T R A V E L F E A T U R E - A ustralia
PHIL LALOR
EVERYTHING
TO MAKE A GROWN MAN WEEP
T
he day finally arrived, nervous
anticipation mounted, reminis-
cent of a morning not that long
ago, sitting on the starting grid
at Mount Panorama, with 27 other
cars waiting for the lights to turn
green.
All the preparation done, the vehi-
cle checked, farkles fitted, the latest
items of bling resplendent in the
morning sunshine, the new sticker
proudly front and centre, the tanks
filled almost to the point of over-
flowing, unless you’re Macca - fuel is
optional for Macca, panniers chocked
full of ‘essential’ items, batteries
charged, GPS updated - and the lights
twinkle a tinge of green - a signal of
freedom, a signal of adventures, but
most of all a signal of that one true
Australian characteristic, a trait that
spans generations, defies geographic
boundaries and permeates classes
and cultures - that green light is a
signal of 2 weeks of mateship.
Gentlemen, it’s time to ride.
TRAVERSE 59
The nerves and anticipation abate
somewhat - perhaps due to the con-
sumption of a few alcoholic bever-
ages, plenty of laughs and shared
memories.
With a slight deviation to original
plans, five riders converged on Tam-
worth, experiencing the epic hospi-
tality of Matthew Whitworth. Today,
a bitumen bound ride to Sydney,
meeting up with Grant McClory. Sec-
ond mortgages have been arranged
prior to visiting Adventure Moto ...
Mark Seymour sang about having
‘everything to make a grown man
weep’, the bitumen of the New Eng-
land Highway and Putty Road passed
beneath the wheels, a contrast of
scenery - scars of the modern Austral-
ian economy contrasted with the dry
and barren fields of a past economy.
The tightening grip of the drought a
constant companion along the New
England Highway. The Putty Road
provided a pleasing contrast, sections
of green, with the occasional pool of