Having given “a try for the chair” by plane and by taxi, it was time to head to the bike depot and pick up our rides.


To guarantee sure footing, Victoria opted for a low-to-the-ground cruiser type bike, a Honda Shadow 750. Like her bikes at home, this one is red - - and that color seems to imply a certain amount of mechanical uncertainty for her – perhaps a foreshadowing of future craziness down under. Here is a shot of the chair on the Shadow:


I opted for a bike similar to mine at home, a BMW GS. At home I ride an 1150 but alas that was not available, so I settled for a 1200 - -times are tough. Here is a shot of its chair. . .


Our first day of riding was brief - - familiarizing ourselves with the bikes and more significantly, riding on the left.

We made our way out to the Blue Mountains and stopped at “echo point” to view a valley featuring the “three sisters” rock formation.


Needing to take a closer look yet pressed for the time required to hike in, Victoria donned her Copernicus suit and took a fly-in. She reported, “no chairs here – they seem to be one step ahead of us.”