Beach on a Bike

Yesterday I drove from Brisbane along the Pacific Motorway to Nerang. I would not wish this drive on any motorcyclist! Too much straight, too much traffic...
But from Nerang to Matt's family's place I took the Hwy 90 to 97 through the Gold Coast Hinterland and across the QLD/NSW border, right at the top of a mountain range. Gorgeous rolling hills and twisting roads the whole way past Uki and to Midginbill. This was probably the most fun Gael Garcia and I have had, but I know there will be more great rides to come.

Upon my arrival I was greeted by Matthew, his brother Sam, and their mother Cherilynn. Later on Ron, Matt's father, returned. What a great family! They seem to be so positive and to get on with each other quite well. I can understand where Matt gets his wit and sarcasm from. Ron was quite fascinating. We had a few intriguing conversations about the mind and spirit, aging, and even touched on politics. This morning he drove me around Tweed Shire and explained a bit of the history. It was interesting to learn about the Cram family who have been farming in the area for generations, and who donated "heaps" of land to the Shire for a local dam.

Matt Skipping Rocks at Cedar Creek

Later on, when Matt and Sam awoke we went swimming at a few local swimming holes. Palmers Road (with a ropeswing!) and then Cedar Creek, with lots of rocks to and crevaces to explore. The boys are tons of fun; lots of climbing on rocks and jumping into natural pools and backflips off of ropeswings.

Matt and I plan to hike Mount Warning tomorrow, then I'll accompany the boys to their beach v-ball game in the evening. I suppose the following day i'll head off once again.

I will cherish this visit in my heart and I don't think I'll ever forget Ron singing "God Bless the Child" while playing the ivories in this beautiful, comforting home built in the hills of Midgenbill.

Back at Noosa to visit Myles (a friend from Union College) and Penny (his mother), and got to meet Warick (Myles' little brother): I'm quite fond of Penny, she's such a beautiful and strong woman, able to maintain her hobbies, playing clarinet in a local band, two teenage boys and two crazy dogs, amoung other things.

Myles on Sunshine Beach

On Wednesday, after taking my bike in for a tire change, I rode to Eumundi to see the (locally) famous Eumundi Markets. It was a fabulous mood, with positive hustle and bustle, and lots of creative entrepreneurs displaying their wares. A highlight of the day was lunch, when I went into the Krishna Cafe. The old couple who ran it were blasting blues on the stereo, adding to the overwhelimingly positive ambiance of the cafe. I think these moments are so beautiful when you can share this atmosphere with another person, even just in a brief exchange of smiles and words.

Last night Myles and I met up with his friend Andrew at the Surf Club to watch the waves roll in from the dark, menacing ocean before the rainstorm. Andrew was interesting; very into music and talented at guitar. Listening to him play made me reminisce about playing back in Vancouver with Nate, Dan, Byron and the crew...

Today I'm off to Brisbane, Myles and I will "caravan" half the way there, before I stop by the Glasshouse mountains to eat my lunch and see the sights.

Postscript: I ran out of petrol on the Sunshine Motorway. I'm pleading innocent however, as I assumed my reserve tank would work (and of course it didn't). It was slighlty sketchy since there was practically no shoulder on the road, but my luck kicked in when I was helped by some of the construction workers, who helped me move my bike across traffic to the other side of the road, and also donated a couple litres of petrol!!!
I continued on to Brisbane, by way of the Glasshouse Mountains. Although the weather was a bit nasty, with some rain and dark clouds, the drive was decent and the view from the lookout in the national park was well worth the detour.
My arrival in Brisbane was well-timed to go climbing with Lynette, Dan, Brett and Anne-Marie at Kangaroo Point, as if my day wasn't long enough.

Pomona is like a Fisher-Price town from above: it's little houses and toy trains on winding railway tracks. The people here seem busy living simple, happy lives, as I watch from my perch on the top of Mt. Cooroora. (Although the truth of it is that most of their lives are most likely anything but simple and happy...)
A dragonfly is watching, too, although he seems more preoccupied with playing in the gusts of wind. Perhaps he was the inspiration for hang-gliding. He stops for a minute on a nearby branch to show me his beautiful wings. They are made from transparent golden lace and decorated in perfect symmetry with maroon markings in some undiscovered language.

The Dhama Rasmi Center, under Mount Cooroora, is home to many kangaroos.

Inner peace... such a beautiful goal for life: not an idealistic moment-to-moment pleasure, but an approach to life, "a set of problem-solving abilities" (P.R. Flieshmann).

I asked myself today: How would I approach life had I one thousand years left to live?

Answer: Patiently and carefully, making sure to set every stone carefully as a solid and lasting foundation.

And then I asked myself: How would I live had I only one day left?

My answer suprised me: I would not rush to experience as many intense thrills as possible. Nor would I compile a list and systematically check things off in order of importance. I always thought that this would be my approach.
Instead, I realized, I would spend that one day in unity with nature: where I came from, the nature I am a part of, and the nature I will fully and peacefully relinquish myself to when my time is complete. I would not try to contact as many people as possible, but contact those I reach as deeply as possible. I would pull from within myself all of my love, I would capture from the environment all of it's beauty, and I would share these with someone.
I don't think there is any other way I would rather live my last day on earth.

Thoreau sums this up beautifully: "One moment of serene and confident life is more glorious than a whole campaign of daring."

Time is so precious, and yet time is so infinite. Is it possible to work towards living this way every day of my life?

And so my adventure begins.

Some initial issues with my newly acquired 1992 Yamaha XV535 (and some worries that my plan to see Australia on a motorbike would be a complete disaster) were solved with the help of Peter Gardiner, who’s been great in both the sale and upkeep of the bike, and of course a few new spark plugs. After a few test drives around town, Gael Garcia (the bike… and yeah, I realize that the cheese factor is through the roof) and I finally got on the road, and it sure felt good.

I woke up at Anne-Marie and Lynette’s place, loaded up Gael Garcia with all of my belongings save a few (computer, push-bike, etc) and headed North out of Brisbane to Lake Coothabara.

The first half of the trip was quite dull, just a 6-lane highway and too many cars. But after the Coolum Beach turn-off the scenery became beautiful, the road a little less crowded, and the speed limit increased to 110. Getting off the Bruce Highway onto the road from Pomona to Boreen Point was a highlight, not to mention Gael Garcia’s first test on the many curvy back roads we’ll be taking over the next few months. As I came over the crest of a hill and saw Lake Coothabara it nearly took my breath away.
All in all, there were no real events on the ride, although a stop at the ginger factory in Yandina was well needed.

For the next few nights I’ll be camping, sailing and enjoying the serenity with Richie and his Aussie mates. These boys are great! Entertaining, unique and able to appreciate some of the great things in life: music, sailing, nature (hmm… excluding a few tragic episodes with cane toads), good food/drink, active fun and of course good friends.

I must also add here that my Aussie vocabulary increased tenfold as soon as I stepped onto this camp site:
Bludger, shoot through, fair dinkum, lob, sussed, hard yakka, chunder, piece of piss, spag bol, figjam, yobbo, she’ll be apples... the list would go on but it’s tough to learn a new language so my memory’s had a hard day.

I also need to give the local Boreen Point pub an honorable mention. Cheers to the Apollonian Hotel!