Riding Down Under - Tropical Cairns Australia

The girl likes her chow and what an incredible landscape
1767225192866.png

Off for my first ride in 2026 :love: Lovely day considering time of year here and what's around us weatherwise

a ride up the Gillies on New Years Day and Hungry Jacks deal.

Cheese burger, fries, 6 chicken nuggets and a small latte for $6 all in
Some compensation for being old :D

526 turns on the Gillies counting both directions and no issues other than touched my toe down going downhill this time....my feet are too big clearly
Gillies-Highway-from-the-air.jpg
Now just waiting on new chain and sprocket. 🍿
 
Last edited:
Our new puppy introduced to Tstorm....

Pretty good one too. Very welcome rain and cooler air.
2026 off to a good start
Image
Great New Years Day motorcycle ride.
Good Hungry Jacks deal
Much needed rock n roll Tstorm.
Then an eagle on Wordle :giggle:
 
Last edited:
This is not likely to continue but was fun work
Start word a big pay day!
Waiting on Sunday to see how the crazy Germans are surviving floods.

Sneaking in a ride between showers. Damn it is thick out - glasses fogging up.
Two brekkie sandwiches and a free flat white for $7 ....that's enough for breakfast AND lunch.....actually as turns out ....for supper.
1767396312874.png
Did expect this
1767416839274.png
Did not expect this :D dodged all the rain on a lovely 200 km loop cept the last km to home got damp - great ride - the new helmet working out well and insanely oddball audio book. Not hurting anywhere either. Means might have a 400 km out and back range for a complete day ride.
1767416960015.png
Longest motorcycle ride in a while, 200km+, dodging serious rain
- slept like a baby. :coffee:

Serious flooding elsewhere ....pushed my luck with rain but loved it. Supplies to stores are cut off from the south.
 
Last edited:
A day at home. Watching Rings of Power
might be some riding - cooler temps and no sun.
Also makes it easier to watch the big screen daytiime.
Got 9 hours sleep and needed it
Screen Shot 2026-01-04 at Jan, 4    2026    1.41.50 PM.jpg

The crazy Germans reported in with a short which indicated they scarpered. 🍿 ...no detail tho

Image
Late night with Noraly
:sleep:
 
Last edited:
Image
Was never getting there 🤬

Some nice scores on Face Book tonight.
Brand new Birkenstocks in my size for $60.
Harmon Kardon Aura blu tooth speaker for $50.

hk.png
Always loved these and have a perfect use for a single in the bedroom so I can play music of my choice with decent bass via blue tooth.
The Echo 4 Alexa speaker is okay for sound but I can stream to it effectively plus the HK looks waaaay better. Did not think the guy would go for $50.
I used to always have a pair on my desk in Canada.
Lucky buy
 
Last edited:
Glad I got out to pick up the Harmon Kardon deal when I did. Happily listening in bed to Blade Runner sound track just now. 😍
1767795067439.png
Dismal for a while and buddy is intending to leave for his Around Aus trip next week :unsure:
 
Fantastic scenery 😍
Something very refreshing about non industrial society
who needs F1
and I think Noraly’s eyes were watering from the fermented horse milk :eek:

Pouring here and tons more to come …was luck to get a break to pick up that Harmon Kardon.
Some intrusion into the house with swirling winds carrying rain mist. Actually have a hoodie on as chilly with fans going.
Saturday will be the wildest day with rain and wind....90 kph and pouring.
Screen Shot 2026-01-08 at Jan, 8    2026    10.23.20 AM.jpg

On cyclone watch
1767934569194.png
 
Last edited:
Speaking of wordle. B got it in 1 this morning.
 
1767924735129.png
We're on a cyclone watch. very mild one but we will get wet
Nice just now - 28 midday and no rain. Balmy.

Marc in Japan....how life would have been different if I'd stuck with my plan to ride in Japan and not bought the little Yamaha I drove front of a car in Canada.
$3000 for 5 days riding in Japan vs buying the little Yamaha 155 CC in Canada with a view to have transport longer term.
I had it all booked.
My son still would have died when he did but I'd not have a somewhat bum leg and worsened my bad shoulder.
Pivotal decision.

Waiting on some wind and rain ....noshing French toast and maple syrup at midnight
 
Last edited:
One of our "20s something" dear friend and former housemate had a wonderful 40th Bday party today at an upper end tapas eatery.
Friend's still gorgeous and amazingly still single. Had a 1920s flapper dress on.
Boy do I feel old, and stuffed. Everyone was in festive mood as Cat 2 cyclone Koji went well south of us.
Open bar for wine and beer...I actually got a tad tipsy on a large glass of Riesling. Have a full bottle in the fridge and a jar of rollmop herring - a combination I really like.
My Ozempic portcullis held off for once tho the concluding paella 🥘 went untouched cept for the giant prawns. The watermelon/feta/candied walnut salad was a perfect palate cleanser for desert.


Happy with that considering slightly
foggy wine addled brain due to bday party.

Looks like a few decent riding days coming up now the cyclone funk has receded.
 
