2souls2wheels

What crazy weather its been, super hot today and storms in the afternoon. The town looked like it needed good rain though as there was dry grass everywhere. 
Its a larger town than we anticipated but a nice town. We went to the power museum to find out that Tamworth was the first place in the Southern hemisphere to have electric powered street lights. 16 years before Sydney and 20 years before Melbourne. We had a great tour of the Museum from Arthur a very cute, smart, knowledgeable man. He would be in his late 80s. Bless his cotton socks.

From there we walked the streets and grabbed some food to prepare at the caravan park as i was fading fast. I was so hungry and it was so hot. We made some lunch, went for a long swim where i had my ears chatted off by a young girl at the pool the age of 21 who was a compulsive liar. She told me within the hour of talking she was a nurse, baker and shop owner of a sandwich shop in manly. Poor girl i hope she finds her way but entertaining to listen too.

We then set out for some live country music and we came across the amazing Adam Bolton a well known local artist. You can hear that country music is his passion as when he sings country its as though he is singing to you with his soul. When he sings other music its still great but not breathtaking.
We walked home along the main street full of beautiful fairy lights on the trees. What a lovely town. Tamworth you have surprised me.

​

Today was warm however we woke up well rested with our tent in the shade of some huge trees in Secura Lifestyle caravan park in Forster.

The caravan park is really nice, very well maintained with very clean facilities. There is even a a social undercover area which houses 4 bbqs, over 40 seats a large tv and full kitchen for all to use.
Great pool so Rob and i snuck in for a late night swim last night and the water temperature was fantastic.
It was the cleanest and nicest park on the trip so far.

This morning we went for a ride and walk around the area and it was very pretty indeed. We ate at Beach bums cafe on the water which was delicious and spent the rest of the day at the beach.

We then head to Port Macquarie to stay with our friends Ben and Anna. They have 2 gorgeous girls Ava and Mia.

The second day in Port we rode up to the Don Johnstone lookout which was so beautiful. Ben rides a Harley so it was nice to have some riding company for a change.  I had no idea there were so many mountains, lakes and canals in the area. So much water and very blue, a great spot.

Mia had her 2nd birthday party and it was a hot day, the weather got up to 47°c which is hot for the area.
The kids all played in little kiddie pools and under the sprinkler.
We had to retreat to a neighbors pool when most of the guests had left as it was too hot for the adults to be sitting outside. The neighbors are all crazy which made it quite fun.

It was lovely staying there, strange waking up to the sound of children though. They have so much energy. Robs usually looks a little awkward holding children as though they are from another planet but with Ava he was quiet comfortable. He said “i like this one”. Understandable, all she does is smile all day.

We went for a nice lunch intown and Anna cooked us some smashing dinners. I wanted to give her a break so i took Mia (whos 2) for a huge walk in the pram one afternoon and a swim in the lake. Not a problem at all, loved the water what a gorgeous girl. Anna has done a great job they are so well behaved which is more rare with kids than it should be these days.

As Rob and i travel around Australia we are picking out places we would like to live after the journey. Port Macquarie we loved. Its full of beaches, lakes and luscious mountains. Its now number 1 on the destinations we would like to live. Big enough town to feel comfortable, small enough for business opportunities. Jinderbyne is now number 2.

​

As we slowly rode into Mount Wilson it was like riding into a hidden rainforest. There was fog all around us, soft rain falling on my viser and beautiful huge rainforest flora. We quickly set up our tent in the light rain, put our ponchos on and went for a walk through the rainforest. It was picturesque with the vines reminding me of the trees on the streets of Rio. There was a huge tree which had been struck by lighting some years ago but slowly growing back. During the night it rained heavily and didn’t stop or look like it was going to anytime soon. We luckily got a 10 minute break to pack up the tent but everything else we managed to pack up under the shelter of some covered picnic tables.

Very very lucky to have been close to shelter.
I put on my wet riding gear that had been hung on the tree the night before hoping it would dry. It was saturated.

We head off to a place called Broke stopping in Bilpin on the way which is famous for its delicious apple pies, we were not disappointed.
The rain stayed with us majority of the journey. Its funny, i always felt sorry for people riding motorbikes in the rain, but riding in the rain is amazing. There is something soothing almost calming about it. You feel one with nature, with your environment. Strange.
We road through a place called Kurrajong Hills in the middle of nowhere but full of huge houses. What do these people do out here?!

