Hey Skunk,
As I was reading your thread I realised that I could have written it!!
Started commuting this week in sunny Townsville, Australia. What a great place to ride. Tropical North Queensland with great weather all year round.
We have been in drought for about 6 years and the day I decide to dust off the old penny farthing (maybe not that old but close!!) it pours down by the bucketload.
Ive really got the taste for riding now and the place I'm from has only three hills and you would have to go out of your way to ride up them!!