Seems weird after months of planning and thinking about it - this morning I am off. (Friday). And here is a photo of me loading up at home, ready to go! (That's the one on the right.) Possibly the most perfect bike riding day I have ever seen - it is balmy and fine and calm, not much traffic on the Hume heading north. And it's great to be in a bike! The smells and the feel of the air.

One after another, wide green valleys open in front of me, with the freeway winding through them to the next like a colossal concrete snake. In the photo above on the left you can see a wind farm in the distance - near Goulburn - there are about 15 turbines in this one. Such delicate, graceful structures; what a pity they are the first step in turning Australia into Spain (economy on its knees because of a determined effort to use wind power).

First meal away from home: and its a ragged sort of KFC item, at Gundagai. Ah well. The food will improve. By late afternoon I have reached Goulburn and have checked into a motel for the night.

Saturday - and it's raining - as I load up and put on my rain jacket what is this in the pocket? It seems like - it can't be - it isn't! IT IS!!! the lost door keys from a couple of weeks ago! Then a ride in the rain through the outskirts of Sydney, and how lush it all looks here - to Avoca where I am spending a couple of days with our friends Mike and Barb. On the way up here I have been struck again (as always) by the sheer beauty of freeways: their sinuous curves and exciting bridges, a perfect piece of man-made engineering contrasting with the wild natural surroundings, and the freeway just north of Sydney is the best example.

Good to get out of the riding gear and into light clothes, and an alfresco lunch with another couple who have just got back from a trip to north QLD in their Winnebago. Their advice: don't go to Cairns from Townsville, spend a day on Magnetic Island instead. Good thinking. And the lava tubes at Undarra (near Mt Surprise) are worth a visit, but a half day tour is what you want not a full day. Essential to book before you go, don't just rock up. Well I won't be able to fit that in on this trip, but will remember that for next year.

So far, good riding, and I'm feeling great. No aches and pains and the slight head cold I had when I left home is disappearing fast. Only problem is I forgot some of my clothes ( may need to buy a couple of shirts) and will need a complete re-pack of the underseat and top box areas on the bike.

When I left home yesterday I just wanted to GET GOING. So I have clothing I can't find, and medications that should be stashed away out of reach because they are not needed for some time yet, and many items that are not needed to hand easily which could be under the seat where it is too hot for food - all sorts of issues here, it just needs a re-think.