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.
John.
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.
As a motorcyclist I LOVE Melbourne. Why? Because you can park on the footpath! Sadly my bike is home in Sydney and I am here on foot.
John
A view of the Yarra River and surrounds. It’s a long time since I rowed a four down there, avoiding bridges and motorboat and being shouted at by our German coach … Fun times.
And it’s a very nice room too!
John.
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.
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.
I was really delighted with how true to life these images are.
John.
When Google Analytics tells you that the current visitor to your web site is viewing you from the International Space Station!
[Edit] It appears that the current crew of the ISS are six men … So I am doubly guessing that this a hoax.
John.
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.
I have recently been contacted by two women to ask if I could make a trip to Brisbane soon. If I can find one more person interested in a booking, then it would be possible for me to make a trip to Brisbane in the near future.
So, if you are interested in a Brisbane date, please let me know!
John.
I only made a short visit in to Sexpo on Saturday as the day was compressed by a delayed flight from Sydney and having a big evening planned, so I went back again on Sunday.
If you have never been to Sexpo, here’s a short run down …
Mostly Sexpo is a chance for anyone who does “stuff” in the “adult industry” to show off to the public over four days. On top of that, there is an ongoing stage show of adult oriented acts (like the Tokio Shock Boys, male and female strippers, audience participation and more) and curiously this time they had a motorcycle stunt show … not quite sure how that fits, but I guess that it appeals to the main audience demographic! Granted they did some pretty impressive stuff, but it’s not exactly about sex.
Some of the stands on display included:
I am sure to have missed out on some stuff, but that gives you a good overview. One thing that seemed quite abscent though were retailers of DVDs. I may have just overlooked them, but I don’t think so. I expect that the Internet is busy destroying the DVD delivery business model, so perhaps that is the reason.
Both Saturday and Sunday when I visited were absolutely packed. Heaps of people, in equal numbers for male and female. Average age was probably around thirty.
I will wrap this post up now. I have a bunch of toys and products to review and give away, so I will get on with that next and give you more details and photos!
John.