My riding around Australia on Penelope was to come to a wonderful climax in October and November 2021. The timing was such that I was going to be able to progressively attend the Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island, be part of grandson Arthur's seventh birthday celebrations, attend the Australian Panther Owners' rally near Bendigo, before going to Tasmania to explore and hopefully track down The Plastics (Mark and Pete) who featured so prominently in our No One Said It Would Be Easy saga of 45 years ago.

With the collapse of our trans-Tasman Covid-free 'bubble', I have finally faced up to the reality of not making a sortie to Australia this year.

But wait! ... another adventure is on the horizon ... one that is possibly much more humble, but one that is exciting me all the same. I'll not spill the beans yet, but already I am fabricating suitable luggage. Decades ago, that is what I did for a living. I made a range of motorcycle touring luggage. A much younger man gazes out upon you from this old Drifter Products brochure. The beard is now white and the hair mostly gone, but the excitement is the same.

Already my spirits are soaring. The anticipation of an adventure is half the fun. The dreams may not pan out into reality – the sun doesn't always shine in the real thing like it does in the musings beforehand ... but every day away adventuring on a moto is wonderful. It is making new memories – the ones that aren't just repeats of yesterday. Whilst the embryo is growing, it is not yet fully ready for full exposure. I'll get back to you soon, when we are ready. Kia kaha.

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