retracing my past

glitch

Mapping the next ride...
Staff member
yeah,
instead you had to pull over and adjust points, replace the castor oil that had leaked out the cases and replace a throttle cable :bs

Oh man...you'll fit right in! :thumbs:
Give as good as you'll have to take around here, yeah!!

(btw., great to see a youngster who actually knows what points and castor oil are instead of scouring an Italian cooking-show on Youtube for it :bt)

Love the yarn, love the pics...you're onto something good there.
Kudos! :bow:
 

spenaroo

Just through the door
Day 3: Mt Gambier - Strathalbyn
Today was a pleasant surprise. The sky I arose to this morning was overcast, with only various shades of grey in sight. However by the time I had had wandered downstairs to the bar for a hot chocolate (I should live above a pub, its great) the sky was blue without a cloud in sight.
Jumping on the bike I decided to start the morning with a casual ride to the blue lake. The deep blue water was a nice serene start. A mood that carried throughout the day.
My expectations was a long boring ride mostly to cover ground. Spotted With some breaks at key sights. Instead I was treated to a varied landscape, with all the colours of an oil painters pallette. Unlike Victoria's unyielding fertile green backdrop. South Australia was full of different shades, the paint expertly applied - ranging from the yellows and browns of trees and bushes fighting for survival. To the white sands and even purple at a small salt lake.
The coastline is very different to the previous two days. Its soft with the landscape reflecting a cloth rippling in a soft wind, as it subtly dips and rises as you cover the vast expanse. A stark contrast to the coastline already travelled. None of the Cliffs worn away by the crishing force of thousands of waves breaking on the rock. Day after day over innumerable years. Instead a soft white beach greets the water, remaining flat till the dunes
then there is the coorong. The road starts with bushes lining the road blocking you're view from the surroundings, slowly opening up to reveal a shimmering body of water on my left. As far as the eye can see, with a shoreline running parallel a few hundred metres away. Its like this for an hour, just a constant companion on your left shoulder.
As it ends, there was a comparatively short ride to wellington, my chosen spot to cross the Murray River. Chosen because it still uses a ferry. Reminding me of weekends away as a child in the Riverland. From here it was a ride through some vineyards to Strathalbyn. Like yesterday I spent the day in a zen like state, absorbing my surroundings with a clear mind. Letting me clock up the milage, without feeling the effects. Knowing time was passing, but without thought as to how long. While my mind is alert and fresh. My body still paid the toll for today. Only one more day of riding till I reach my goal with my chosen path.

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glitch

Mapping the next ride...
Staff member
.... day was spent cruising at speed following the highway, stopping to refuel at warnembol on my way through to Mt Gambier. The view wasnt anything special compared to the great ocean road.


Maybe something for next time to break up the highway-stretch west of Warrnambool. It's just off the main hwy.

https://goo.gl/maps/YSadNNc6EaM2

http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/tower-hill-w.r


Re: the ferry in those pics = Wellington Ferry? (never mind, found the ref in the last instalment :)
Nice going, thanks for a good read :so
 

spenaroo

Just through the door
thanks for the positive feedback,
here's the last day of the journey over, however i stayed in Adelaide for a week. before returning home via the inland route. so I may write a bit on the return as i never got around to at the time - too tired that night

Day 4: strathalbyn - adelaide
Today was the shortest day of riding.
Everything has been at a relaxed pace, without any thoughts to schedule or distance needed. As I was so close to adelaide. But kept to my plan and detoured down the peninsula.
The ride to goolwa was through fields of long grass. Inviting me to run out into them with my hands spread wide, grazing the top. However I stayed my path and quickly came into goolwa. It was a bittersweet moment. As despite 5 years passing it looked excatly the same as I remembered those years ago. Last time I was here it was with my father renovating the property he had. Was strange not to have the family with me.
Then it was a easy ride at sedate speeds to Victor Harbour. As a young child coming here on day trips I didn't appreciate how beautiful of a spot this is. With its bluffs overlooking the island. With a wooden peir connecting it to shore. Complete with horse drawn carriage. A truly picturesque sight especially the crystal clear water. Despite the distance covered in the last few days. I had a chance encounter that shows how small the world is. As I was greeted by some old work colleague's from my time in the bike industry at Melbourne. They had also ridden down. As there was a large harley gathering.
Then it was off to continue snaking my way around the peninsula. The landscape was full of rolling hills, with evenly sloping sides like over grown mounds. Covered in bright grass. Broken up like a patchwork quilt by fields. Was an easy going relaxed pace, as I made my way through the McClaren vale vineyards, that like so many car trips of my youth signaled that I was almost there. Being a few hours ahead of schedule I detoured through norlunga to see the beach of my young childhood and the reef we used to snorkel.
Then I made my way over a few hills and into adelaide on a road I drove several times a week as a teenager. As I came up that last crest I saw adelaide greeting me like an old friend. Familiar yet distant.
My first stop was the house I spent many years in Brighton. Seeing the cars lining the street, and knowing my old neighbors... I walked into their grandfinal party to their surprise and had a catch-up.
I felt it fitting today to end this part of my journey, where I began my move to Melbourne those years ago. Sitting writing this on a park bench next to the house I last lived in
The first picture today is the view I had everyday while I was here for that year or two
A nice way to come full circle.

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glitch

Mapping the next ride...
Staff member
Helloooo, what a yarn for a "First Effort" :eek:

Love the personal angle on it... it lifts the game from "good" to "excellent" :clap::clap:
And it's all about the journey + travel + places.... rather than trivialities of bike, tyres or statistics.

Well done, love it!!
Maybe one idea for the next one...it'd be appreciated if you captioned the pics by either a short "what+where"
or by draping the text sequentially around the pics to "make it flow" (meshing text and pics into a continuous yarn, with a few pointers of what's what+ where))
 
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