Our Final Planning Meeting

Just four and a half weeks to departure day. Last night the four of us, and our families gathered for a BBQ. This was the last time that we will all get together before we leave. We had a magnificent meal, and sat outside on a beautiful mild evening until well after midnight, sipping some fine wines, and pouring over maps, proposed itineraries and kit lists, and checking out Marcelo’s Honda 900 Hornet, and the accessories he has added for the trip. We are confident that all is in place, but I do need to do a "practice" pack of all my gear. My kids want me to pack all my stuff, ride around the block, set up my tent and camp on the back lawn and cook some breakfast as a trial run. I'm not sure I need to go to that extent.

The fires currently raging in Victoria are terrible. There have been many, many deaths, and massive property losses. We heard that the whole town of Marysville has been burnt to the ground. Chris and I have stayed there a couple of times, and it was a beautiful, quite little town, with so much character. It was one place that Fish and I had discussed visiting, just to have a look at Bruno’s Sculpture Garden, which was a magical place. Have a look at Bruno’s evocative, and beautiful work at http://www.brunosart.com/tour.htm Sadly, it's now all gone…..

On the other hand, I’m watching the Queensland floods closely. The Bruce Highway north of Townsville is still cut, as is the road to Mt Isa. It’s nearly two months before I’ll be in the area, so I’m confident that the rain will stop and waters will subside.

I was thrilled to be the recipient of an Australia Day Honor, and have booked a flight home from Cairns so that I can attend the presentation ceremony at Government House. I'll fly straight back to Cairns to resume my adventure after the presentation. If the road to Cairns are still closed when I get to Townsville, I won’t be able to get home for the ceremony, and I'll be one unhappy traveller.

Here's two pieces of good advice that I've received……..

1. Lay out all the stuff you plan on taking, then put half of it back in the wardrobe and double the amount of cash you think you will need.

2. Pray for fine weather, but be well prepared for rain


And finally, a Riders' Prayer
I pray that I’ll have the foresight to know where I'm going,
The hindsight to appreciate where I’ve been,
The insight to savour the good and the bad as part of the adventure,
And that is will only be rubber that hits the road.

Stay tuned.......