This beautiful photo of Mount Bogong was taken by my neighbours. Rainbows are for health and healing, so that is my wish for those of you who view this blog of mine. Now it sounds like I'm going to start singing!! I wouldn't do that to you, but I hope you do enjoy my Bonneville Dreamings.
Once upon a time there was this quiet little grub who emerged from her coccoon as a bubbly butterfly with a teapot on her head. This woman has spent the last 12 years roaring around the hills and dales of north east Victoria on her Triumph Thunderbird.
Her travels have taken her to Tasmania a number of times, she peaks sneaks of her favourite parts of the world from various motorcycles. There seems to be a fascination with mountains, probably because she was born on the plains of the western Victoria and on her first visit to Mount Beauty really thought that this huge mountain was going to come crashing down on her.
Rocky Mountains in North America, New Zealand Alps and Bhutan in the Himalayas have been favourite motorcycle overseas touring destinations for this InTrepid Traveller.
Her companion on her next motorcycling adventure will be the perfect teapot from Robur. Found for $15 in an op shop on her most recent visit to Tassie to view a photography exhibition at the Wilderness Gallery.
The Teapot and The Girl are heading overseas again. This time to the French Alps.
The Girl is loved by many; and these wonderful Thunder in the High Country friends have given her a 'Round the World air ticket. So on Monday 27th April at 10.15 am she heads off in an easterly direction.
BUT the week before I leave we have the 11th Thunder in the High Country to celebrate.
61 enthusiasts of the retro styled Hinckley Triumphs celebrated Thunder in the High Country Number 11 in amongst the beautiful autumn colour of Harrietville. Thunder this year was blessed with glorious weather, great roads and spectacular scenery, to say nothing of the funny characters and legends that frequent such a weekend.
The Winning Scarf!!!
The weekend began on Friday evening with people and bikes arriving from Queensland, NSW, SA and across Victoria. The Isadora Duncan Eat Your Heart Out Party meant everyone came wearing a scarf, hand made or some favourite from the past. Some magnificent creations were on display. (Note to Di: I took a photo of a beautiful sculpture of Isadora at tha Brussells Airport and did you know that she once owned the home Claude Monet later owned and created his beautiful garden!!)
Thunderees at Yackandandah!!
We spent Saturday touring around the district visiting the Tin Mining Dredge at Eldorado before going to Yackandandah for lunch and then all assembling at the top of the Tawonga Gap Road for the beginning of the 50th Anniversary Bonneville Ride. All the Bonnevilles took off first and led the way back to Harrietville where afternoon tea was served to us at the local cafes. Some of course opted to go to the pubs for a cold one!
Johnno waiting for his meal while everyone else is at the bar!!
The Saturday Night Dinner was also part of the 50th Bonneville Anniversary with Gary McDonnell giving us a brief history of Triumph and the Bonneville in particular. Triumph Australia provided an Anniversary Bonneville and the new Thunderbird for display as well as making 2 Bonnevilles available for testing riding thoughout the weekend. I rode both bikes and preferred the one with Arrow exhaust sysytem, simply because of the sound!! Well that's me, keep it simple.
Nic and Bek and the Usual Suspects
The Dinner was a typically English fare with roasts, Yorkshire pud, mash, etc and lots of veg. Dessert was the Thunder standard of a massive chocolate creation with strawberries and brandy snaps. Usual Suspects got everyone on the dancefloor and WackaWilliam and Monty Lou provided some impromptu entertainment as well.
Sunday morning saw us all lined up ready to go again. This time to the Myrtleford Bakery where we had to say our goodbyes to those travelling south and west. I still haven't heard if the Big Kahoona got home, maybe he's still roaming around country Victoria, although I suspect "walking" may be a more accurate description!!
The 4 Days of Pure Bliss saw us riding in damp conditions until we got to Pambula. We spent 2 nights here making the most of the fine weather. Time to go our various ways again and Trikey John and I headed for Victoria saying our goodbyes at Bruthen before I headed over the Great Alpine Road and Tawonga Gap to get home. Just in time to pack for my next big adventure.
*Buying a new Victory!! in Calif
*Chris having a cuppa (there's that teapot again)
After a week with friends Chris and Bill in sunny California, visiting two Triumph stores I flew to Birmingham via Zurich and Brussells. Too many currencies and time zones to keep up with.
At the Birmingham Airport Ifell into a hansom Cab and went straight to Hinckley, home of the Hansom Cab and the Triumph Factory.
Tuesday 4th May
Tom Geary met me at the factory, I had previously met him in Melbourne in January just before those dreadful fires that none of us will ever forget. Tom slotted me in on a factory tour with a bunch of Triumph car enthusiasts. What a great tour, it begins with a 30 minute presentation of the the History of the marque by Paul Taylor, then its downstairs to the factory floor to follow what happens on the assembly line. John Bloor being a master of efficiency has got it all sorted. It is nothing to see a Bonneville motor followed by a Speed Triple followed by a Tiger, they are all referenced to make sure that they get the right coloured tanks, tyres, etc and the checking of every step is impressive and tolerances are measured in microns not millimetres, also impressive. To day is the first day of shipments of the new Thunderbirds to Australia. An auspicious day for me to be here!! I keep turning around expecting to see Gary McDonnell as everyone here sounds just like him!!
After my tour Tom took me to Factory One where an old Bonnie lay waiting for me. Well they said "old", I said new?? as it only had 1146 miles on the clock but was registered last year. It has mag wheels and is just so beautiful to ride. I can easily see why so many people fall in love with their Bonnies.
