Not Having A Cyclone Part 2

The way the wind has been blowing over the last two weeks you could believe that Cyclone Oma is still with us!  The wind isn't as strong as it was when the cyclone was off the coast but it is still blowing at over 30k's per hour right now and it seems to have been like that forever.

We are getting rainfall totals of just several mls per day but it sure makes bike riding a lottery as to whether or not you will get wet as yet another brief shower blows in off the ocean. Yesterday I managed 16k's but got caught in a shower of rain.  Those 16k's were done around the local area here where the wind can be blocked just a little bit.

The pool has plunged to a cooler 24.5° which is still OK.  Regretfully the showers are not quite enough to offset the pool's wind powered evaporation rate.

We are beginning to get our head around travelling south to Melbourne for several weeks.  We didn't manage to catch up with everyone over our recent Christmas trip when we flew down.  This time we will drive.  The car has been serviced, some worn parts replaced and with 4 new tyres, it is ready to do the trip.

We expect to hit Melbourne late on Friday March 15th and make our way back to the Coast around Thursday April 4th.

Trish has become the President of the Arts Centre Association and she has her first real meeting as President on Monday March 11th.  Therefore we will set off for Melbourne around 8:30 on Tuesday 12th.  This puts the morning peak behind us but with daylight saving in NSW, it will actually be a 9:30 am departure.

Last time we travelled down the Pacific Highway 12 months ago there were long sections of roadworks and an 80kph speed limit, especially on the northern leg of the drive.  Hopefully it won't be quite as bad this time but we hope to do around 600k's as the first day's drive.

We share the driving as much as possible, however Trish seems to do the major share.  We are not sure as to how many more drive to Melbourne and back trips we have left in us.  Flying is certainly less expensive for us.

I've recovered from yet another birthday and Trish has her next in the next day or so.  We are both well and looking forward to catching up with friends when in Melbourne.  The odd spot or two of great Asian food will be welcomed as well when we hit town down there.