Deane & Jack's Motorcycle Trip in
Australia and New Zealand
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Deane & Jack's Motorcycle Trip in Australia and New Zealand |
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March 25 - In & Around Melbourne, Victoria, 448 km (278 Miles) And, Take overnight Ferry to Devonport, Tasmania |
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Wow! What a great day!! We were met at our motel by seven Gold Wingers on four bikes, from the Melbourne area, and they took us for an extended tour of their favorite riding roads in the area! What wonderful hospitality!! John Gilbert and his wife, Karen, had arranged for the Gold Wingers to come along. The group was filled out with Denny, the ride leader, (another) John and his wife Margaret, and Steve and his son, Josh, all good riders who love the riding areas they have. I had been corresponding with John Gilbert by e-mail for some time prior to our starting on our Australia trip, with John offering to show us around when we arrived. Jack and I hadn't expected such a group to ride with, so it was great to be welcomed by the group.
Denny took us through beautiful riding areas that we would never have found for our selves. Melbourne is surrounded by beautiful mountains, with great riding roads in rural areas with little towns. We stopped for morning tea at one little town which had a tempting and very good bakery. The ride between tea and lunch was particularly beautiful, through large, rounded mountains with big green valleys, stands of trees, and small farms, ranches, and grazing areas. This was as beautiful riding as any area I've ever been in, and this includes all of North America. There were elements one could find in Tennessee, or North Carolina, or Virginia, but this one area had it all. This was a wonderful day, with many new friends made, and great hospitality. As their last act of guidance for us, they took us right to the Tasmanian ferry, with the ship "Spirit of Tasmania". The ferry was set for a 7:00 PM board and a 9:00 PM departure, and it left on time, with us snug in our cabin. This is a very big ship, as one might expect for a distance of about 250 miles from the mainland of Australia to the island of Tasmania. In waiting for the ferry to be filled with cars and trucks, we met mainland motorcyclists who were together with eight bikes, and headed to Tasmania also, so we had a good time talking to them. In the process of loading, the deck hands guided us to a separate area just for motorcycles, and expertly tied our motorcycles down so they wouldn't move, even with rough seas. Again, a wonderful day!! |
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