2017 a year of many adventures, many places and many miles-a pictorial summary

2017 has been a year of many adventures in amazing places

It maybe marks a progress from a piecemeal adventurer to a more full time one

The purchase of the Mighty Breva II in the UK opening up a whole new realm of touring

February in Tasmania

Queenstown

Ride stop

Looking down from the central highlands

March in the Australian Alps

Bonang Highway

Alpine National Park

View over Omeo

April trip to SE Queensland

Queen Mary Falls

Mount Glorious

June/July in England and the Mighty Breva II

Home away from home with fellow Guzzista and drying out the wet weather gear!

Stoke on Trent

The Bursway

John O’Groats

West Scotland

July Into Northern Europe

Ferry Newcastle to Amsterdam

Norway

Dutch/German border

Camped in Denmark

August through Scandinavia and Germany

Viking Museum

Near Trondheim

Geiranger Fjord

Sweden

Through Germany

Germany

And into Switzerland

September in Northern Italy and Southern France

October back in Australia sailing and camping

And a quick blast back to Northern NSW

November a walk in beautiful Springbrook National Park, SE Queensland one of Natures Gardens

December a blast through central Victoria good food and good company

It truly has been an amazing year and 2018 holds the promise of more wonderful adventures. Life can be just wonderful.

Happy New Year to all

Seasons Greetings to all

There are times to focus on peace and happiness

Jesus my have been the son of God or just a good bloke

It all depends on your perspective.

But he did try and spread a message of peace.

We often focus on the differences in humanity

Differences in religion and beliefs

Differences in race and skin colour

Differences in culture.

In nature there are also difference

As the solstice passes

At one end of the world there is endless night

At the other endless day

As it was nudging a sweltering 38 degrees in Melbourne recently.

My friends reported – 5 and snowing in Stoke on Trent.

So this is an opportunity to forget the differences.

Forget the distances between us.

And though at one end of the world it is dark and the other end light.

It is one world.

And though there are many religions and races and cultures

There is one humanity.

I wish you all peace and happiness.

Castles in the sky not just high Alps – Switzerland part 3

If you follow some narrow winding roads through fields of maize, past sheep and cattle quietly grazing, near the Aara River, you find the village of Habsburg and Schloss Habsburg.

The starting place in 1025 for a family that would dominate Europe and its colonies for almost a millennium- the Habsburg Family.

The Schloss Habsburg is one of the many castles that dot the Swiss countryside.

Schloss Lenzburg in sight of Habsburg tower is an impressive example.

Perched on hilltops

And on lake sides

The villages and old towns have their own special charms.

Decorated building eves and old town entrance in Aarau

Looking across the Rhine to old Laufenburg in Switzerland from Germany

My time in Switzerland, this trip, is drawing to a close but I have enjoyed amazing Alpine riding, exploring aspects of a rich history and found a welcoming motorcycle culture.