The roads are free

My early morning, long bike ride takes me through some of the prettiest areas of the city. Roads embrace the river, sometimes running along the shore, at other times, soaring above to give amazing views. Expectedly, the houses that look out over the river appear as modern day castles. I ride by wondering how any family could adequately use all the rooms that must exist inside, and guess that the owners must get help in to clean.

It comforts me to see a park bench, sharing the same views. In fact, it costs me nothing to be here, to ride past. In many areas of prime real estate, there was a time where a caravan park held the prime location. On land that now sells for almost a million dollars for 500 square metres, you could pitch a tent for a few dollars a night. Sadly, money talks, and the beautiful places are more and more becoming bought out, privatised, expensive and therefore exclusive. There has been trouble brewing down the coast, where campervans have set up camp in the car park (which happens to have ocean views). The locals sit and write to the paper from their million dollar houses, disgusted that the council don’t move these ‘travellers’ on. I mean, they are using the public toilets, some even washing their clothes in there!! Whenever I pass the dirty campervans I see them as giving a big middle finger to the castles on the hill. I smile.

Makes it important to keep national parks as national parks. If you’re willing to rough it, some of the most amazing places cost little to experience. Then of course there is riding a bike.

The roads are still free.