boxing day

What a machine, goes like scalded cat an handles. Snap!!!!!!! :-)))))))

Sunrise in Eastern Queensland

Xmas day, 29 deg, nice. just had lunch with lady over the road, she IZ only 85 L.O.L.

Xmas Morn

Camper trailer

We tried the camper out today, my sons and I. IT is huge when opened, so much room and double bed PLUS anex, it is massive and so easy to put up. THIS is the thing to go with, gotta get fit before trip. Be lucky

Legless

Grandson's Xmas prez. as U do, managed to MT bottles rapidly. I am learning, need more pics from club of chickies; dwarfes are all very well BUT!!!!! They go to Goblin parties.

what a difference

We came 11th that day at Thruxton, Rocket Gold Star, top end 115 m.p.h. drum brakes, little tyres but what a race. Redman and Hailwood were there. My wife did not ride, bit short one end!!! Pic taken in 1963. Oh to be fit again, so tired, with Wing and Bandit in garage, Y do we grow old?????????? I have been lucky.

Erin 2

Still having trouble with shoulder, cannot ride Wing but must get it fixed VERY soon, only ride 1200 Bandit at the moment, waste of a good Wing. Like my birds? and I only 64, what if I waz 28?mmmmmmmmm

Nice birds

Mistake

Should I sit behind this lady? Only if machine is parked!!!!!

Back seat lady

Now that IZ a passenger, lady at my club, oh to be 30 years younger. Very nice. Going round Oz, what a pillion; don't think she is into geriactrics or Gerry and Pacemakers. but she is VERY nice, fits my Wing rather well!!!!!!

Update

Just an update on planned trip. Health has not improved since stroke, acupuncture this afternoon and more blood tests to try to solve the problems. I have to get fit before I go, I have little strength and a Gold wing is a BIG machine and I have yet to ride with the camper trailer hitched on. I managed to drop it in my driveway but there is biker next door and he heard the shout and came running; Wing has crash bars that stop it falling all the way down so no damage, only my pride.

Change plan

"You DID NOT C ME?????" Change in plans, now going all the way round Oz, about 16.000 Klms.Went to Auto club for maps and atlas, all free and most helpfull, camping places and distances. Checked on G.P.S. for bikes, i.e. TomTom Rider but most salespeople are clueless, hope things improve B4 May. Now going North in winter and across the top and down in summer, should be warm all the way ( I hope ). Gotta get fit first, eldest son is now 4 wheeling it with new wife, waste of a good bike rider, be happy and enjoy this wonderful country, how lucky are we?

"Sorry Mate,"

I did not see you, it happened in broad daylight at 1100 hrs last Sunday on the beach road. Wing has 'truck' horn and police were right behind her, I stopped in time, nice one. Well I have had two minor strokes 5 weeks ago and two more last weekend, so must get fit before the big trip, spent too much money to die now; if I can't take it with me then then I ain't goin' Be Lucky.

father's day

Twaz Father's day in Oz, sunshine, B.B.Q., great company and the upload works; there is much rejoicing

quickies

They are now quicker than the old man, well two of them are; must be old age.

Youngest bandit

Well we have learnt a bit more about how to upload pics, thanks to son and stroke knocking memory sideways; see how we go now.

The latest Wing photo

The latest piccy of the wing.

away-we-go again!!

Broadband is up and running so now it is time to get back to the planning of the journey....

Maybe it's time to open up the camper and learn how to use it ;)

Broadband

Switching to broadband instead of 'dial up, hope to fix picture upload. Decided to have a stroke last week, lucky a lady was visiting from the motor cycle club, she arranged ambulance, contacted my sons from my mobile and she was a stranger in a strange town. I am so lucky, multitude of tests at hospital, finally they let me out but charged a 'search fee' for the brain scans; recon the blood clot could not find the brain. Rode the Gold Wing next day, it was good, must have 'stroke' if thats what it does to you; lotsa confidence. Can't die, spent too much money on machines and trip is not 'til next year, change of 'diet' is called for ( Bourbon sandwiches) have yet to open the camper due to mud in the area, still to get concrete finished, it will happen.

wing, 2

Tried every trick to load new post pic but will not work, stuffed if I know? what is prob? Anyway plan is going forward but concreters are going backwards. Just for the record we had whales heading North today at Currumbin, just off the beach. They ARE huge, how lucky are we?............ Cannot work out prob with pics on site!!!!!!!!!! Bloody annoying, it worked be 4, y not now??????

Something to look forward to....

Death Chariots new home

My fleet is now housed in concrete and metal, not easy to rotate Wing with 8 inches to spare, ( 40 point turn?), who ever thought a 1200 Bandit would be 'the small one?' . The wing now handles the way I would wish, feel very confidant now but it is still a big machine to be treated with much respect ( broke MY toe ), more concrete to go on driveway then testing of trailer; few days from now. Later I will take trip away and practice with camper, I am in Queensland but was 7 deg last night, spent time in Arctic, never want to be cold again.
Hello Viv, C.M. D.M.

