Bull's Head Car Park Throughway

As mentioned in one of my first posts, my route IN to Town runs through the Bull's Head car park...and quite illegally in fact. Bikes are not supposed to go through, but it IS a great shortcut. But when the Wookie Mobile is at my disposal, I also tend to park in the Outside lots nearest Canal Road. It's a handy way to get in & out of Town quickly, with only a short walk as penance.

This brings up the point of this ramble: Why do the standard road markings, signs, etc. cease at the entrance to Bull's Head Car Park?

In the Bull's Head covered parking structure, there's a lot happening a small space. 4-Wheelers blasting in and heading up the ramp to the upper levels, then pulling into the first available spot (at speed usually!), passers-through blasting in one side & out the other, Mini Bus parked wherever it feels necessary...the list is endless. All of this because the Corporation of Hamilton can't off their rumps to paint a few lines & put up a sign or 2. Have they run out of yellow paint?

Example: On more than one occasion, after parking in the Outside lot & making my way through, a 4-Wheeler has come tearing in and hit me while taking the last rightie to go up a level. Where is the Zebra Crossing...raised or otherwise? Is there a speed LOWER Limit in the building or something?

Okay - rant over!

World Cup Fever!!!

Isn't it amazing how the World Cup has an effect on everything? The bars (obviously!) are doing a booming trade...at 10am on Tuesdays as well as the standard Saturday & Sunday. But the congestion on the roads has been out of whack too.

Take today. Early this morning, traffic was mental! It seemed EVERYONE was on the road early & often, so I believe it had something to do with Trinidad & Tobago vs. England on at 1:00pm. Most of the fans were going to watch the game somewhere, so they figure they get into work early & have a longer lunch. Makes sense to me.

And as you might be able to tell from the lack of posting, Yours Truely is in fact a fan too!!!

4 1/2 Bucks, Magic Bus

Many years ago, way back in Secondary school, the bus was my only means of trans. We had a good crew of kids from all walks of life, who rode the #1 bus from Town together. It WAS pretty hot in the summer and often crowded, but it served it's purpose - getting us home safely. I had my first bus ride since then Tuesday night...and not that much has changed!

Ok well the price has changed, it's now $4.50 to get me home, and the number I need to take is different, and there's aircon! But otherwise same ol' same ol'. Lots of tourists, lots of people in general and unfortunately teenagers. One delightful young man on my ride was regailing his mate about something. But it was impossible to figure out the topic because ever other word was F###, Sh## even Pus## and Cu## as well. The poor visitor, an older lady, sitting in front of him was scarlet she was so embarassed.

It only took me a mere 10 minutes longer to make it home than if I was riding...not bad.

Now THAT was some rain!!!

The sprinkles on Tuesday (a/k/a London rain) were only moderately annoying in comparison to the deluge yesterday...Wow! I got extremely lucky for my ride through all that water.

Having dropped Ol' Betsy off at the doctors Tues. morning for some electrical work, she wasn't ready in time to ride home. Rode the Bus home [more on that later!] & hitched into work in a 4-Wheeler. Boy, was I glad it worked out that way.
The water running down Crawl Hill was higher up on the sidewalks than I've seen in quite a while. Other fellow Bikers we trying to avoid the bigger puddles, etc. many to little avail.

A good tip for those unfamiliar with riding in heavy rain:
- Get behind a car/van that you can see through, ie. see out their windshield at the road ahead. When approaching a puddle, follow their right-hand tire through the water. Their wheel naturally displaces the water, leaving less water for YOU to deal with.