shapeofthings | The Bicycle Diaries (Reply)

This afternoon I decided to grab the camera and go for a cruise around town on the old pushie. Many thanks to

nickthecheese for the motivation! As I've said many times before, I adore this time of year. The days are crips, the temperature is perfect and the light is sublime (hence why I'm getting married at this time next year). Today was a perfect afternoon for exploring the city on two wheels. Photo-cycling is excellent! As soon as you see something shutter-worthy it's so easy to just pull up and shoot.

After filling up the tires I pedalled down to the riverside bikeway and headed towards the city. The sun was just sinking low enough to catch the buildings and make the river look almost blue. The bikeway provides a unique perspecitve of the city - looking up from the river bank as the city clambours above you. A maze of overhead roadways and pipelines are home to the city's pidgeons and homeless, as the world passes by up above. Along past the busy quay and up into the city proper - not usually a cycle friendly place, but today is a public holiday so I cruised in relative safety.

Being ANZAC day I headed in to Anzac Square. I'd slept through the dawn service (many thanks to the drunks who kept me awake into the small hours last night) but still wanted to pay my respects to those who served in the world wars. A few people were still milling about the memorial and the gardens, many of us with cameras in hand. Chatted to a bloke with $8k of kit who was doing it for love - would like to see the pictures he got with his drool-worthy lens!

Years ago I used to march every ANZAC Day - a proud little 11yr old playing a huge euphonium in the band. When I got older I used to go to watch my friends in the local Army Cadet unit and help look after the few who would inevitably faint in the unseasonal heat. I've made dawn service an entire once since I've been in Brisbane, but it's still a day to think about the futility of war and the loss of young promise. This year I just made Anzac biscuits (oat cookies to the rest of the world) and stayed home.

Heading home again, back along my the river, I just enjoyed the freedom of cruising on two wheels as day faded slowly to evening. Lots of walkers, joggers and other cyclists out along the bikeway, making for a high-speed obstacle course in places, which is always fun! The river is a favourite place - I ride along it to work and often my walks take me there. I grew up along a river, though the Tweed River is nicer than the Brisbane - still blue and clean for swimming - and often find myself drawn to the water, just to sit and watch the day go by. Still, there's life in the old Brisbane yet (although perhaps not as we commonly know it).

Of course, a ride wouldn't be complete without a touch of off-roading, despite my completely unsuitable road-slick tires. A quick dash across the football fields and off up the hill that divides Toowong from my suburb of Auchenflower. By now the sun had dipped behind Mount Coot-tha for another day and was painting the clouds in farewell. Another day closed by the mountain, time for me to tear down the hill and head for home. Tomorrow I'm off to Mareeba with work - be back on Sunday. Take care while I'm gone.