My Bar

'The best laid plans of mice and men are aft to gang awry' Robbie Burns in my bar. The garage is built, the 'Death Chariots' are put away and the Wing now handles like the Bandit. How lucky am I? Hi CDM!!!!!xxxxxx Life is good. Grow old disgracefully.

Johnny No Cash 2

Lost original pic so thought to try again, 84 year old lady over road is looking after "death chariots" I told locals she had bought them !!!!!! L.O.L., garage will be up next week, room to move in the dry!!!

Real Wing

This is it! The real toe crusher, I finally did it. Well pleased, took long enough. This My real machine, canary on steroids, can 'fishtail' in the wet REAL well, it is nice. Next is trip in space!!!!!! Oh to have the money and a space walk. Be lucky :-)))))))))))

Try again

Sky dive while sons waited for inheritance, missed out again, this is only test to insert pics. New pad went in today for garage for fleet, full garage arrives in 5 'daze', there is much rejoicing. 84 year old lady over road is looking after Wing and Bandit bike, others wonder.Will try other tests, MUST get this right, hi CM, learning. Back to new tests.

I can fly

Well I practiced with the Wing, I sky dived at 61 so I guesss I am only 28 after all, my sons did not get their inheritance, the shute opened Bandit smiles!!!!!! Watch me go 20.000ks in the future, coz I will, solo or otherwise. I CAN fly, well only 10.000 Ft. Just an experiment with down load pic.

Wingnut

The Lady Bandit with our Leader Stephen Dearnley, the man that said in 1983 "what is there for the over 40 motorcyclist?" so he founded the Ulysses club in Sydney Australia, the membership numbers are over 40.000 How lucky are we; The motto: 'Grow old discracefully'. this is just an experiment to load a picture on the site but this is our founder with Lady Bandit, all 40.000 are not with us anymore but they had a second life thanks to this man. Be lucky

The weather

Due to the excessive rain in South East Queensland the machines have not moved in ten days, why get soaked if you don't have to? Coopz is planning a photo shoot when the weather backs off, Wing and camper trailer an we hope to put some more info on line, He is Coopz, I am Coopzzzz and my othe son is Coopzz, not very original but we like it. The big trip will take place next year after much practice with the machinery plus G.P.S. & laptop, yet to be aquired, it will be solo (at the moment) but Lady Bandit has a meal itinery for dry meals, some frozen and fresh; never been camping in my life but at 64 still time to learn, I tried sky diving at 61, landed O.K.!!. Will write a story plus lotza photos on the way round and as my son says it could be very interesting. I think I am 28, don't know who the old man in the mirror is, Dorian Gray maybe?. Be Lucky Bandit, A.K.A. Coopzzzz.

The Machine

Just a quick shot of the machine in question.....

Hello

To Viv, Carolyn, Denise........... Nice ladies. Very nice ladies

Still learning

Started Wing today after accident, runs nice, needs a clean from Maryborough; the Bandit is STILL the toy, what a fang machine. If anyone out there is looking for value for $$$$$$$ the Suzuki Bandit is the mark, but the Rolls Royce IZ Honda Gold Wing, what a machine. Call me lucky.

Learning

My 1200 Bandit is now the size of a 250, handles the same after the Wing. my broken toe is healing real well and the next part of the adventure is to fit up camper trailer, then tow it. Had visits from son who made site and lady from Victoria, motor cycle rider also, sounds very nice person. I am still practicing with site and machines, who ever thought a 1200/4 would be 'small'? I have a long way to go before the trip, but remember "every journey starts with 'engage 1st. gear' and we pass this way but once. To my sons "TA, I am spending your inheritance, U told me to, L.O.L."

Practice on Wing

First practice on Wing was to Moree Muster, 800 ks. round trip, met roo and lost brand new sleeping bag, hope he likes it. Had probs with machine so took it to Honda, Springwood Qld. with the help of Paul Rugeery (spelling? ) they tested it and I should not ride like speedway machine; you do NOT back in a 350 kg. machin with A.B.S. was great weekend at Moree, met some top people from Bunderburg and very nice lady from Gold Coast, VERY attractive ( call me Lucky ). Next trip to Maryborough, Qld. 700 ks for Queens birthday long weekend, about 400 riders at party, I stayed in town but managed to fall under 350 kgs Wing on Saturday when rode off kerb I did not see at showground, got right boot under rear footrest, busted big toe, thanks to all who helped to lift machine and yet again others that did nothing! Rode to Rainbow Bay, 200 ks in very heavy rain, can now 'Fishtail' 1832cc flat 6 at 100 plus, bloke behind was impressed. I changed underwear. Managed to sit on the nice lady's lap on the bus Sat night going home; how lucky am I, well bus was full and she did offer, was only toe broken!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Next practice is with the camper trailer, should be interesting.

The adventure is taking shape

The bike has been purchased. The trailer has been acquired.
Let the adventure begin.