As we road into the Hunter Valley we were surrounded by exquisite wineries on each side with the mountainous green backdrop. We pulled up to the only shop in town and refreshed ourselves with a drink after a long ride. Filled up the bikes with petrol (mine a lovely total of $14.60) and looked for the winery offering free accomidation with a meal purchase from their restaurant in our phone. Something we had read the night before. We follow the GPS the way we had came to a classy looking winery entrance.
Our goal was to check the menu first and then decide if we would stay, so as we searched for someone on the premise at 5.30pm a small dog came running out and started licking the back of my knee. What the!!
A woman comes out to greet us and shows us the menu. Delicious looking food, not overly expensive, we will stay.

By this time the rain has long gone and we are hot! I quickly grab out my gym pants to swap for my thick riding pants but as i pull my pants off a leech falls into my boot. Ekkk i drop my gym pants on the ground and show Rob the leech. Its been in there since the morning and we had been riding for about 5 hours including stops. Its got a bit of blood in it this one. The dog liking my leg now makes sense. I quickly put my pants on and walk over to show another couple we had been talking to whilst pulling up. Whilst showing them the leech in my boot something starts to bite my legs, all over.. its ants!! They got in when i dropped my pants and i literally had  ants in my pants and it hurts. I drop the boot housing a leech and run as fast as i can whilst trying to pull them out of my pants to the toilet. I only wish Rob was faster with a camera.

So after discovering a leech and ants in my pants we showered and head to dinner looking out over the beautiful view.
What romantic way to finish the day.

What a fun 4 days,how did we end u at Bathurst?

Well, we were sitting in McDonalds on Thursday morning in Lithco charging our phones as we had just come from Woolami National Park and had been out of range and battery for a few days. As Rob turned on his phone it lit up like he won jackpot on a pokie machine. Ding ding ding. It was his mates Buster and Scotty, They were currently on there way to Bathurst with some extra space in there campsite for the 12 hour. Rob loves racing! Its for 3 night 4 days. We were 45mins away. As if we would say no.

I have never been into car racing, I have however been to a few race meets as its Robs passion and he races for fun.
I did like the Bathurst 12 hour though. There are lots of families there and it was a much more pleasant friendly environment. I’ve been to a car race on the Gold Coast and a motorbike race at Phillip Island before and they were both seedy male dominated unpleasant environments for a woman. Bathurst 12 hour was a winner!
As we drove up to the track on the Thusday, the day before practice day we were allowed to drive on the actual track past all the race cars in the pits. That was cool. I think Rob might have creamed his jocks.

We then waited for the guys and headed up to our camping spot. The days were warm but entertaining.
The guys were very drunk but not disgusting. I learnt a lot about cars and racing which was great.
The highlight for me however was when we drove into town to find the rest of the team a walking stick from an opp shop (due to a walking stick trend Scotty started the previous year#leaning/esky dragging stick)
I think we may have gone into every op shop in Bathurst, which i loved. In that time i found myself a new dress, hat and glasses for $15 as i had limited clean clothes and left a dress at Lindas. I managed to score a compliment in the first 30 minutes of wearing the dress from a lady in a cafe. Op shop score!!!

The race was a great one to watch, especially watching grown men throw tanties when there team crashes. Unacceptable but entertaining.

We went out in Bathurst and had to re step Rob through the night the next day when we went into town. You know your boyfriend is drunk when you go into a bar that you went into earlier that day and the same lady serves you. Rob says ‘ Your the lady from the Oxford bar’ i say ‘ Honey we are in the oxford’
He says ‘ what!? We are in the oxford!? Is this the oxford?!  Me.. ‘Yes honey’ Rob ‘ no way!’
He danced more than John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever that night with more pelvic thrusts than a girlfriend should witness on the dance floor. We had fun.
We also went to the RSL earlier that night and watched some boxing match between Green and …. that idiot .. Mundine. There was an actual fight in the RSL between two boozed up bogans thinking they were professionals.
Rob almost got in a fight. He was trying to be friends with a group of local guys but too drunk to realize they didn’t want a bar of him. We moved and left straight after the fight.

