Month: Dec 2016

​Today was lovely, i was excited the night before to go to the thermal pool. So as soon as i awoke from my dream of making love to rob(realising i was pelvic thrusting and breathing heavily  whilst next to him in the tent) i got swiftly to making breaky. The deal is he pays for fuel and i cook. I am happily exploring my cooking realm on a trangia and i am amazing! 
So after avocado, tomato and egg in rice paper wraps we set off to the thermal pool. In my mind i was thinking of steam coming off some natural looking hot spring.
Unfortunately to my surprise it looked like an actual pool that hadn’t been cleaned with algae in it. Pretty much a larger version of our family pool in winter. Tadpoles and all. It was a little warm 26 degrees to be precise. To cold to be called a thermal pool in my opinion, however it is the start of summer so maybe it has a more thermal affect when there is slow on the ground.

The pool however turned out to be our savior throughout the day. It was hot and we hiked more than my solid thighs where willing to go. The benefit of dating a gorgeously fit man is ability to creapily stare at him as often as you want and it be not weird. The disadvantage, hiking. When he is miles ahead and not even sweating and you feel like you have already been in that pool.
This man definitely loves me thank goodness,  sweat and all.
We hiked to a huge opening of a cave. There was a pile of rocks where the cave ceiling had given way. Surrounding it was little coral statues with moss on them. The sort of things you can imagine fairies living on.
We hiked further around the bend and rob sat on a rock that looked like it could have given away at any moment, he was stupid yet brave. I wanted to slap him yet hug him. I didnt even want to get close to the edge. Such a wimp.

The only way i would have, is if i was a child again. Looking back my dad never told us not to but more the opposite, egged us on, i dont think you can do it, your a scardy cat, so we would, just to prove it.
Gone are those days, call me what you want but ive watch enough you tube videos of the brave heros that fail and im clumsy enough on a day to day basis without going out of my way to add some sort of attempted scare. I fell over 2 times in my old work place on nothing but my own feet. The shop went silent and had over 20 people in it each time.
Rob is aware of my clumsilyness so he holds my hand when theres uneaven ground, he did today thankfully, i would have fallen down a hill otherwise. Clumsy. 

​Today we woke up after a big 10 hour sleep in tom groggin camp, well i did anyway, rob got at least 8 he says.

We had rice paper wraps again with egg avo and tomato for breaky with peri peri salt.
Packed up in record time. Still pretty slow for rob. He thinks i work at a snails pace. Im just awesomly cool calm and collected all the time and he is like the road runner non stop. Perfect match 🙂

From there we went on some pretty windy roads beautiful huge trees with the sun peering through and the magnificent smell of the bush. We saw one of the hydro power stations, amazing how they have set it up.  I can’t believe they have built most of these so many years ago but so much of Australia is still running off coal power stations it seems pretty crazy and unnecessary that we haven’t advanced past coal .
Any ways next stop was khonkoban. Unusual little town. Houses seem very close together with little to no fences. We had a delicious lunch at Shanos cafe and then stocked up with what ever they had as an option for breaky and dinner.  2min noodles and salmon for dinner and the same for breaky as yest tom. We stopped at a dam on the way to our current location. Huge, amazing how they can build such large dam walls.
 
We then went through a huge amount of desalated landscape. There must have been a big fire before the winter and the bush hasn’t been able to recover yet.
Strange. Eery.  Cold. The trees are half black and grey, green on the ground but no leaves on any trees. Strangest landscape I’ve seen for a long time.

Not long after we came out of that area we spotted another few wild brumby. Such beautiful creatures.
We made it here after about 4 hours of riding to the village consisting of 1 building. Cute.
Hot Springs tomorrow. Yay

​What a big day. We awoke from our huge sleep in the house of ullr in thredbo . We both had our first full undisturbed sleep since we left. I didnt realize how shit our moods had both been getting until we woke up all loved up and high on zzzzzzzz.

We had a egg roll which the hotel had decided to make up as the weekend in thredbo had been packed with extreme mountain bike riders. It was awesome. They have a special made compartment on the ski lifts to put there bikes on so they can come flying down the mountain on there bike.
I think it may run all summer the mountain bike tracks. Anyways from there we were of to Charlotte’s pass and the  views of the mountaintops including Kosciuszo, was spectacular with snow still lacing the tips. We hiked to the top 850metres. Generally it doesn’t sound like much but when you’re hiking in motor bike gear and the sun is beaming down, well let’s just say i was knackered.
From there we stopped in the ghost town of Perisha. Nothing there in the summer. Even foods works is closed for the season.
So we headed back to jinderbyne with rumerling bellies to our convenient friend mr kebab.

We stocked up for dinner and breaky in town and headed to our current location. We firstly went for a swim in the beautiful river with the mountains as our back drop. Freezing but pleasant once in. The things you can achieve when you want to wash your poonanny.
Set up camp and i made dinner for rob, his first experience with rice paper wraps. I put it with salmon, advocado and a salad mix. He loved it. 

​So today was an eventful day to say the least. We woke up had an awesome breakfast thanks to me, and started packing up. We had a terrible sleep it was 6’c last night so as soon as we woke up we both agreed a hostle for tomorrow would be more suited as it will be 2’c tonight.

