Since wednesday is my day off for the moment, I’ll be using it to go for some nice big rides. Yesterday I went from Auburn -> Liverpool -> Camden -> Penrith -> Parramatta -> Hornsby -> Auburn.

Good fun, some nice open roads (with tasty bugs), big fat roads full of trucks and traffic, and the sun beating down. It’s a good thing I got a nice summer oriented jacket – which means that the breeze comes thru the mesh and cools me (and you get alot of breeze at 100+).

Although I was absolutely buggered by 10pm, which I assume was due to teh ride. I’m guessing that watching a DVD on intelligent design is not a physically draining experience. Also, we now have no hot water at home…. which means cold showers in the morning…. or none.

“Dan, even if you have no plan A you still have a plan B”

Yeah, probably…. I may even have plans C-F at the moment.

It seems that my purchase of a motorbike has precipitated the breaking of the drought. At least it has on the days where I have a chance to ride.

In work related news, I visited the national CCCA conference (Which I’m not completely attending because of my other job). It was quite good, but I’m not sure I was paying attention to the things I’m meant to be paying attention to…. Although I’m sure some would say that conferences are designed for that sort of thing…. but at least she got my mind of my motorbike for a while ;-)

Every superhero has an archnemesis, an opponent that cannot be beaten or overcome, the onw who is the bane of their existence – foiling them at every turn. The word comes from the Goddess Nemesis in Greek Mythology, who is the spirit of divine retribution against those who succumb to hubris, vengeful fate personified as a remorseless goddess.

I too have an archnemesis, though many would argue that I am actually the evil one. Which of course brings up the interesting point of whether characters like Lex Luthor in comics would actually see themselves as a “supervillain” or not…. Anyway, this archnemesis reappeared on campus today.

The interesting thing is that just as in early greek representations Nemesis resembled Aphrodite (the goddess of love and beauty), my archnemesis is also the one who I see as the embodiment of beauty. Of course this is the area where defeat ultimately comes…. my feelings for her are my downfall. The situation could be easily resolved if she openly returned my feelings…. but she doesn’t.

Oh well…. I’ll get you next time, [insert name here]!…NEXT TIME!”

A very big hill…. 250cc engine…. overweight rider…. wet road…. Down gear…. Down gear…. Down gear….

Clunk. Stall. Roll.

Oh crap.

Grab brake. Try to push. Can’t push with brake. Release Brake. Roll back. Try to push. Try not to have a heart attck or get hit by passing cars.

Can’t turn around, can just barely get enough traction to get it to the (wrong) side of the road.

Luckily a passing motorist stopped and helped me push it to the top of the hill.

Note to self…. don’t go that way again.

Oh yeah. I got this instead of the virago due to supply issues. It’s got the older Dragstar badging (which is cooler than the current V-Star) but it is brandnew. I got it quite discounted, and had some free decent gear included. I’ve only driven it in the residents carpark in my building at the moment, but it seems awesome…. and I look cool (until I stall or miss a gear…. which is becoming less regular).

My gear is also colour co-ordinated, all black and silver. Sure, it won’t win any races, but I also won’t loose my license without effort.

Why is it that all bike shops are located at places like Parra Road or the Great Western Highway? Is it purely to stop learners from wanting to testride? (Although the guys I’m buying from offered to double me to a back street so I could try it in peace and quiet)

Anyway, I have my Bike L’s complete with new mugshot, and my Bike (Yamaha Virago XV250) is on its way. Now I just need to battle with the finance company…. and I finally got my credit card, so I can now get all my fringe benefits pay. Which is good. But since I’m buying a bike on finance, all my money for the next few years will head in that direction.

• Uni is back for term 4. I’ve still got no ministry to do other than initative evangelism, which I love, but can be very draining in both a physical and spiritual sense.
• I have my pre-learners certificate, so I’ll be getting my bike L plates tomorrow. Which means I’m on a zero alcohol limit. Which means no drinking….
• I’ll also be doing some bike shopping tomorrow. I’m still not sure what I’ll get, but it will have 2 wheels and no fairing (big plastic bits).