Last edited:

Much nicer at midnight. Comfy 25C

Hurt my lower back/right hip moving furniture ....was very achy when I got up early but Robaxin and more sleep plus Celebrix seems to have worked.

Hope for a ride and this seems the best deal still
1768141286080.png
I won't eat the chips but the dogs will. Fair bit of protein.
The burger was better than expected, 15 gm protein and the nuggets always satisfying also with 15 gm Wish they had a mustard sauce choice but sweet n sour okay.
If I spin for a deal a whopper has 28 gm - that's okay too.

Stunning day for Noraly

Thought about a ride but
ugh 9 am
30.6 FEELS LIKE
37.1°C
 
Last edited:

Could have been a bird cept for brain fart
29c at 3 am in the bedroom feels like 32c ugh.
Then the ac makes it too cold 🤬

Marc seeing places in Japan I would not have got to and not being careful on green moss.


sweet 🍯

Noraly looks healthy and happy (y)

9 am - feels like nudging 40 again
Now
UPDATED 9:10AM AEST
31.7 FEELS LIKE
39.0°C
broke 40c

finally broke feels like 40c.
34.4
°
FEELS LIKE
40.6°C

Just had a very late small feed of tasty thin pancakes with embedded blueberries and real maple syrup,,,lotsa butter
will sleep well tho three small pancakes not a big carb load. 🥞
 
Last edited:
Bound to happen

Nother hot day. Got the final bit of furniture in the bedroom. √
Bit of a sweaty job assembling 🥵
Will finish off pancakes for lunch. 🥞
 
Screen Shot 2026-01-17 at Jan, 17    2026    9.22.57 PM.jpg
Facebook deals paying off. Had on of these in Canada and really wanted one for the bedroom here as we have no heat when it's cold plus the fan is always useful and love the look.
Dyson Hot+Cool™ Jet Focus fan heater
SKU: 464812-01 | RRP: $649 | AM09
Fan cools you in summer and heater keeps you warm in winter.
Multiplies surrounding air, giving an uninterrupted stream of smooth airflow. No blades, no choppy air.
Diffused mode for whole-room heating or a gentle breeze.1
They are $445 new .....getting one for $50 make me very happy and promised Bruce lunch up the street
 
Last edited:
Joys of tropical monsoons...cools things off...muggy as hell the next day
 

Mission to pick up the Dyson was a success ...glad of having a GPS but quick money for goods swap made for a fast turn around. Rich people get lovely views.

$44 for lunch will not make Cheapskates Corner but food and company was good.:eek: Giant very tasty cinnamon bun with a small latte plus a ham and cheese toastie + iced coffee for Bruce was never going to be value for money.
It's too bad the place is so expensive as it's very convenient. Had no other way to pick up the Dyson and lunch with Bruce is always a treat.
The meal carried me to a very light supper after post prandial nap. The place is too expensive for bread but talked them in 1/2 sourdough loaf for $5.50 which again will be very good but $$$.
Don't see a couple getting out for less that $40-50 a go

Should have tried The Nest almost next door but can't find prices. The plum tart looks delicious. Actually prices do show would have been little savings and less choice of items.. The pastry on that Frangipani looks top notch.
1768749227692.png
That's what I get for being poor pensioner living in high end suburb. :sneaky:
Hungry Jacks my go to and P J Obriens for the $10 full meals on weekdays.
 
Last edited:
EU was smart to have relatively friction free borders.

Image
Quiet night cept for dog wake up at 2 am. Doubt I got enough sleep for a ride but feels like it. 6 1/2 hours and maybe a few yet to come since it's 4.30 am tho not very drowsy. 🥱🥱 I could be wrong. Going to 30c at 9 am...ugh.
 
Last edited:
Image
Timing is everything.
Dog adoption is complete.... Lizzy joins the family.

Treat for me at long last. 1 year warranty and lots of drive space
MacBook Pro (2020) 13.3-inch - Apple M1 Chip: 8-Core CPU/8-Core GPU - 16GB RAM - SSD 2TB
Quantity: 1 A$1099 all in
I'll use the existing 2018 MacBook Pro with the malfunctioning keys for on the bike and I can move on to the newer OSes which is becoming an obstacle.
Lots of space for movies and photos

Every time I see Marc in Japan I think of how different things would have been if I'd taken the 5 days there instead of buying the poor little Yamaha 155 scoot in Canada ...it had a short and tragic life.
 
Last edited:
Rain or shine going to KFC today
1768948295055.png
Yum ..getting 4 tasty meals from that deal. 94 gm of tasty protein for $10. Aussie chicken is held to high standards - that said I don't think generally KFC is great value for money unless a deal like this comes by.
Screen Shot 2026-01-21 at Jan, 21    2026    1.42.54 AM.jpg
Two in a row with wiffs to start
Image
Sold my Scott riding jacket today ...sentimental link to my son when we rode across Canada in 2015:cry:
He looked better in it than me. Top of Beartooth Pass
1769009304820.png
Wonderful 3 season Gortex jacket but too warm for here except for a few days and needed the money. Will put to a good cause.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom