Day 2: First Mate's Log

Where we learn some important lessons… 9:30 departure really means sometime just before lunch, and if you send 5 men on bikes together in the same direction, 20% of them will arrive at the destination within a reasonable time.

The day kicked off with an extreme biker model shoot prior to departure with Jim the photographer and the Mildura Weekly. This was immediately followed by a hasty exit from town 2 hours later. Worthy of a mention also is Frodo’s new Fluoro helmet with auto cleaning systems,

and Peter doubling as “Wolverine”, the evil x-magician.

The wheat belt gave way to the big sky horizon, and before we knew it, we were in South Australia.

Sagi entreated the quarantine officers with his exotic accent and before we knew it there was a cavity search on the cards. Speaking of cavities, Grumpy “Gal” Hayward – (“Gal” being short for “galvanised” – everything has to be… even his hair is galvanised to his skull), broke a molar munching on Glenn’s nuts and by evening he was off to the dentist to have his teeth galvanised.

Before long we were at Banrock Station for our midday lunch (well at least 1 bike and 1 vehicle were)… the rest rocked up at about 2:15. In the end, the food and wildlife were great and Evan’s bush track riding on the way out left us wondering where the road ended and the bush began.

We headed for the Ferry at Morgan, interspersed with spectacular turquoise glimpses of the Murray River, and then on toward the horizontal landscape of the distant Burra Hills. Frodo donned the mankini and threatened to take the WWF Crown from Borat.

Eventually we moved through the Clare Valley.

and into Bungaree Station, a magnificent 19^th century station - we watched the lunar eclipse from the wide balcony where we got double the value with various “moons” on display.

From there it as into Clare for a quick dinner at the “Middle (Earth) Pub” drinking a wonderful ElDredge Shiraz (obviously there is a Mexican connection we are not being told about).

Stay tuned for day 3 where we see the emergence of the final rider “Valentino” Hayward with our first real off road experience and Iron Chefs Peter and Glenn challenging even the most experienced of pallets.