really fast (or at least look the part), and they were just as owned as the rest of them. I still pwn.