Bathurst as a town was so beautiful, so many heritage looking buildings and clean well manicured parks. We went to a house called Abercrombie house which is huge, old and incredible. We didn’t book and unfortunately when we arrived the ferrari team who won the 12 hours had just left as that had been there  for 4 days. Bummer, but at least we got to see the outside of the house.

We then left Bathurst for Mt Wilson in the rain.

​

Our plan was to wake and set off for an 8km hike and then a 2 hour ride to our next destination.

I however had a horrific sleep. It rained heavily and i woke up and with an owl singing loudly near our tent, me needing the bathroom, and my arms throbbing from my first off road ride so i was unable to get back to sleep.
Usually its Rob who cant sleep but last night it was my turn.

Instead of riding, we hiked about 15kms. We went for a walk to the glow worm tunnel and Ruins walk in the Woolami National Park.
The glow worm tunnel was amazing. Initially when you walk in, its so dark and you have to emurase yourself further into the cave. As you stand in the cool darkness and silence they slowly appear, one by one their lights come on. Its like looking up into the night sky as each star appears, yet they are all around you in a cave. We stood in the tunnel in awe holding each other and eventually leading to a romantic disco pash under the wormy sky.

We hiked down and Rob scared the begeebers out of me by doing a river crossing on his bike. It was a lot of water and  sand, it got him pretty excited.

We then hiked on a ruins treck of an old oil refinery that started operation in 1907. It must have been such a huge production as the site is still magnificent even though it closed in 1937.
Most of the relics at Newmes distilled and refined crude oil into a range of products.The engineering and quality of workmanship that still remains today is one of wonder. Incredible to think it is now just part of the landscape. Incredible place in the middle of no where.

The campground we are staying at the park is spectacular. We are surrounded by multiple amazing cliff faces that are protecting us from the wind. We have seen a Wombat, Kangeroos, Wallabies, Ducks Walleroos, and even a black male Walleroo which is rare and hard to get a photo of. I just managed.

​

How beautiful! Leura was such a cut little town, breath taking trees and feel about it. We went for a walk to look at Wentworth Falls and the 3 sisters(few mountains) in true ozzie style, thongs. What was i thinking? I should have known it would turn into a full blown hike with Mcguiver trying to find new suspecting paths.

We walk down one path and there was a couple kitted out with sneakers walking back. The path is too narrow they say. I can see the light go off in Robs mind, challenge accepted.
We walk down the narrow path on the side of a cliff as far as it will go. As it starts to spit and my thongs get slippery i step in a big sloshy mud pit. We laugh, i cry inside.
Rob is not deterred to go back as that would mean defeat like the other couple, even though we had gone significantly further.
He looks for another path..there is a faint one. We take it. Thankfully i hear other people and it gets us close enough to another path  that we can dart through the bush back onto the normal hiking track. Guess who we are not far behind? The couple who advised us otherwise. Rob is stoked as he states ‘that means we didn’t loose any time but we had an extra adventure.’ I never know where ill end up when im with Mcguiver.

We get to the falls and they are amazing. We find places we can relax and run the water over our hands and feet.
We ride back to our campsite which is on Lyell lake. Rob has already set up the hammock for me the previous day. Its my favourite spot.

We were thinking about having a third night at the location however waking up this morning it was soo windy. As we were on the edge of the lake there was so much sand and dirt flying in from the side. We packed up with the intention to move to another area yet we decided a new located would be the better option afterall.
We stop in and have lunch in town and head further into the  blue mountains with our supplies. Riding to our current camping location i rode about 18km on a dirt road. Uneaven gravel the whole way in 34degree heat. I was wrecked. I thought i was going to faint when we arrived i was so tired. A bit of fresh air,  shade and water worked wonders.
We then went and cooled down in a close running river. Rob, made me a rocky path to our destination, the romantic thing he is.
We spoke to a couple named Rodger and Katalina who work in the one and only resort not far from here, they advised us to do the ruins walk if we can off the old coal station. We will do it tomorrow.

  

​

Leaving Hornsby to head on the hour and a half journey to the Blue Mountains i was so nervous.  It was my first ride on the road.  I stalled it before I took off. We were coming out of a motorbike shop driveway and had a few onlookers. I was embarrassed. Rob u-turned around and began to tell me off for not following his directions of keeping it in neutral and rolling it down the road until I was on the flat. Between the helmet and my nerves I misunderstood thinking it was just until the end of the driveway. I was quick to say ‘Im learning, I misunderstood!’  He then began new instructions. I knew what to do on the bike but it’s the initial first driveway, first road, first corner, first gear change, first set of lights, first hill start, first lane change, first hwy, first truck pass. Its harder than learning how to drive a car in my opinion as you have to be so consciously aware all the time of all the traffice, one wrong move could be your life.

