The internal borders on the eastern seaboard of Australia finally started to open as the community transmission of Covid 19 is eliminated.
It was time to load up the mighty Moto Guzzi Breva and hit the road.
Time to visit dear friends interstate that I hadn’t seen a long while
First stop was the lovely old town of Carcoar,and the lovely camping spot on the banks of the dam
From Lithgow through to Singleton the Bell Line of Road and the Putty Road is a spectacular ride across the top of the Blue Mountains.
The Blue Mountains were badly burnt in the terrible Australian bushfires last summer, but it was great to see some regeneration.
Off the Blue Mountains it was the backroads to the beautiful Pacific coastline north of Sydney.
Rattling over the old timber bridges that are distinctive part of the NSW backroads.
On the way from the mountains to the coast.
On the northern NSW coast mountains and the sea come together and on a hot summer day there is the ocean or a run up the Waterfall Way for a freshwater dip.
To Dangar falls in Dorrigo.
A route enjoyed by many beautiful bikes.
And at the bottom of the Waterfall Way is Urunga.
Where the Kalang River flows into the Pacific Ocean.
And the big old hotel offers a cold beer, a comfy room and a good meal.
The panorama from the Bunjil lookout at Maude north of Geelong takes in a valley in the Barabool Hills where the Moorabool river has cuts its path
Bunjil the Eagle is the dream time creator of the lands and the people that traditionally inhabited the land now known as Victoria Australia
Bunjil is depicted as a Wedge Tailed Eagle, Australia’s largest bird of prey
A majestic bird in flight
The lookout Bunjil Lookout is shaped like an eagle its powerful bill in front and the huge wingspan behind
Many decades ago the air over the Barabool hills would be full of soaring wedge tailed eagles but after years of European settlement the great bird is listed ad threatened in Australia
I parked my Moto Guzzi in front of the look out
The emblem of Moto Guzzi is the eagle, a mythical eagle inspired possibly by the Golden Eagles that live in the mountains that surround Lake Como, the home of Moto Guzzi.
And looking at the two emblems together I could not help but think of how eagles have inspired us through the ages from the Dreamtime of the oldest culture on earth to the modern machine age
And despite this inspiration, this fascination the awe which these mighty birds install in us
We don’t treasure them, but have hunted eagles over centuries, destroyed their habitat and threatened the beautiful birds that are so inspirational.
The old gold mining town of Steiglitz is an interesting stop to look at an old settlement village
And in contrast to the indigenous names of Barabool and Morrabool the is the sister villages of Maude, Meredith and Elaine the run from south to north through the hills.
A stop in Geelong for a coffee and the view over the bay that was created in the dreamtime by Bunjil the Eagle.
On the Umbrial Pass in the Stelvio Region of the Italian Alps
There is a memorial to the to the Italian Aviators of WW1
And at the crown of the monument is the Golden Eagle in flight
Carlo Guzzi and his co-founders of Moto Guzzi were veterans of the Italian WW1 airforce.
And maybe that is their affinity with the eagle and how it found its way to being the emblem of the Moto Guzzi motorcycle.
After four long months and the defeat of the spread of the Covid-19 virus in Melbourne, restrictions were lifted and travel within rural parts of the state of Victoria is allowed.
Time to spread the wings
The route – an 1800km loop around the outskirts of Melbourne – A route I will dub the outer Melbourne Ring Road.
Victoria, is the smallest mainland state of Australia but with a diverse landscape some iconic riding roads, along the coast and over mountains.
This route took in aspects of them all
Starting with a trip in company past the Port Phillip Bay Heads (the Rip) an often treacherous piece of water but calm and benign this day.
Off the ferry it was a ride through the Mornington Peninsula to Cape Schank and its magnificent view over Bass Strait
There is a lovely ride from Cape Schank to the township of Flinders before heading up to the first set of mountain twisties around the base of Mount Baw Baw.
And through some magnificent old growth forest.
After a run on the back roads of Gippsland camp awaited at Bruthen and the start of the Great Alpine Road.
From Bruthen the Great Alpine Road runs up the Tambo River Valley
Up to the summit of Mount Hotham
The northern side of the mountain is the most steep and a bit of a testing ride at times and then just after it flattens out there is a turn off to Mount Beauty over the Towonga Gap Road; with its beautiful views over the Kiewa Valley and the Mount Beauty Township.
Storms were forecast and a caravan was found beside the Kiewa River
After the storm the next morning was cool and the clouds still hung in the Valley
To the Grampian Ranges and a ride through these amazing rocky outcrops.
By this time the weather had turned wet and cold and it was a dash south across the western district plains to a warm hotel in the green rolling hills of the Otway Ranges hinterland.
A gentle ride along the Great Ocean Road.
An old time favourite ride see previous posts here and here
piece meal adventurer 
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