Aah, I joined this one quite late.

I'm a little bit hyperactive, I think, so 'chilling out' for me usually means getting active. I get miserable and grumpy if I don't get a chance to run, ride or swim each day. Living in Townsville, I am blessed with a large network of bike paths and bike lanes on the roads; there are also a lot of offroad trails within a short ride of my house. I love a good spin on my road bike or my mountain bike, and that is my #1 chillout option.

Unfortunately, the flipside of the Townsville blessing is the weather. Riding during the day in summer is madness, and sometimes impossible. Living on the fringe of town, my neighbourhood floods quite regularly, or at least becomes impossible for cyclists to ride safely. That's when I get the most antsy.

A couple of years back, I was also an avid skydiver. Weekends on the dropzone were little pockets of relaxation in an otherwise busy life. The skydiving world is one of necessary relaxing and waiting. At a smaller dropzone, a whole weekend may be given over to four or five jumps. Many skydivers tend to become a bit philosophical, solving the world's problems while they wait for the next load. For some reason, that sort of inactivity is fine by me. And anyway - I could always go for a run or a swim when I get home. Sadly, those days are over, or at least on hold, due to the depressing state of my gear. A slightly holy (and not in the religious sense) parachute, an out-of-date activation device and a few other dramas have grounded me for some time . . .

Good evening Otokonoko. So you are a fellow Townsvillite and cyclist.

Yes cycling is a good way to chill out....and er to heat up at the same time in this tropical weather!

Thanks again people. As Ludwig says, there's been alot of positive input in this discussion, which has certainly 'chilled out' some online interactions that had got a bit heated.

Speaking of heat, I lived in Townsville for many years, and there's no way you'd find me riding a bicycle there in summer - let alone running up Castle Hill at any time of the year! Mind you, it's pretty bloody hot again where I live in the far south of Qld - 36C forecast for today, didn't get below 21C last night.

I have to go to Brisbane tomorrow for my youngest's graduation do from primary school, and I'm not looking forward to it. In fact, I think Brisbane in summer is worse than Tombstone... er Townsville - at least you generally get a sea breeze in the northern capital.

Ludwig

<< The long-time good relationship between you (CJ) and I, which then became very badly fractured, has been mended here, or at least from my perspective it has. I’ll certainly be striving to keep it that way. >>

Very decent of you, Ludwig.

Don't be too polite though. I'll lose a top little source of entertainment. :)

<< I'll lose a top little source of entertainment. >>

Hahaha. Yair me too!! (:>/

I might have to go get into Twitter or Facebook to get m’ jollies!!

I really don't mind the weather up this end of the state. At least there's some excitement about it. Of course, when the roads are cut for so long that all you can get is long life milk (if you're lucky), it starts to get a bit depressing. But the anticipation of summer, that feeling that it's going to bucket down any second now, and the sound of big fat raindrops on the old metal roof always seem to make up for it. And even at this time of year, a ride along the river late at night brings with it a nice, refreshing breeze. And, only a couple of months ago, a nice mist hanging over the shallows by the Bowen Road bridge. It's an alright kind of place if you ask me.

A couple of years ago, I did some skydiving out at Toogoolawah, west of Brisbane. Well, west of the Sunshine Coast, really. Now that's hot. The road was practically liquid - I think there are still some traces of it stuck to my car - and the flies were unbearable. Give me Townsville summer over that any day!