I was relieved when we arrived and exhausted! Riding is so much more tiring than sitting on the back as anyone would imagine yet it surprised me just how much. 

As we laid in our tent on the edge of Springwood I sent off a message to Robs favourite author Steve Crombie with my deepest thanks for taking the time to meet Rob. He wrote back inviting us to his apartment in North Bondi for Australia day celebrations the next day and to stay the night. As I read the message to Rob his face lit up like a child at Christmas. Even with all the excitement, his first thought was me. What a gem. Do you want to go? Do you feel confident riding back to the city, to North Bondi? How could I say no to that face, of course I can ride through the city to North Bondi with a day of riding up my sleeve, ekk I was so nervous but I also wanted to go and meet new people. 

I do think the date of Australia Day needs to be changed so we are inclusive of a date thats important and positive to Aboriginals. A date we can all celebrate.A bit of a slap in the face isnt it? Invasion day. Anyways..

We wake and quickly pack everything up, have a cold shower in the public toilet which has a shower head randomly on the wall, head into a small town on the way called Springwood for breakfast and we are off. We take mostly the hwys which was great and easy for me, North Bondi is really hilly though so a lot of hill starts, which I’m still getting used too.

We ride up to the apartment and are greeted by multiple waves from happy faces on the balcony. Steve came down to greet us, looked at the bikes and invited us up. We had a fantastic day, met lots of amazing people and, played games and danced, all whilst looking over the amazing views of North Bondi beach and the ocean.

The next day we were a little worse for wear but with a good breaky and a big dose of water we were off to our previous camp site for an early night.

After getting my bike licence i was keen yet nervous to practice.

I kitted myself up in bike gear and went down to the hot underground car park with Rob to practice my turns and stopping.
Within the first 3 minutes i had fallen off and dropped my bike on its side. I was turning  around a corner on flat cement and there was a large pile of water where i was turning, so i put my foot down for extra balance and it slid straight out from underneath me. Thankfully the bike was ok but for some reason i started to cry. I think it was a build up of emotions and nerves that came rolling down my face. Rob was quick to say ‘well im glad we got that over with, because it will happen again at some point as it does to everyone, so the sooner the better.’
Not sympathetic but what i needed, so up i got again and off i rode. Practicing my figure 8s and stopping. The basics but apparently the hard things to master. It was hot.

We then headed up to a few beaches, palm beach, whale beach. Had lunch in lovely Avalon surf club overlooking the ocean, close to where Robs parents use to live. We went for a swim and within 5 minutes Rob got stung by a blue bottle. He iced it and then ran it under hot water for 15minutes and iced again, as advised by the lifesavers. .i mean lifeguards. Mmm lifesavers lollies…
I have been stung by a jellyfish before all up my forearm and it blistered straight away. I couldnt do my next flight as it was still so visable. Robs hand was a little swollen and red . Thinking about it now i would have shown the same sympathy as Rob did when i fell off my bike. “You’ll be fine, its all part of the adventure” He was fine.

The day before we left Victoria i thought i would try and contact Robs favourite novelist Steve Crombie. His book inspired Rob to ride through North and South America. I did a bit of searching and found him on facebook and asked if he would be interested in a catch up. I told him how Rob had travelled after his books inspiration and about our current journey. He was so nice and keen as mustard. We met up with him last night and they both got along so well trading adventures like long lost friends. He has travelled most of the world by motorbike. What an amazing life.

Today was my first day riding on the roads. What a way to learn, through busy Sydney suburbs and packed hwys. I stalled it twice, may have almost wet myself a little but  managed. Realised after half an hour in i was stiff as a board haha nervous.
We are now in the blue mountains just past Springbrook. It was sad to leave Linda and her amazing hospitality but I’m excited to see what the next few days have instore.

​

When the teacher first started talking i thought ohhh geeze im not going to pass this.

