The 2021 transition to 2022 marked the second time we have had the Christmas/New Year week in Hobart – excellent timing with weather, activities such as the incoming Sydney to Hobart yachts and the wonderful ‘Taste of Tasmania’ food and wine event. A bonus is that our daughter Kate is now Hobart based so with … More Ho Ho Hobart
We really hadn’t done enough miles and miles to Miles (in the Western Downs region of QLD) for the BMW Motorcycle Club Queensland “Back to the Bush” No.18 (B2B18) in early October, so decided to do it all over again-ish. Miles was supposed to be just a mid-way point for our “second long weekend in … More Hello Possums
We’d long talked about doing the ride to the top of Cape York before we were too old. Unfortunately we missed that window, but fortunately didn’t realise it. So how do these things come to pass? The Women’s Adventure Rider Australia (WARA) must be held fully accountable, Cindy has ridden with them and follows their … More In Cape Able
Day 21. A Sunday. The 4:45am awakening is an 8 on the scale between rude and harsh, closer to the harsh end because they are quite polite. No calling in sick from a cabin on the Spirit of Tasmania though, it’s down and at ‘em on the vehicle deck. Bags jammed into panniers, let others … More Up. Tasmania Part 3
Tasmania. The mere mention of the name brings up happy thoughts of glittering golden temples, tropical beaches, and green curry. Oh hang on, that’s Thailand. Pretty much all happy dreams are taken out the back and shot by hooting of the 4:45am alarm as the Spirit of Tasmania drifts into Devonport, why isn’t there a … More Around. Tasmania Part 2
Tasmania. The final frontier. In the time of The ‘Rona many experienced veterans have tried to get across Bass Strait and failed, but we trusted in our years of clutching rabbit’s feet, eating four leaf clover, and pulling on large tattooed men’s beards to improve our blind luck skills. It paid off; it is highly … More Down. Tasmania Part 1
A trip to Las Vegas is perfect for a 25th silver wedding anniversary, slightly more so than a trip to Cairns. But Cairns was firmly within the present allowable travel perimeter, and Las Vegas wasn’t, so Cairns it was. A Friday afternoon flight successfully boarded giving the appearance we were going to fit the face … More Silver Service
Borders closed but not locked down and free to travel within your state? You own an adventure motorcycle? You live in San Marino or Monaco? Sorry about that. Fortunately, we live in Queensland which is about the size of 4.2 million Vatican Cities, and has a few more dirt roads even including Pope Francis’ private … More Go West Middle-Aged Man! (And Woman)
We left Part 2 having not physically left Part 2. We rose still in Hahndorf on Day 18, breakfasted, clipped the panniers mostly laden with pre-laundry back on the bikes, and hit the road to reach the terminus of the journey, Kangaroo Island, although without the rest of the family flying in as originally planned … More South by South-west Part 3 – The Green Green Grass to Home
We left Part 1 at the close of the Compass Expeditions Reunion in Jindabyne. If you haven’t read Part 1, then nothing in this Part will make any sense whatever. You’ll be asking how on earth we managed to find ourselves on Triumph motorcycles starting in southern NSW and finishing in Hahndorf South Australia, and … More South by South-west Part 2 – In Hahndorf’s Way
travellingbennetts 