Photo of the Day

Update: I spoke with the owner of this vehicle today. He tells me that the tire exploded while it was mounted on the bumper and sitting in the sun. He also told me that he was planning on putting it on the front passenger side wheel because, as the photo indicates, it's pretty new, and the one on the road was not. Talk about bad luck. Also, it just goes to show how bloody strong the sun is here.

Photo of the Day

Yes, it means what you think. I guess a lightning bolt wasn't part of the standard typeface for the laneways.

Government

I'll never understand government. This kind of thing would happen in the US as well, but since it happened here, I'll report it.

Down St. Kilda way, we had a visitor parking permit. It was obtained in Shannon's name, but I turned in all the paperwork, and slid my credit card through the machine. No problems.

Yesterday, I went to return the permit, because we moved. You can do this if it has more than six months of validity on it. They wouldn't issue me the refund. Now, I can understand a little if it were to be a cash refund. But, the procedure is that they send a check. In the post. Six weeks later. So it isn't like Shannon wouldn't get it.

It seems short sighted. Say I had stolen or found that permit. I've got it. I'm waving it in your face. What's the value of NOT sending a check to the person it's registered to, if I'm trying to turn it in? It's free parking for me, and everyone doing the right thing gets screwed.

So Shannon has to show up at St. Kilda city hall during normal business hours. Yeah right. So long, $45.

Update: The point wasn't that I don't have faith in Shannon getting stuff done. The point was, that in the real world, people can't just cross town twice during normal business hours. There should be alternative means, such as mailing the thing in.

Jayco Herald Sun Tour, Stage Six

Saturday afternoon, Shannon and I walked down the street to the final stage of the Herald Sun Tour. We got there in time for the pro women's race, followed by the pro men's race. A few pictures from both, split by a shot of me meeting Phil Liggett. He's a really nice guy. Once again, Jonathan, if you've got any pull with Doug...











In case you couldn't tell from Garmin sitting on the front the whole time, they took Yellow, KOM, and Team titles. No real shock there.

Organ Pipes National Park

Every time we come back into town from the direction of Bendigo, we see the Organ Pipes National Park sign. Typically, it's after the park closes, so we never got to see what it is.

Turns out, it's a set of basalt tubes that were formed by volcanic activity back in the day. It was interesting, in that geeky, wow, that's how the world was formed kind of way.

More importantly, there were kangaroos on the hill, and they are cool.

Jayco Herald Sun Tour, Stage One

Yesterday was a crit in Ballarat, but today was considered Stage One. Whatever. A few big names, a few American teams (Garmin, Jelly Belly, Bissell, Rock Racing)

Some shots from Daylesford.







After they went through, we got some food, and went out to a corner ahead of the race. We're sitting in some chairs we brought, having lunch, at a corner in the middle of absolutely nowhere, Victoria, alone, ahead of anyone from the race (for a big race, it's small budget). This guy gets his mail from the end of the street, and says "Nice day for a sit, eh?" We agree, he drives off, and we bust out laughing, assuming he has no idea there is a race on. I presume he thinks we're just insane. Anyway, a few shots from the corner.

Jonathan, tell Doug that I got a number of good shots of his teamboys. I'd gladly trade RAWs for a little access next year somewhere in Europe :)

Thirsty

A rare deal in Australia. Thursday and Friday, 1600-1830, A$4.50 pints at Griffs. There are even some good choices. And it turns out the neighbors left their router open.

That's a good deal even at current exchange rates!