Marc impressed with the roads in this part of India with good reason....and the 390 too.√
forgot how to cut up a mango !!!! It was good tho ....now with sugar rush.
Well the day started well, meet up was slightly early at fuel station and so we left at 7.45 instead of 8 and I got fresh 750 ml water bottle for the cup holder and fuel top up.
Both riding buddies riding mid-sized twins set up for outback adventure - they will do the OCR again when it comes around.
Off Centre Rally - Mt Augustus - 8 Aug 2026 The OCR is being held at Mt Augustus in 2026. For those who are not aware, the OCR has been running since 1976, and therefore this will be its 50th...
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So Eamonn, my main riding partner here was riding pretty conservatively tho he's in no way a hooligan but was dawdling for him.
The other rider Dave who I've not ridden with finally took off ahead up the lovely winding Captain Cook Highway heading towards Port Douglas for lunch ......didn't get there.
I had a large double dump truck behind me sitting a bit too close for my comfort since I'm worried about my chain dying a sudden death and size large truck unable to stop so I took off ahead and got a few cars up on the truck, could see Eamonn in front of the truck but road is very winding and lost sight of him.
The road has several single lane construction zones with stop lights and I could see the truck behind a few cars back as well, stopped but no sign of Eamonn.
I pulled over and waited a bit fiddling with my air dam on the new helmet and trying to get the old IEMs functional while wondering if I should turn around. Just about did and he finally showed, again riding slowly but we headed further north a bit below traffic speed until we hit Carlyle just before Port Douglas and my frequent hangout at a covered picnic table with top notch Wifi....better than home.
However he pulled in to the servo across from it, parked his bike, sat down, then lay down looking pretty rough.
Asked me to go in and get a coke which I did- he'd skipped breakfast and was woozy.
Hands were shaking and he did not look good.
Now Eamonn is former military pilot and commercial pilot, stays fit and 10 years younger than me and waaaay fitter so I'm concerned big time.
I got him to wear my Apple Watch and he was at 114 bpm lying prone ...normally would be half that. I got a partial EKG reading that was nuts spiky and uneven but then my watch was too big for his wrist - it looked very alarming tho and he was not feeling or looking well.
I did not get a great reading but enough to know a younger fitter guy lying flat on his back was having some sort of issue.
mine and I know I have electrical issues but laymans look ....his heart was unhappy.
Got the Coke in him and he started feeling better, I want to call and have him get checked by ambulance service but naaaah
. He said ride behind him on the way home, again a bit under traffic speed and when we stopped a construction he slugged water from my bottle....he still did not look good.
Finally pulled over at Ellis Beach - fav watering hole, stripped off gear and we sat for an hour catching up and he downed a size large fresh squeezed orange juice...ideal if he was hypoglycemic. Cooled off and he looked much better.
We admired a mint 70s Widow Maker that pulled in ...Kawi 500 triple. Gorgeously restored and sounded great as he pulled away.
Bikes were smaller then. Looked strange near Eamonns 660 Aprilla and even my CB500f.
Grabbed a free chicken burger for lunch and rode home. Thought I was going to get wet but missed....Eamonn home okay.
Oh and Dave passed us on the way home he was also feeling crook....
Will try again once Eamonn sees doc.
seriously hoping the drugs kick in for the ride home. 
