De Toekomst is Plantaardig: Kristl Strubbe (2): vleesvervangers en goesting.

De Toekomst is Plantaardig: Kristl Strubbe (2): vleesvervangers en goesting.

Full Circle.

Christmas decoration all over Byron Bay and the sun was out when we left for the Gold Coast. At last we see Byron Bay in the sun. Appreciate our B&B with a beautiful sea view and fresh fruit for breakfast. It is absolutely gorgeous and should be on your road book whenever you visit the East Coast.








Reece is the manager of the Sea View B&B and a great host. Thanks for having us Reece.

Meanwhile we have arrived in Broad Beach and Surfers Paradise along the Gold Coast, some 100km South of Brisbane.

Our motorbike journey ends here. We will leave the BMW in the Sofitel garage. The Dundee "Explorateurs" will arrive December 14th and some 20 motorbikes will be shipped back from Brisbane to Europe.

We checked out the area and found ourselves a great apartment, see insert. Esplanade One, check it out. Right on the beach at Surfers Paradise.

Great place, great views, lots of space, parking, pool and all that for less than a room in the Sofitel.

We are spoiled and got once again lucky to find great lodging. Or am I just good at that.

We haven't realized yet this journey is almost over. The bike did great, not one mechanical problem. A flat tire, rear break pads, 2 sets of tires, one road one off road.

Oil, a 10.000km check up in Perth and that was it. She took us around this great continent loaded like a camel and if asked would bring us home safely.

The bike is staying with us for another few days for some sight seeing in the area.

We will leave her behind once we fly to Sydney Saturday pm and return to Europe Tuesday next.

I will have to wait till end of February to recover her somewhere in Paris.

For 60 days Nadine and I mounted our bike every morning and drove some 300km on average every day. Some days I did 600km and when crossing the Nullabor 1000km three days in a row. Our legs, our knees, my hands and arms really hurt. On top we feel bad since we haven't done much exercise for two months. We ate too much rich food and drank to much beer. Something I gave up years ago but with temperatures of 42°C on the road we were looking out for a cold beer at the end of every day.

Tooheys New, VB or a XXXX.

The price of this excess will have to be paid on our return.

Not earlier as we celebrate our anniversary and birthdays all in one go this week end.

Full circle Australia was a wonderful and enriching experience for the both of us.

We discovered we like to travel and see the world in an unconventional way.

We want to be close to the people, see and smell nature. Experience to be out of place but at the same time in sync with the environment.

Motorbike traveling is a dangerous and at the same time a sensational way of traveling.

I am proud and happy Nadine joined me on this journey and I hope many more will come.

I am happy we finished this road movie safely and am looking out for new adventures around the world.

Australia is not only a great country it is a place that changes you.

The outback gave both of us for days and days the ultimate feeling of space and freedom.

If asked what we liked most it is without any doubt Karijini National Park.

I leave you on a quote from Paulo Coelho:

Be brave. Take risks. Nothing can substitute experience.

Cheers and good on you folks.

The End.

Catching the waves.

Better make that catching the withwash.

It was a "Belgian" day in Byron Bay.

Grey skies, nasty wind, no rain though.

If you thought that would keep us from surfing, no way.

We were in the water at 10am. Nadine not for long as it got very chilly. I tried to get the basics of surfing by listening in on a surf class on the beach. I used to be a windsurfer in the 80-ties and thought it would be easy but this is definitely a whole different ball game.

I need to loose weight, pick up surfers yoga, start to exercise and swim a few k's a day.

I'll be back!


So how about some posing in front of our boards for memory sake and off to the city for a warm meal around 2pm.

That's it folks.

We are on holiday remember. Rest of the day strolling in Byron Bay and sitting on the porch of our lovely sea view shack and watching the time go by.

Tomorrow back on the bike and of to Broad Beach 150km North.

Hope the sun comes out.

Nite.

Closing the gap.

Can you imagine we actually stopped in this fast food joint for lunch. There is no relation with this Presbyterian graveyard a few miles further down the road although checking our cholesterol stats on our return is on the agenda.





The other pictures were taken when we left Crescent Head in the morning after a thunderstorm last night.

We drove some 420km and are creeping up to Brisbane. We just don't want it to be over so we decided to spent a few days at Byron Bay, another surfers paradise 200km South of Brisbane. The weather is still somewhat strange, big clouds and blue skies succeeding the odd shower. Earlier this evening we drove down to the village for diner but we left our helmets locked on the bike. Unfortunately we hung them upside down. When we came out of the restaurant we had to poor the water out before putting them on for a 5km drive up the mountain where we lodge. http://www.seaviewbyron.com

Tomorrow I go surfing with the mates.

Let you know how that went in a while.

Cheers.

Crescent Head

I I I

Should have covered more distance today so we can spent a few days on the beach before turning the bike in near Brisbane and fly back to Sydney this week end.

We were lucky this time to find ourselves a nice beach shack in Crescent Head. (surfers check this place out) Unfortunately it didn't stop raining since we arrived at 5pm.

