Sunday 16th January 2011 – After a few days of air-conditioned luxury in the car, I decided it was time to take the bike for a spin again, so I rode it down to work and back again. This is the first time I have ridden it naked (i.e. unladen) for weeks, and what a difference it makes. The road to the coast crosses the Great Dividing Range so is another windy, twisty one full of hairpin bends and steep decents, but I managed it with scarcely a touch on the brakes. It reminded me of how much I used to love riding – back in the days before I lost my confidence and became a jibbering wreck – not that I’ve been that bad for quite some time – but it was lovely being able to throw the bike around a bit for a change and not worrying about it all collapsing underneath me.

Now I must make special mention of the unsung hero of my travels here. The bike, which is a stallion of a machine, has been a magnificent travelling companion. It has stayed upright despite having the most nervous of riders at its reins and its provided utterly reliable service day after day in the most challenging conditions. It even has great fuel economy despite the mass of luggage its had to bear. I couldn’t have asked for a more trusty steed and I feel very lucky to have found it. Its going to be really great to get out on it some more without all the baggage and really let it run free! Do I sound like I’m talking about a horse here? Well, I guess it is something of a mechanical horse, albeit, not quite so frisky.