Luke

One of the hardest parts about this trip is leaving my boy Luke behind.

Luke has been with me since 1999.  We got him in Queensland, merely to be a guard dog for the boat we sailed through the Pacific Islands.  But the moment I met Luke, I knew he was meant to be in our lives as more than a guard dog.

After the trip through the islands finished, it was heart-wrenching to put him in a box and send him on a plane from the Solomon Islands, back to Sydney.. where he had to stay in quarantine for a month.

Since then, he's been an Adelaide boy.  Moved many houses, lived on the farm, in the city, on the beach.. my little guardian angel.

He is a very emotional boy, always keeping an eye on me, and always knows when I am planning to go away.  Since he grew up traveling with us, he gets so depressed if he can't hop in the car.

So with this big trip, he totally knows what is going on.  He won't leave my feet for anything.  When I was just trying on my new Rukka gear, I tossed my blue t-shirt on the floor, and I guess if he lays on top of it, he thinks I won't go?  Ohhh dear, the guilt!!  He knows how to work it!!

Thank goodness we live at the beach.. no question it makes him a very happy boy!  So he gets a good dose of this every morning..

We had a plan for him to stay with friends in Queensland while I was away.  Due to some personal issues they are experiencing, it's turned out best not to send him up there.. So now on a mad search of finding a great place for him to hang for a few months.. with only a month to go, I pray I get this sorted very soon!

RUKKA - The Best riding gear has arrived!!

So excited the best motorcycle riding gear is here!  Very kindly sponsored by Rukka Products of Finland and Innotesco from Melbourne!!  

From the time I began putting this journey together, through heaps and heaps of research, I learned that Rukka makes the best riding gear.  So I was off trying to track it down.

Luckily I found Pasi and Mari-Anne of Innotesco in Melbourne, and they knew just what I needed.  They both worked really hard at getting this amazing gear to me, and I can not thank them enough!!

I am very proud to wear Rukka gear.  They've supplied me with a full riding suit, Coolmax base layer, microfleece midlayer, and gloves!  The riding suit has soft armor inside and gore-tex material to keep me dry.  The Coolmax base layer will be like a second skin to me, and pull moisture away on those warm days.  On the cool/cold days, I'll add on the microfleece mid layer.  Layers and trapping in the warm air will keep me warm!  And those fantastic padded gloves are also with gore-tex.  

I have to admit, I have been a bit naughty riding around without proper protective gear.  But now that I have it, it makes a world of difference.  So important to have the right gear for safety and weather protection, and you just couldn't do any better than Rukka!!    

They took my measurements, sent them off to Europe and voila!  Everything fits to perfection!!!

I am one very lucky and grateful girl on a motorcycle journey around the world!

Anybody interested in learning more, feel free to contact  Mari-Anne at mari-anne@innotesco.com.au or 0414 814194.

Bike Augmentation

Today the bike went into the operating room for a "procedure"...

We needed bigger fuel tank, so that's what we got!  And it's awesome!!

The 14 ltr Safari Tank was sponsored by R & V Aqualine in Australia.  Combined with the existing 12 ltr tank, I will now have a total of 26 litres to travel on.  If I have calculated right (don't hold your breath), I should be able to travel at least 460 km's if not a bit more on one fill.  I won't be doing that regularly, but it's good to know it's possible.  So THANK YOU R & V Aqualine for supporting my bike and journey with your Safari tank!!!  It will make a world of difference in areas where fuel stops are not easy to come by.

Peter Stevens KTM at Morphett Vale, who have looked after me so much since day one, are still blowing me away with their awesome support.  They supplied the labor to get this bike altered, and did so again today fitting the tank... and Billy still got my tank bag on as we thought it might not have been a keeper.

I really really wanted to keep my tank bag.  So THANK YOU to everyone at Peter Stevens Morphett Vale!!!!  

Next, and hopefully last major job for my little motor "home", are the Touratech panniers.  Soon the bike will be nearly ready to go.  Depart still set at June 1, it's coming up much faster than I like, but once I'm on the road, it will be a huge relief!  (particularly to the boys at Peter Stevens... ;-)

Earthquakes and Thunderstorms!

Been an interesting couple of nights here in the Cove!  First night, awoke to a deep rumbling sound, my windows rattling like crazy and sounded like the rear veranda roof and frame was having a time of it.  I remember lying in bed and thinking that was a strange sound, wonder what it is?  Still very groggy, I paid more attention to the sound of the windows trying to shake free from the frame, and I thought, "Hmm!  must be an earthquake!!"  Not like such a thing would get me to jump out of bed.. Noooo!  Maybe get myself to tuck UNDER the bed for protection like we were taught at school?  Nooo!  Then the rumbling stopped, and I was like, "Yep, that was an earthquake..." and went right back to sleep.  Turned out to be a 4.0, no damage.. of coarse I knew that, so why get out of bed, hey..

Last night.... woke again to a deep rumbling sound.  This time it was thunder though.  The picture here is the view from my bedroom window, so when an electrical storm comes in, it's beautiful to watch.  I tried so hard to keep my eyes open!  Not just the odd strike, it was electric all over the place.. Keep your eyes open Sherri Jo!!  Zone back out.  Then a boom, keep your eyes open and watch!  Zone back out.. Aww, forget it.....