I hope tomorrow we get back to Australia weather. We are aiming for Byron Bay but we could stop at any place on our way that looks nice. I am told there are loads.

How's Belgium, is this serious?

Herman Van Rompuy President Europe? Leterme Prime-Minister? Karel De Gucht Trade Commissioner? Anything else?

Here the Prime-Minister has a "Clinton" to solve. Bugger.

I want the outback!

Nostalgia

Past New Castle the Pacific Highway becomes an interesting road again.

Nabiac is a small village just past Taree hosting the National Motorcycle Museum.

As the one we visited earlier when leaving Adelaide (Birdwood) this one also is a private initiative from a couple who used to have a motorcycle shop in New Castle.

After retirement they started to assemble, restore and expose the 900 bikes they owned or that were entrusted to them over the years. The result is me wasting an afternoon like a child in a toy store. I share with you only a few pictures of the hundreds I took. Some of my readers may have tears come to their eyes just as I earlier today. Philippe, Marc, recognize the Morini and the Yam? And the blue Suzuki 50cc, my first bike. Bro, for you the Ducati collection, check this out.

In short, because this place is ten times bigger than you expect on the pictures, every single bike you know is exposed. From moto cross, speed biking, GP racing bikes to Vespa's, Solex etc. Those who read my blog and organize motor biking tours in Australia may want to put this private museum on their road book.

All afternoon Nadine has been keeping up with my stories about BSA, Triumph, Montesa, Morini, Ducati, Honda Four's etc.

At 4pm we got back on the road but only for a 100km.

Past Port Macquarie we stopped at Crescent Head, a surfers paradise known to have the longest "point break". (Sure you all understand what I am talking about ;-)

Lazy Sunday afternoon.

Batesman Bay, some 300km South of Sydney ,was a nice but noisy place on a Saturday night. We only found a room late in the evening, the place was a mistake. A short night and back on the road at 8am. What made we were pretty early in Sydney and wrecked.

I drove twice over the Harbour Bridge and a few times trough the city before settling at Darling Harbour for pictures and lunch.

We were to stay with Eric and Mietje and meet them for diner so we had the afternoon to spent.

30C and walking around in our biking gear wasn't exactly fun so we decided to lay down in Hide Park for a siesta. After a power nap we looked at each other and crossed the street checking in at the Marriott. Minutes later we were diving in their rooftop pool. Wrong decision and pretty embarrassing as we found out half an hour later the Claeys' had a wonderful duplex waiting for us and a 25m pool instead of the jacuzzi-pool at the Marriott. When will I learn to be more patient?

Euh.. we'll be back in Sydney next week end though.

Santa Klaus is in town this morning and of we are up to Brisbane and the "Gold Coast". Cloudy skies and 22°C, is this still Sydney and dam' why can't I find the Pacific Highway?

Tilba Tilba

Tilba Tilba is the area and Tilba Central is the well preserved gold miners village from the 19th century now under the wings of the national heritage fund and protected as such. A tourist trap but a nice one, check out http://www.tilba.com.au/

When you observe the picture with Nadine in the cheese store you will see some old black&white photos in the background of the store.

One of these pictures (see blog opening photo) had a reference to the "Belgian Day".

It was taken somewhere around 1890-ties but no reference to the actual event.

I am intrigued. Who were those Belgians digging for gold in Tilba Central?
We pay the toll after yesterday's Alpine excess, both of us are still dead tired. So we decide to call it a day after 475km along the South Pacific Ocean working our way up from Melbourne to Sydney. The A1 (Princess Highway) is a wonderful bikers drive.

Most of the day we crossed a rainforest (national park) on a long swirling curved road with beautiful scenery and once in a while a local animal crossing.

Tomorrow Sunday we will close the gap ending up in Sydney late afternoon to meet with Eric and his wife. It is a small world. Eric was a client and business partner for more than a decade when he was the ceo of a big media group in Belgium. We lost sight of each other but he is a biker too and got word of our travels in Australia, where he has new ventures.

We got an invitation to stay with them before we move on to Brisbane.

I am looking forward catching up.

Christian and his wife Marie are also touring on a BMW bike on the East Coast.

Christian, a client for more than a decade when he was the Belgian ceo of a large USA food company. When they were touring on the West Coast a few weeks ago they drove 5 hours in poring rain to Fremantle (Perth) just to say hello. That's what I call a biker buddy. Next week we are supposed to meet again somewhere between Sydney and Brisbane.
It is official, we are going back to Belgium.

Some of you may have thought we would never return and right you were.

Unfortunately time is up so we confirmed our return flight for December 8th.

But not before we drove this baby all the way up to Brisbane to close full circle on our two month journey around Australia.

We're not there yet, so bare with us there is still Sydney and the beaches to come..and another 2000km!

Hasta,

Great Alpine Road.

This time I found a way to have the blog pictures in the right chronology.

Must download them in reverse order, that simple.

The Great Ocean Road was built by the soldiers who came back from WW1.

Those who fought in Ieper (Belgium) amongst other.

