When was the LAST time you did something for the FIRST time?? For me it was drinking a bottle of beer and doing some wild camping in my new unopened TEEPEE Tent.. I had a lower tent but at my age doing everything sitting down is a punish I like to be able to stand up to get those pants on!.. This tent is awesome , easy and sadly I missed the picture of the Kangaroo that hopped on over to keep me company for a short minute. Love my Australian life đ
#2 - TIMES PAST MEETS MACHINES OF THE PRESENT-
FROM HORSES TO STEEL HORSES
I stop for a kodak moment in front of a cabin in the village of Hartley , located between Sydney and Bathurst beyond the Blue Mountains, the settlement of Hartley was once an important staging post for horse-drawn carriages heading west to the goldfields. The original village, dating to the 1830s, is now a perfectly-preserved vestige of the colonial past, with 17 buildings telling the story of life and hardships in regional Australia.
#3 - BETWEEN THE PLAINS AND THE MOUNTAINS.
Getting ready to ride those hills behind me .. one of my favourite areas . Grampians National Park is a nature reserve in Victoria, Australia. Itâs known for its sandstone mountains, wildflowers and wildlife including echidnas and wallabies. Near the village of Halls Gap, the Brambuk Aboriginal Culture gives insight into local Aboriginal history and rock art. Trails lead to waterfalls like towering MacKenzie Falls and lookouts such as the Balconies, with views of the Victoria Ranges. we all have our favourite places that just seem to click .
#4 - A LONG STRETCH OF OUTBACK ROAD THEN A WELCOME SIGHT TO FINALLY STOP!!
One of those times when you want to get off the bike! Little Topar is a village on the Barrier Highway in Western New South Wales, between Broken Hill and Wilcannia, New South Wales Australia . The village is in the Tandora County with a population of about 20 people !!! . the last roadhouse, normally dry and dusty the recent rains has wild flowers blooming thus creating quite a difference to the usual outback vibe ..
Iâll be back here in a few months to see the difference
#5 - WHEN YOU THINK NO ONES HOME.
Well this was embarrassing !! this old house had always intrigued me .. this time on my way to Tamworth i decided to stop and grab a kodak moment .. (selfie sticks are handy ) . it took me forever to turn the bike around on damp ground .. setting up the shot, watching as the kick stand got lower and lower into the mud.. after Iâd got my shot i turn around to admire the place .. and standing there is the lady who lives there !!! .. she invited me in .. she lives with many animals ..!! the place was full of stuff, animals and stunk a bit!! .. BUT SHE WAS HAPPY AND CONTENT. and was a lovely lady who did her own thing and lived her own way !!! she had many stories to share and i once again found a new friend on my travels . we all must simply live our best life !!
Parkville is a small township in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia, located on the New England Highway with a population just over 700 people and ONE LOVELY SLIGHTLY ECCENTRIC LADY WHO SPENT HER DAYS CROCHETING AND REMEMBERING GOOD TIMES !!! (you can spot her in the background
#6 - SOMETIMES LONG STRAIGHT ROADS ARE BRILLIANT !
australia has plenty !!! i stopped at Emmaâs cafe while riding the silo trail . itâs beautiful out there, long straight stretches of road with the odd welcome bend đđź yes itâs easy riding but every now and then roads like this just allow a certain type of calmness of the mind đđź
Minyip is a town in the Wimmera region of Victoria, Australia, 320 kilometres north west of Melbourne. The name "Minyip" is derived from an Aboriginal word for "ashes" or "camping place
The town is known as the "Heart of the Wheat Belt". agriculture especially grain production and handling is one of the region's major industries.
this days adventure can be viewed here Ep112 https://youtu.be/N3PhPHEtOg4
and the short : https://youtube.com/shorts/5DnOyZ0jCdw?feature=share
#7 - THE PERFECT PARTNER !
