Skirted Sydney doing our best to avoid it and rode through the Royal National Park.
Big deal.
This was probably the one section that was worthy of a photo.
The rest was small, tourist town after town and traffic.
Lot's of stop and go. Maddening.
Targeting Apollo Bay for the night.
I take photos of the places I stay to try and remember the sequence.
Being in a new place each night can be disorienting.
Never mind remembering what date or day of the week it is.
Oh yeah, I remember now. This was a town on the outskirts of Canberra.
I just love it when the shelves accommodate all the gear.
And a pretty decent kitchen to cook in with new pans.
Found a pool nearby to swim again.
If I didn't need to sleep, I could just shower at these places during the ride.
This is where I get a lot of good ideas for planning my rides.
I also get to meet other people on this forum.
This is Steve. He offered to store my motorcycle at his place for a year for free.
Had to stop and say hello.
After a day of high winds, it was a welcome rest stop.
His 'stable'/man cave.
The side mirror won't stay where I want it so we needed a 10 mm washer with just the right thickness.
Fortunately he had just what we needed and gave us a lot of advice around the snowy mountains.
The road is guaranteed to be open by Oct 7, I targeted the 8th to be sure.
To find these babies on our doorstep.
Like I said, big wind. Going up into the Snowy Mountains was pretty nerve wracking.
Not sure what all the fuss is about, just a bunch of off season ski resorts.
Turned around and came back to Berridale.
These horses were very playful in the crisp 38 degree morning air.
Thank goodness I didn't listen to the well intending guy who said I shouldn't need heated gear.
Yep, watch out. All kinds of critters.
Really amazing how lush and beautiful Australia is.
It is spring here so that helps but whenever I see photos of Australia, it is of a big city or Uluru (which of course is only an area of the continent) but somehow, dry, barren and flat is what I expected.
Hardly.
We had a long day of riding and there were two roads.
Wanted to take the 'shorter' road but Google insisted the longer road.
Found out why the next day when we went to see what we 'missed'.
Don't want to be on the wrong side of this.
Seriously.
Couldn't believe this sign.
Just how big are they?
I would say the road covered in eucalyptus leaves is a lot more dangerous. Turned a twisty forest road into a lot of work rather than fun.
Later I saw a truck pulling a large, rotating brush to sweep the road.
Buffalo Mountain.
Maybe named to look like a buffalo?
Who knows.
Short, twisty, fun in and out again road.
Then it was on to Phillip Island.
And the penguin parade.
It was a ton of fun.
No photos of penguins because they are light sensitive.
Colony of 1500-2000.
They are tiny and blue.
Digs for the night.
Toilet with a view.
Then a ferry to, ahem avoid another big city. Melbourne.
Saw this imitation Bob's Big Boy sign.
At the beginning of the pandemic, I had Arka go to the Burbank location and pick up a bag of their yummy chili spaghetti sauce. My favorite childhood meal.
Enchidna. The young are called puggles.
Saw this guy making it across the road in a hurry.
When I got close, it hunkered down under its shell.
Next was a gorgeous, swooping road through yet another eucalyptus forest, and gorgeous rolling hills and on to the 12 apostles.
I thought a lot about my dad this day.
Next stop. Sovereign Hill living museum.
Sure it was a bit cheesy but it was cheesy fun.
In case you are wondering, I made it.
Read the instructions on how to bowl.
Yep, excellent way to throw your back out.
Pass.
This place was made famous by this gold nugget.
Then on to a steakhouse for dinner.
650 grams, um, well OK.
The next day, rode through lots of farmland.
Mustard fields.
Next stop, Echuca.
The wheels on this thing are wood too!
Tonight's Airbnb actually had ICE.
**gasp**
I've learned to order a glass of 'ice water' and also a 'glass of ice'.
Then I pour the water into the ice.
Nearing the end of the ride. It has been just under a month.
The Tiger has treated me well and the Benelli has kept up with my 800 cc triple.