Category Archives: Travel and entertainment

Gordons Bay

Posted on by
4

I wasn’t aware of Gordons Bay until I stumbled across it in the paper today.  It’s a nice find with what looks to be a long hot summer on the way.

I love the ocean and snorkeling, so I think that this might be on my list of things to do this summer (perhaps more than once).

It has an underwater “nature trail” marked by chain between concrete blocks to lead you around the bay.  It really does sound like a fun experience.  You can read more about it here:

http://randwickcitytourism.com.au/sights/gordons_bay.html

If you would like to try this with me, then drop me an email or text and we can do it together.

John.

Back on the road!

Image

Reply

It’s been a long time coming, but finally my (almost) new 2004 Triumph Daytona is back on the road.  After some very un-hilarious mixups over some repairs that it required everything is sorted out, fitted, adjusted, tuned, and fixed.  Now I just need some good weather!

If you would like to take a ride with me one day, just drop me a line.  It would be my pleasure.
daytonaJohn.

My favourite hotel in Sydney

Posted on by
2

I just noticed this article in the Herald …

http://www.traveller.com.au/shangrila-sydney-hotel-renovation-first-look-at-8-million-revamp-12kcyz

Looks like my favourite hotel in Sydney has had a makeover!  Seriously though, for the best harbour views from a hotel in Sydney I can’t recommend a better choice than the Shanri-La.  They also do an excellent breakfast.

The staff are also extraordinarily professional.  I once arrived (in fancy dress – painted blue from head to toe and wearing a kilt) for a book launch and the parking valet didn’t even bat an eyelid.

John.

And welcome to Melbourne!

Posted on by
4

I don’t get to Melbourne as much as I would  like to these days but it’s  always nice to come back to a place that has lots of good memories. I lived in Melbourne for ten years in the nineties while I was at university then worked for several years before I moved to Sydney.

It’s  like coming back to an old friend (who has grown up a bit, works for a merchant bank, and now drives something new and imported – same person but I’m not sure if we will still get on …) time will tell I guess

John.

Fire and ice

Posted on by
Reply

I travel over the Blue Mountains regularly.  A fair amount of the bush that I ride through over toward Lithgow was burned in the fires at the end of 2013.  I have been startled by the stark beauty of the resulting landscape, and now the contrast of the regrowing foliage on the trees.

So, on a trip back around Christmas I stopped and took some photos of the charred bush and my bike which I thought I would share.

daytona_1 daytona_2I was really delighted with how true to life these images are.

John.

Triumph at last!

Posted on by
Reply

Well, it has taken all of four and a half months, but finally my new bike is on the road!  I picked it up from the mechanics last week (where it was getting a service, new tires, heated hand grips, and a gear rack fitted).  It is a Triumph Daytona 955i – 2002 model.  In short this means that it is … uncommon on the roads in Australia, very sexy, and very fast!  It also stops really well and handles like a dream.  Last but not least it has a very comfortable pillion seat!

The very long delay was caused by a problem acquiring some new fairing panels from a Triumph parts supplier in the UK.  International shipping is not a foolproof process.  However, the panels arrived and were fitted (to replace old panels that were damaged by the previous owner).

I found my bike languishing in an insurance assessor’s shed, only lightly damaged and with 30,000 kms on the clock.  Even with repairs it was a bargain for such a good bike.

I took the bike out today with my partner S playing photographer and we did a photo shoot down by the river.  Results below …

 

So, like to go for a ride on your date?  Fish and chips on the beach, or a spin up the Old Pacific Highway to the Mt White Cafe?  Just drop me an email.

John.