how often do i find a great Kodak moment đđžđđžđđž.. well it happened on this day.. i almost felt like we ( me and calamity) could live here , everything just fitted .. for those that follow my adventures you will know my love of old western equestrian steampunk designs and what iâve created with my overcooked and OTT vintage chief indian motorcycle.. yes itâs not everyoneâs cup of tea but itâs a talking point .. this location was in Sofala NSW australia .. Sofala looks more like a movie set than a real town. Nestled into the Turon River valley this tiny township once stretched for 16 km along the valley and was famed for the riches found in the area, the large population of 10,000 frenetic miners, and the amusing fact that it once had forty hotels. Today Sofala is a village with an authentic old world charm which, in some cases, is beautifully preserved and in other cases is in danger of falling down and disappearing. In essence its nothing more than three streets (Denison, Bowen and Barkly) which have no formal construction and no kerbing and guttering and yet can legitimately claim to be 'Australia's oldest surviving gold town' because the town still attracts prospectors and fossickers over seventy years after the last gold mine closed down.â¤ď¸â¤ď¸â¤ď¸đđźđđźâ¤ď¸
this days full adventure can be viewed here ep 175 https://youtu.be/NotTk8qu0nY
#8 - IN AUSTRALIA SIZE DOES MATTER
according to Godzilla and when it comes to famous landmarks local councils erect to put them on the map ! .. there are hundreds of BIG somethings around ( banana, prawn, sheep etc show me yours in comments ?? ) And the BIG GUITAR is but another one that requires the obligatory tourist snap.. Tamworth is known for its country music festival and itâs a great town and area .. i had to go there to pick up my new little trailer and do a weeks barbering / makeover tour of the area incorporating, lightening ridge , moree and end up at walcha moto rally festival .. first time pulling a trailer and camping !!! those long stretches gave me time to create the design the trailer would eventually have when i returned home !! Tamworth is about 5 hours north west from sydney
The Kamilaroi people were the first to call the Tamworth region home, with some of their history recorded on rock art that is preserved across the region. The Kamilaroi Nation is one of the four largest Indigenous nations in Australia; a unique culture that has contributed greatly to our history and community.
This touring adventure features over a few episodes starting at EP 183 to EP 190
the tamworth adventure is on Ep 186 https://youtu.be/ex4DfCY14IU
#9 - SOLO MOMENTS - ALONE BUT NEVER LONELY
one of my favourite things when on solo adventures is to just stop and smell the air ( not roses ) .. nothing better than the smell of grass, methane and road kill .. surrounded by nothing but green hills , long windy roads and NO OBLIGATIONS to anyone but me and the machine .. like many of you im sure, i have a busy life with work , family, friends, projects , side hustles etc and just getting life sorted .. fitting in some me time is important.. itâs like oxygen and that old saying give yourself oxygen before you help another rings true ..if iâm ok than itâs better for everyone else .. happy Chris means happy everything .. this picture was taken in one of my favourite areas on the far south coast of NSW just outside a village called Bombala !!
Bombala is a town in the Monaro region of south-eastern New South Wales, Australia, in Snowy Monaro Regional Council. It is approximately 485 kilometres south of the state capital, Sydney. The name derives from an Aboriginal word meaning "Meeting of the waters" . tucked into gentle bend of the Bombala River, the tiny historic township of Bombala is a peaceful spot renowned for its platypus inhabitants
I thought Id videoed this adventure, but canât find it .. iâll certainly go back
Bombala hold a terrific Motorbike festival also each November ..worth the visit for sure.. the whole region is spectacular
#10- WHEN INDIGENOUS HISTORY AND EUROPEAN HISTORY CREATE A TRUELY AUSSIE PLACE
the road to Gundagai is about a 3.5 hours beautiful ride from Sydney heading south west .. i have close mates there Wayne and Andrew who have renamed this place GundaGAY đđđ
anyway here i am in front of an iconic aussie landmark .THE DOG ON THE TUCKERBOX
The Dog on the Tuckerbox is a small statue inspired by a famous Australian poem called âBullocky Billâ that celebrates the life of a mythical* bullock driver's dog that loyally guarded his owner's lunch. (google the poem ,itâs a fun read ) A tuckerbox is an old Australian word for a lunchbox. A bullock is the Australian name for an ox. The monument was erected nine miles from Gundagai in 1926.