She was a bitch. She had already managed to tell us off for not being fully kitted in motorbike gear at 11.50am, 10minutes before the course started whilst we waited outside in 38 degree heat. We all had our clothes ready to wear we just didnt arrive in them and that didnt please her.

Throughout the next hour however i realised she was just super crazy like my English friend Jodie. A bitch, but a funny bitch.
I was cracking up through out the course, brought to tears multiple times and i felt like i was the only one laughing. My favourite statement she said was to a 40-50 year old man in the group getting his scooter licence. “I dont care if you have a vagina and your riding a scooter but bring in your prostitute legs, they cant be flapping around”
Haha Awesome!!

I passed the practical and did my written today, i passed with 100%!! Woop woop i can breath again. Yayyy im a learner!!!!

We did 8 hours of riding over 2 days.
I feel okay about riding around some quite streets however i’m going to have to practice a bit over the weekend so im more confident before we head off.

Rob called the mechanic yesturday about when his bike would be ready. They called their head office in Perth questioning when the part will arrive and they said the 5th of Feb!!
He told a white lie and said we were staying in a tent at the moment and let them know we are waiting on the bike to continue our Australian journey. The mechanic gave Rob head offices number and a name and told him to call them. He did, the guy got back to him 2 hours later and said they are sorry but they have had the part all along!! Something to do with the way it was batched incorrectly in there new system. Its getting sent by airmail and should have arrived today.
The company also offered free ktm parts for Robs next service. Woop woop!!

We caught up with my old Dubai room mate Fi and her husband Chris. They are gorgeous and literally look like Barbie and Ken.
They are so funny and down to earth.
Fi has jokingly named there unborn child Jnr Abbott for its large forhead on the scans.
Whilst Chris struts down to the beach side pool from there apartment for a swim every morning in a robe,hotel slippers and sunglasses for his own laughs at peoples reactions.
Classic!
A great night with great people!

​

Who knew bikes could be so fun!!!
To clean up the bike and transform it into a beautiful riding machine we went to autobahn  and picked up a whole range of products i never even knew existed. We took it to the manual car wash and gave it a good scrub.
We ordered the seat and windscreen from Di in Tassie on ebay.
We bought a bmw badge as it was missing one on the left and a holder for my phone to use as a gps. Also a cage for the motor in case i drop it. 🙂

Using the products from autobahn was so fun and satisfying. Who knew!!
My favourite is the cut and polish.  I wish i knew about this stuff when i bought my first car. Ladies and gents who are not familiar with this stuff, its amazing. As there was so much dirt embedded into the bike from never being cleaned and staying out in the sun for 7 years i had to rub and rub until the painted panels were as smooth as a babies bottom. I knew i could be ocd but cut and polishing a bike took me to a new level.
Im sure it would be possible to use that stuff on stained and scratched kitchen appliances. No more carrot juice stains head to autobarn!! Not sure how safe that would be, ill test it one day and let you know.

Next favourite was the creamy stuff that cleaned the exhaust……autosol.
Rob cleaned it up so well. Its so shiney. Again another product that could be used to clean a stainless steel kitchen! Amazing!!

We also used a vinyl and plastic conditioner which made the old, dry, faded plastic black again.

We rubbed metholated spirits where the badge was going to clean to surface and stuck the new badge on.
 
So far we have invested about 8 hours of work on the bike and there is still more to go. We need to put clear nail polish on a spot that the paint is coming off from, and give the whole thing a good wax and polish. We need to attach all items when they arrive and get a licence to ride!! Yayyy!

On another note we went out for dinner for Heathers birthday at a yatch club which was great fun. I met and talked to a guy named Blake for most of the night. Isn’t it amazing how you can meet so many people when your travelling but then there is one who you just connect to as though you have known them a lifetime. You talk about your families, your adventures and your goals. Its not until you have this connection you look at all your prior interactions.
When i told Rob he was there with his boyfriend i think it was a sigh of relief but he said i guessed as you wouldn’t usually talk to a guy for so long so in depth unless he was an old friend or gay.

It made me think a little. Do i hold back from talking to other men i have met incase it makes Rob feel uncomfortable. I do. I love him so much i dont want to loose him but by doing this what am i loosing. Potential moments with strangers that i can grow and learn from. Beautiful moments like i shared with Blake.
I have the man of my dreams and have no desire to find anyone else but i will make more of an effort to connect with men and woman on our journey as its these encounters we remember.