From Cobar to Narrabri, slowly return to reality and the end of the trip.
In the next six days I will be returning to San Diego, all good things eventually come to an end, returning his bike to Haydn and spending a couple of two or three days with him and Dianne, it is impossible not to be philosophical, this whole trip happened because of them and their help, in my experience traveling by motorcycle, these types of contacts happen and many times develop into lasting friendships.
The trip to SouthAmerica which happened 13 years ago, left a trail of human contacts whose effects will never dissappear.
When crossing the Andes from Nasca to Cuzco, I stopped another motorcyclist who turned out to be a Brazilian engineer, Nelson gave me his card as it was raining, very windy and very cold, it was foggy and miserable, and he just told me that when passing thru Curitiba his city, to look him up, which I did and he served me as a perfect guide of the area, he took me to buy new tires, and we traveled the Strada Preciosa, remained in touch and one day he came to visit San Diego and I lent him my GS Adventure and he took it for a 9000 miles trip around the United States, no problems.
Haydn approached me as I disembarked from the Ferry at Puerto Natales, again it was so windy that instead of docking at 9 am, the ferry had to wait until the wind was less violent and I was getting off around 6 pm, and was looking for a hotel when a stranger asked me where I was going, and I explained him that I was on my way to Usuaia at the end of the Panamerican highway in Tierra del Fuego, Haydn explained me that he and his wife were in a year long Americas trip by motorcycle and told me that we should travel together, the next day we met and traveled for three weeks together having a wonderful time and finally separating after Bariloche, since then we have been in touch and this time he offered me the use of his newly aquired BMW R1200R, how could I refuse such an offer that would facilitate my trip to Tasmania.?
I have increased his Odometer by 8000 km, and the bike has been perfect, only needing gasoline 95-98 octanes , never nissing a beat.
Next August another friend brought to my life by traveling in the motorcycle, will visit me in San Diego, this is the second time, and like the first he will use one of my motorcycles for any travels he has planned, his name is Martin Howorth, and in Belgium I invited to share my hotel room in Bruges and he invited me for a week at his home in Manchester, I never imagined he was British as he speaks fluent Spanish with a South American accent because he grew up in Peru and has worked in Chile as well.
Meeting these men and several others would not have happened if I did not have this hobby, I am very grateful to them for being part of my life and enriching it. Of course, their wives were included in the equation, Dianne because she is a motorcycle partner, experienced world traveler, perfect guide and Martin and Nelson's wives even when they do not travel with their husbands like Dianne, I met them , they opened their homes to me and provide the support to their husbands allowing them the trips they undertake.
Today I left Cobar and as I travel East, the vegetation improves, around Warren there were large cotton plantations, cattle ranches and farms, it is obvious that these areas get more precipitation, but still I have seen all the rivers that I crossed were dry.
After Coonabarabran I visited the Warrumbungle National Park where a very important celestial observatory is located, it is called Siding Spring Observatory, and after coming down from the mountain I arrived to the Tibuc Gardens where I had been adviced to enjoy the best home cooking in the area, and it was correct, I had a delicious lunch of Garlic prawns and pasta acompannied by home made bread and all were excellent.
Now I am spending the night at the Albany Motel in Narrabri. I will look for more things to see on my way back to Murwillumbah. Victor
Excellent lunch at Tibuc Gardens
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