. Although a small town, Gundagai is a popular topic for writers and has become a representative icon of a typical Australian country town
and also a great story of the Wiradjuri Aboriginal men Yarri and Jacky Jacky who saved some 69 lives during the great flood of 1852. They used bark canoes to rescue the townsfolk. Heroes !!!!
'Gundagai' means place of birds but that placename may refer to the area to the north of Gundagai not to Gundagai town. The word 'Gundagai' is also said to mean cut with a hand-axe behind the knee.
This adventure was the beginning of my Tasmanian trip and my first stop on my way down south .. plus catching up with my mates for some serious pricilla style cocktails đđžđ!!â
this adventure starts at ep 193 https://youtu.be/RO4Wt1d0qd0
#11- THE ACCIDENTAL ADV RIDER (GPS FAILINGS)
i was out exploring the Cowra area of NSW ..and while looking for some historical sites the GPS took me the way the crowe flies and i found myself on dirt tracks , flooded causeway crossings and roads that were not meant for my indian chief .. you will notice in this picture i finally come to a bitumen road where i stop for my kodak moment
Cowra is a small town in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. About 4 hours from sydney ( add another 2 with my accidental detours )
Cowra was established in 1849 and began to flourish once gold fever swept through the region.
Cowra was the location of the largest Prisoner of War Breakout in modern military history and as a result, many attractions stand as a testimony to the war, including the Japanese and Australian War Cemeteries and the Cowra Japanese Garden & Cultural Centre.
The Cowra Prisoner of War Campsite is one of the top heritage sites in NSW.
i do love it out there and getting lost isnât so bad ⌠however there were moments were i was sh&@ting myself !â
this adventure which was also a barbering biker good deed video ( the off road bit is at end of video or just watch the 50sec short ,if interested) can be found on Ep 174 https://youtu.be/AajJIdum-cE
and the #shorts can be found here
#12 - A PAINTING OR A PHOTO
this was taken somewhere near silverton and broken hill by a local photographer Helen Murray as i was riding around town , what a capture !!!
.. the tree there i believe is an angophora red gum .. part of the eucalyptus species . The term 'eucalypt' includes approximately 900 species in the three genera Eucalyptus, Corymbia and Angophora. Almost all eucalypt species are native to Australia. FYI koalas eat only around 40 to 50 of those.
Silverton is a bucket list destination that i have travelled to twice before ..itâs true aussie outback and i feel so at home .. maybe itâs the connection with the movie Mad Max 2 -The Road Warrior , which was filmed there .. part of my customisation of my indian chief was inspired by Mad Max .. ( #steampunk #western #madmax #toecutter )
when i was sent this pic i honestly thought the tree and bushes were painted into the scene !!
this adventure series can be viewed from ep 140 with the silverton location at ep 143 .. https://youtu.be/XfAeixijxeo
or the 60 sec #short here https://youtube.com/shorts/YnsM5CoqYEc?feature=share
#13 - SEA MAGIC,BEAUTY & TERRORâŚALL READY TO DO A WEDDING BY THE LIGHTHOUSE - LOOKING AFTER THE GROOM AND GROOMSMEN
In my travels I get to not only explore places and go on adventures, I do the odd Barbering gig and makeovers at weddings for the Groom and Groomsmen.. WHY NOT.. the brides and ladies get a lot of fussing.. so I go in and sort the bokes out đ all packed here with all the gear đ ( yeh i know itâs a pack horse at times )
Kiama Light house is an active lighthouse in Kiama, New South Wales, Australia, about 1.5 hours south of Sydney and a most beautiful area with great rides. The lighthouse is located close to the Kiama Blowhole which is both majestic and terrifying
In 1992 seven people were drowned when a freak wave washed two families off the rocks, a tragedy compounded five years later when two more members of one of the families died at the picturesque site. Kiamaâs Blowhole is the largest in the world, The 2.5 metre opening in the centre of a large crater in the rock face has had its plumes of water recorded at heights of over 30 metres.