On their return in 1918 the Australian Government sent them straight to the West Coast and had them accomplish the great ocean road to ensure their reintegration in society whilst achieving a great project in camaraderie like they were used to in the war. Hence the statue you van see on the picture next to the arcade erected when the road was opened in 1924 (if my memory is correct).

We left Apollo Bay in the rain the day before yesterday. Very sad we had to drive 100k on this fantastic scenic road in wet and cloudy weather. Nevertheless a great drive but who could have dreamed there was still a better one coming up.

Forget Geelong, industrial and (A12) commercial freeway. We hit Melbourne around 2pm in poring rain. The owner of this delightful restaurant in Apollo Bay (Vista, cray fish thermidor) suggested we go straight to the South Warf and check out the new Hilton. A bargain as we are in convention season. Since the weather was not going to change we spoiled ourselves with a visit to the Melbourne Aquarium (don't laugh, this is great stuff) and we had an early diner at Nobu before we went to a Broadway show in the city. Delicious and simply the best food we had in Australia so far. Although the cray fish the evening before was outstanding too and the oysters tonight were outrageously fresh and tasty. Out in the bush we had truly great food too so I should stop comparing.

Anyway Melbourne was great. We got lucky to find tickets for "The Jersey Boys", great musical.

If you like the genre (Mama Mia, Chicago..) don't miss it. Story of Franky Valli and the Four Seasons. Great music, good fun!

We left Melbourne this morning via the highway direction Sydney.

We drove over the West Bridge and I came to think Antwerp should come over and have a look what a bridge can do for a (harbor) city.

After 250km on the Hume Highway I got so bored we decided to exit at Wangarata and cut East to the coast.

Before we realized we were on the Great Alpine Road to Bairndale. We drove for almost an hour before we reached Hotham (1750m) in the clouds at 10°C. Going down the next 150km were heaven. Bikers better bookmark this road. We have some great tracks in the Alps but none that goes on for 250k of swirling and winding road. Thousands of turns and bents. I know this sounds a bit crazy to some of you but I have a witness now. Nadine loved the scenery and had great fun too. Can you imagine, a month or so ago she had never been on a bike and now she is enjoying Alp rides shifting gear up and down, trowing the bike from left to right like riding a wild horse.

Today was real "mountain biking" making this Australia driving experience complete.

We had rain, hale, 43°C, 7 beaufort wind and mist. Straight roads for thousands of km, dirt road, mud and sand and now Alpine rodeo. What else can one hope for?

After 678km we arrived at Lakes Entrance some 750km South of Sydney. We found ourselves a nice room with a bay view and dived in the pool at 7pm. (see last picture)

Exhausted but happy and the Pinot Noir was delicious.

Bikers nirvana.

The day started well. We had a great stay in the Blue Lake holiday park the evening before and got an excellent "flat white" (cafe late) in a coffee bar in Mount Gambier before we left for a 380km stretch.

The first picture of the day was at a lavendel farm driving out of Portland. The lady of the house is a strong Danish woman who lost her husband 4 years ago. She is putting the farm up for sale and thought we would be interested. In fact we were fascinated by her story but not necessarily in the 14 hectare estate on offer for 1.4 M aus $.

Our next encounter came later in the afternoon after we passed Warrnambool (Warmenbol ;-) and started the "Great Ocean Road" scenic route.

Julia & Holm are pedaling around the world. They have covered 22.000km so far.

(check our blog links) We have met many bikers (bicyclers) over the past weeks in all parts of Australia. From the fashionable East Coast to the tropical Northern Territory down to West and South Australia to Victoria where we are now. All were covering monumental distances.

But Julia & Holm are beating them all. I have an immense respect for such an achievement both mentally and physically. Although it reduces my journey around Australia on a motorbike to a luxurious cruise for old farts. I love bicycling and long distance in particular. Maybe it is time to exchange the motorbike for some physical exercise in 2010. I make myself a promise to do so. The Nollarbor, 2900km on your bicycles, Julia, Holm I was there. All my respect and admiration for such a great performance, not to mention the other 20.000km. Have a safe journey and enjoy the ride.

I believe the other pictures are pretty self explanatory. Whatever they may say about -the great ocean road- being too touristic or cliché don't believe them. On a motorbike (and maybe on a bicycle) it is an absolutely beautiful experience. Paradise for bikers, GS nirvana. Besides the road there is the ocean and all the dramatic scenery it is trowing at you. Yes you will not be alone out there, I agree there are a few japanese tourists with a small bus and there are a helicopter or two showing them the 12 apostles from birds eye but so what. The 250 remaining km are stunning and a joy to ride.

We are half way when I am writing this. We had lunch at Port Campbel and decided to sleep in Apollo Bay. A beautiful small fishing town with Irish roots and who would have guessed a public golf course. The restaurant Vista is a pure delight. Have the oysters and cray fish!

PS: Céline the owners of restaurant Vista are great people and looking for your kind of experience to help them run their shop. I mentioned your name, pay them a visit when you stop by. Cheers.