Motorcycle Adventures

Long ride to New South Wales Day 1

It was only yesterday when I decided what I would do with my 5 day long weekend. While at work I sent a message to my friend Melissa who lives a little south of Sydney. I asked if she would be open to a rather unexpected visitor from a certain motorcycle rider and she very kindly welcomed me to come visit.

This had been a visit that is long overdue. I had hoped there would be opportunity many months ago but time or money always prevented a visit until now.

So it was with some quick planning that I decided to ride up this weekend. I have from Saturday to Wednesday off, and so it’s really a great opportunity to visit.

I’m Breaking up the ride I to two days. Today was day one. The ride today covered about 650km.

It had been really great to get out of the city properly and see some of the Australian countryside. All of the riding I have been able to do so far has been very similar. I’ve been amazed by the consistency of the scenery around Melbourne. Not only does one town look very much like another, but the streets, vegetation and general atmosphere are shockingly similar. Of course the destinations each have their own uniqueness, the varied scenery so close to the doorstep of Vancouver living can not be easily found in Melbourne.

I chose to ride the entire route up to Sydney along the Princess Highway. The Princess Highway is part of a network of highways collectively called highway number 1 (sound familiar?) Highway 1 is a network of highways that circumnavigate the Australian continent, joining all mainland state capitals. At a total length of approximately 14,500 km (9,000 mi) it is the longest national highway in the world, longer than the Trans-Siberian Highway (over 11,000 km [6,800 mi]) and the Trans-Canada Highway (8,030 km [4,990 mi]).

Last night I installed a USB power socket in order to be able to charge my iPhone on the road, as well as LED lighting in the glove boxes. The bike is now officially finished – just in time for the first long trip!

I got up at 6.30am this morning, quickly packed, and then went to the grocery store to buy some snacks for the road. I set off at exactly 9:15 with a planned arrival for a rest stop around 5pm.

The first hour and a half were spent making my way out of the suburbs of Melbourne. I then promptly hit colder and wetter weather for the next couple of hours. The scenery doesn’t change much as one winds ones way east. Once I headed north, however, things started to get more interesting. Finally I hit the scenery I was hoping for. The sun came out for a while and the boring sameness of the morning opened up to beautiful winding roads sandwiched in between beautiful rolling hills of sheep, goats, and cows. This gave way to hours of delicious riding through Australian rain forrest. Beautiful scenery to say the least, and really satisfying riding. Despite a very long ride, I arrived at 5:13 not feeling nearly as spent as I thought I would be. It’s so great to be back on my bike and riding again. It feels so great to be able to explore a new country. It feels so great t be on a little adventure.

I had planned to tent for the night but after not having any luck with making a booking and increasing cloud, I decided that I would try and find a motel. I found a good deal on a nice room. It’s right in the middle of the side side town of Merimbula. Merimbula sits right in the corner of two lakes and right on the edge of the Tasman Sea. The motel is unusual in terms of the Canadian standard but very nice. There is a little mini kitchen area including a fridge and microwave. Strangely no air conditioning but the night is not too warm for that to be a problem.

Merimbula is a coastal town on the Far South Coast or Sapphire Coast of New South Wales, Australia. It is called the Sappire Coast due to the amazingly deep blue of the ocean. Merimbula has a population of about 4000 people. It serves predominantly as a tourist town. Merimbula is Aboriginal for ‘two lakes’

Tomorrow morning I’ll be off for the reminder of the ride. I have done the majority today with only about 350km left tomorrow. Not sure if I’ll have a chance to make it j to Sydney itself on this trip, but it has already been worth it and there is so much more to enjoy!

Off for an early night of sleep.