There are loads of info and images on google about this area or try and go there .. or find this gig on my YouTube channel Ep 183; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LCNWFdxCuE
Or the #shorts is here https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wddfD_canUE
#14 - MORE CAMELS THAN THE ARABS đłWTF
Australia, has the largest herd of camels in the world . Imported from British India and Afghanistan during the 19th century for transport and construction during the colonisation of the central and western parts of Australia, many were released into the wild after motorised transport replaced the use of camels in the early 20th century, resulting in a fast-growing feral population.
Here i am outside Broken Hill with a couple who run Camel tours ⌠itâs good to see people making some use out of them .. Basically anything with a hoof is not native to Australia and causes much erosion of the land .. sadly that means horses and cows too ( two of my favourite animals)
Camel meat is a good source of protein and is very much like lean beef
Various Australian Aboriginal languages have adopted a word for the camel, including Eastern Arrernte (kamule), Pitjantjatjara (kamula) and Alyawarr (kamwerl).
Often referred to as AN IGNORANT HORSE !!!
this outback adventure can be seen here on Ep 143 https://youtu.be/XfAeixijxeo
#15 - âSUCH IS LIFE â- WHAT WOULD BE YOUR LAST WORDS?
Ned Kelly the Australian infamous bushranger has been attributed to those famous last words But what Ned Kelly actually said as his last words is uncertain. Some newspapers at the time certainly reported the words 'Such is life', while a reporter standing on the gaol floor during the hanging wrote that Ned's last words were, 'Ah well! It's come to this at last.
these pics were taken at Glenrowan ( one of the museum owners insisted i wear the Helmet and hold the gun ) .. Glenrowan is 236 kilometres north-east of Melbourne and a fabulous amount of history to be seen there ..
On 28 June 1880 Victorian police captured bushranger Ned Kelly after a siege at the Glenrowan Inn. The other members of the Kelly Gang â Dan Kelly, Joseph Byrne and Steve Hart â were killed in the siege. The gang had been outlawed for murder .
Famous for his amour made of iron 6 mm thick, each consisting of a long breast-plate, shoulder-plates, back-guard, apron and helmet. Kellyâs injuries amounted to leg wounds only from bullets.
Ned Kelly was hanged at aged 25 .. and has proceeded to gain a cult status over the centuries .. ultimately though he was a murderous criminal .. and that helmet was bloody heavy !!! god knows how he rode around on his horse with it on !!! ( his horse was named âMusicâ !)
you can view this adventure before dementia at Ep 118 ( as part of my tassie / vic tour ) https://youtu.be/11IGf9C95-E
A BLOT ON THE LANDSCAPE đ¤Ş
The Mundi Mundi plains are located near Silverton, New South Wales, Australia. The name is thought to mean "lot of water" in the language of the local Aboriginal people but it seems a long time since there was a lot of water here.
For those who are fans of Mad Max II, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert or Razorback - the Mundi Mundi Plains is a popular movie location and was used in these movies.
From here, you have the unique opportunity to see the curvature of the earth ( not many places you can see that) and witness amazing sunsets, dust storms, thunder storms and just about anything else Mother Nature can throw at us.
I stood on my bike to get a better view đ As far as the eye can see, its vast and enchanting and I feel like an insignificant blot on such a landscape ( some would argue that I am. I can hear some thoughts already đđđ). Any worries or problems just seem to be a waste of energy when Iâm out hereâŚ.. itâs outback country.. and I LOVE itâ¤ď¸â¤ď¸ photo credit Helen Murray silverton photography
this video is on one of my âadventures before dementiaâ out that way EP 46 but i have a few videos of that area - https://youtu.be/dFwS-SXfPL4