My first little ride was back to the hotel to re group and get directions to visit Coombe Abbey. Most of you probably don't realise Gary's surname is Coombe, and that he hadn't told me about his little English cottage. It is only 10 miles from Hinckley but it took me 60 miles to get there and back. I am not used to following any kind of direction!! but road numbers just leave me cold and my head was still in the southern hemishere so I made a real mess of getting there. It didn't matter so much coming home as I found lots of little canals with long boats, beautiful country roads, gorgeous villages with stone biuldings and thatched roofs. I can't beleive this is England and I'm in it!!! Thank you to my numerous sponsors!!! Love you all.
Wednesday 6th.
I packed my few belongings into the new panniers fitted to the black Bonnie and tried as I might to head south to Poole to catch the ferry to France. Less than 200 miles but it took me all day and I ended up in Portsmouth instead. Too late for a day crossing so tommorrow I shall wake up in France!! Bon jour madam!!
Thursday 7th -Monday 11th
By the time I had reached Capestang down south near the Meditteranean Sea I had done 1000 miles on the Bonnie. It is a dream to ride. I am stoked, delighted and love it!!
Each day I set myself a target (read LIMIT) of one touristy destination for the day. I have visited a beautiful garden, a seaside resort, Mont St Michal, some war (WW2) ruins, Bayeau Tapestry (which is really an embroidery) and an old Abbey. Old here has quite a new meaning for me. Most buildings on the tourist trail are 12 and 13 Century!! The countryside is green, so very green and the smaller the village is the more I like it. Each village no matter how small has a butcher and baker, Ou est le candlestick maker? My dear friend Margot reckons if I hang out at the Bakery he'll be easy to spot because he'll be the illuminating one!!
*In amongst the bamboo at the Buddhist Community I had hoped to visit, and I found it!!
The roads are in excellent condition and I certainly am enjoying my touring. There are freeways and toll ways but the traffic is a bit too fast for my liking. I've hardly seen a truck on the roads, specially compared to the UK where there is nothing but trucks on the roads. Maybe here all freight goes by rail, such a good idea.
I have followed the Loire and Dordogne Valleys, both so beautiful and now the Canal du Midi. Fishing seems to be quite a pleasant pastime that many locals seem to enjoy.
11-16 May
In Capestang, walking, eating and a bit of gardening in my friends backyard.
16-21 May
Ah, the French Alps. Cols everywhere. I managed to ride over 17 mountain passes, still looking for Col du Coxhead. My favourite is definately Col du Rosseau, just brilliant all the way up and all the way down the other side. The Bonnie felt quite at home on these mountain roads, maybe it knew it was getting closer to Bonneville village in the Alps!! Winter was apparently a very good season and some of the roads I had expected to be open were still closed due to snow still on the roads. I followed two of Rossi's pantec's through the Mont Blanc tunnel to Italy and later in the same day went to Switzerland for a Toblerone!!
I made it to Bonneville and introduced myself at the Mayors office. They were so impressed that they may even buy a Bonnie. They also told me of a French man, Laurent Dutruel who is planning a trip from Bonneville, France to Bonneville, Utah, USA. I managed to find this fellow and pass the baton as it were. He builds race bikes from Harley and Buell motors, in a way he is like France's answer to Bert Munro!! He is taking one bike to Utah in August to race it against the clock.
I had some lovely picnics in the Alps and knew eventually I had to move on and make my way back to the UK.
May 21-25
The French are fine weather motorcyclists and now the weather has warmed a little there are bikes everywhere. I have seen 2 Rockets, one black the other gold. Numerous Speed Triples and Bonnies, a Speedmaster and a few Daytonas. Triumph sell 14% of their bikes to France.
I rode along the Loire Valley again, just beautiful and after visiting the labyrinthe in the Chartres Catherdral decided to go to Giverny to visit Monets Garden. I had thought I would make this trip from Paris, without the bike, but as it turned out I'm glad I went on the bike and not by train, bus and shanks' pony from Paris. I met some Melbourne 4wd people in the queue for the gardens. They knew of my work at Hotham on the 4wd project!
When I returned to the Bonnie in the carpark a young family were having a picnic beside it. I joined them and out came my teapot!! They were surprised to say the least.
My last day in the French countryside got me to the Englich Channel for my last French picnic, this time on the beach. It was not sand, but stones and very difficult to walk on.
From here I took the ferry back to Portsmouth (where all convicts to Australia sailed from) and back to more grey skies.
I waited with 2 older English fellows on Royal Endfields, travelling home from a RE gathereing in Belgium. They lived near Stonehenge, so fortunately I was able to follow them to the pile of stones that appears unfinished-- there is no roof!
From here I rode back to Hinckley, washed 3300 miles of road gfrime of the bike and returned it to the factory. sob, sob. What a trip, an absolute dream come true. Thankyou to everyone who has generously contributed to this journey.
This belongs with CAPESTANG!!
Time to catch up with myself and wait until the weather clears a little. Unfortunately I am unable to upload photos for you to enjoy, probably just as well really because I look a bit of a wreck in my riding gear. I have washed the bike, and dried out my gear. I've shopped and cooked some veggie tucker for myself, food on the run has been mostly fromage sandwich, pizza and omelettes. Can't imagine what that is doing to my cholesterol reading!! Fromage sandwich is different every day, sometimes its hot, other times in bread or a 18 in long bread stick!! and the cheese is a different variety each time, sometimes there is more than one type of cheese added!!
Road signs are an education. 130kph on the freeway and 110 when its wet! Intersections are marked with a cross (X) on the sign, lots of exclamation marks and today a sign had Boue! Don't know what that one meant? I travel at 25 mph on average as I seem to do alot of back tracking and there are so many roundabouts I get quite giddy!! So it is quite slow going for me.
* My favourite shop in Bonneville!!!
.JPG)
