Sunday, December 6

We went out and bought bicycle helmets yesterday, since it is the law here. Well, not that everyone buy helmets, just that you wear them if you want to ride your bike. We rode to King's Park, since there's lots of bike trails there and no traffic, but we were both hit (slightly) by a magpie. I had read that many people are attacked by magpies during the breeding season, as they are very protective of their nests, but the season supposedly ended at the end of October. Apparently this particular bird failed to read the book. He hit Bill first lightly on the head and then just brushed me on the shoulder. I also read that they go after bicyclists even more aggressively than walkers, and the book suggested gluing fake eyeballs onto the back of your helmet, as they tend to go after the eyes.

Early in the morning there are lots of serious cyclists in the park, many of them in large groups, with a coach yelling encouragement and directions. One morning I heard a female coach yelling "You're naughty, you're naughty." Hmmm...couldn't quite figure out that one.

Well we just finished "schoolies week" or "leavers week" which follows the last week of high school for the graduating seniors. They tend to go to some resort type place to get wild and crazy, much like our Spring Break. Rottnest Island is a popular place here on the west coast and apparently they were very well behaved this year, in contrast to the schoolies on the east coast, particularly in Sydney.

When I'm riding the train, the diversity of races and cultures makes me feel like I could be in L.A., except for the fact that L.A. has no decent rail system. However, the teenagers sound just like they're from L.A., since everything is "I'm all like..., and she's all like...." The only difference is they say "loik" instead of like.