SCHMOKIN’ GOOD
“OUR HAPPIEST MOMENTS AS TOURISTS ALWAYS SEEM TO COME WHEN WE STUMBLE UPON ONE THING WHILE IN PURSUIT OF SOMETHING ELSE.”
LAWRENCE BLOCK
THE EARLY MORNING SUN creates long shadows in the fields as two hot air balloons drift in the breeze above Cobbitty, and the traffic is surprisingly light along the Northern Road and through the Blue Mountains. The air has that freshness of a May morning that bites into your face and tells you winter is near. With plenty of time to spare before the 9am rendezvous at Lithgow, I stop at Mitchel Ridge Lookout to stretch my legs. The valley below is shrouded in fog looking like a sea of white contained by sandstone cliffs.
Meeting the rest of the lads at Lithgow, after a cup of coffee and toasted sandwich we have a quick inspection of the transport. Rod’s NT Deauville, Craig’s ST1300, Phil’s V-Strom 1050, Jim’s restored HJ panel van, Peter’s Subaru and my DR650 are loaded and ready to go.
It does not matter whether you ride a dual sport or road bike. It doesn’t matter the size of
