Krazy kangaroos! Cyclists beware!

I got an email...

Miss "S" writes:------------------------------------------------
Felix,
I was wondering if, under the present tsunami circumstances, it would be safer to cycle in Australia than South Asia.
Miss "S", Australia
----------------------------------------------------------------

Well, I don't want to sound like JP2 on great matters of moral and personal choice, but in a word, "no".

Let me share with you a sobering email I got recently from my elder and only brother who lives and cycles in northern New South Wales, a couple of hundred kilometres north of Sydney.

He writes:--------------------------------------------------------
I got hit by a kangaroo a year ago while out pedalling. Bizarre! 4 broken ribs, a punctured lung, cracked hip, concussion and plenty of meat left at the scene. I left the bike and the dead kangaroo, walked 6 km to the highway and spent 9 days in hospital.
Months off work. Still can't sleep on my right side. And you should see my helmet!
------------------------------------------------------------------

OK, thank you elder brother for sharing your wisdom. Appreciated.

So, in India all you gotta worry about is "elephants", and in Cambodia, "landmines", neither of which hop.

So, Miss "S", I hope that clears that up.

Bye for now, your friendly helper cycling pals,
Felix and Mr Pumpy (in Kolkata)