When searching for deals came accross hotel that was cheaper with a king. $79 for the night. We needed a good night sleep desperately.
As we were packing up our new friend Eli came past with one of his mates as they finished work early . Eli had made a bar on the waters edge and stopped by to show his mate.
Eli loves chatting so in between chats we packed up. When rob talks he can’t concentrate on what he doing so he misplaced the keys to the bike. We had to open all bags back up and go through everything. He was frustrated.
He found them by the side of the bike seat.
So we took off to the kebab place for lunch. We were hungry. When we got there rob realised we had a flat front tyre. We ate lunch removed the tire to check it. Got it pumped at the bike shop then took it straight to tyrepower to get fixed. The valve core was leaking. We replaced the tube as well as the valve core just to be safe.
After that we headed straight to thredbo. Had dinner at the local bar and carked it. This place would go off in winter. Beautiful ride up. The taller trees had no leaves so there was something scarce about the landscape still at the beginning of summer. 

​So we love Jindabyne. We are set up right on a lake so the view is absolutely amazing. I cooked a bengali curry last night for dinner in the trangia with brown rice and garlic naan in the fire.1 have surprised myself. 

We bought a bottle of red when we bought dinner but as we got the fire going rob rode back to get one more and ended up with 2 more bottles.
We had some pretty heated discussions. Some points of view were said and i felt hurt by them. It took me a while to warm back up to him in the morning as i only had two glasses to drink so i remembered all that was said. We had a good chat today, we both appologised and realised we dont need alchohol to enjoy the evening.

I mediated and after that i felt better. We sight saw around the town and met a couple Eli and Rhianna, very nice young couple who invited us back to there place for a beer and tea. They are very creative, he is a great photographer who speed races down the hill at mt kosiosco. Rhi loves to croshey and sew. She cleans but wants to get a more creative job which she clearly has the talent for.
They hitchhiked accross the nullarbor as their bus broke down before they left. Today was a beautiful day, rained a little at the end. 

​Yesterday was such a big day. We rode from snowy river to Jindabyne. The snowy river is huge yet soo beautiful. We stopped at little river falls which was magical. The sort of place that fairies live, great spot for a small wedding ceremony or gathering. Ŕob filled up his camelback from running stream water, he is so manly. 

I often feel at times because it’s been so long since I’ve, we’ll actually I’ve never been in this environment where I’m so out of my comfort zone.
To go camping with a car full of goodies is so different ţo traveling with a bike of gear. Not a lot of space for food. I love food and get grumpy when i havnt eaten.

We scaled the mountains and got so high at one point we were completely surrounded by clouds. About 20 black baby cattle ran away when they heard the bike. I dont think they get many bikes this way, so cute. We followed the snowy river, so which is beautiful from do many angles. We were so exhausted, hungry and tired on arrival so we went to the local bowls and sports club for dinner.  $12.50 all i could put on my plate from the salad and veggie bar. My plate was full, I was full.
I woke up today at 6am to the view of the extrodanary man made Lake Jinderbyne. Time for breaky 

​Today as i woke, i knew i was about to go on an adventure so the usually snail like me in the morning was up and about as soon as the alarm went off(which rob had sneakily placed on the bed next to me)

I stripped the sheets and  happily smiled to myself.
I went down stairs to find Rob with an equally large smile on his face. We are ready!

We load our bags onto the bike, rob gets on and asks me to jump on..where? We have two side panias and a huge bag above the back, rob also has a bag on his back. I look at the small gap awaiting me and figure the odds are slim but ill try. Tried, tested, failed.
I tell him im going to have to get on before he does if he wants to fit me on the bike. I sit on, he attempts get on the bike and it nearly falls over. If we hadn’t been next to a pillar we would have fallen over and taken the 200kg bike, 60kg of luggage and 160kg of us. Haha now that would have been a funny sight to watch. Disaster occurs and we havnt even left the driveway.

We are off, for an hour any way, we make a stop at my aunties house to say our farewells my old work place who all come out to hug us good bye. I was only there for 5 months but felt more comfortable than i had since working for Emirates.
We spotted our first suspect when we parked the bike, a thief for sure, we watched him like a hawk as he stared at the bike realising we are watching, he slowly walked away.
We get some supplies and start riding up through bruthen, stopped for fuel in Buchen and then started on the windy road to mckillops bridge. We were so high there was fog through the mountains and on the road. It looked familiar and smelt like childhood memories. Only two major smells remind me of the early days. A paint/tradie shop and the bush, daddies girl.
The road was so narrow and windy which scared the bagebas out of me. I held on tight. It was a single lane but on coming traffic could have come around any corner and it was a huge drop down the side. To make matters worse by this point it was raining and kangeroos were jumping out of every direction.
We make it to mckillips camping area and retreat under the only shelter we see, an information board. Rob is soaked through, he thought the trip would be too hot for his waterproofing liner to be used in his motorbike jacket. Im warm, and relatively dry. Thank goodness for that cause i would have been ready for a bath and bed otherwise.
It stops raining about 5 minutes after we arrive and doesn’t start again whilst we’re here.  Yay.
We set up the tent, cook some eggs and start exploring. We are close to the river, the snowy river. It’s beautiful, wide and warm. Definitely didn’t expect warm. By now is getting darker, i ask rob to come with me to the single drop dunny. After living in the city so many years it just screams to me horror movie, or maybe I’ve had to many people scare me in a drop dunny as a child. I don’t know, but he didn’t care, sure he says.
We retreat in the tent. Robs looks at maps and tells me whats to come while i write what has been. 

​Rob and i love a good challange and adventure and have decided to throw all cards on the table, and set of around Australia. With only a year of dating under our belt the challeges of this adventure far exceed a simple road trip.

Robs done a similar journey from Alaska  to Argentina  which took him 18 months a few years ago, so im travelling with Macgyver.

I on the other hand am a rookie. I used to be a stewardess so have lived out of a suitcase and camped when i was younger but living out of a small pania for a year will be challenging to say the least.

This blog is my diary. Day to day occurrences of living on a bike. A bit more detail that what my facebook photos offer for my friends, family and anyone willing to read. Enjoy our journey