Valvoline’s Blog Roll
The pleasures of bedding in a new motor
I wanted to make sure that this bike would be tried and tested, as well as having had its first / 1,000 km service completed before I left Melbourne. And, since the sand in my…
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It’s like going on a first date…
Getting a new bike is like going out on a first date. All giddy and hoping that it’s going to go well. Butterflies in the stomach, with a healthy dose of nervousness and excitement. That you’ll…
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The Lawnmower Resurrection
There is always a silver lining to every cloud….although at the time you don’t quite see it that way.During the week I finally got word from the doc that I have the all clear on…
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Melbourne’s Westlands – the Badlands?
The week seemed to draw longer and longer without a bike. It was ok for when I was waiting for legalities and paperwork with a bike. Time just seemed to pass way quicker! But not…
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Passing on inspiration
Shopping time with friends… So Monday morning came and I was buying my time before I called the bike shop wanting to know more details on the state of the Lawnmower… Called them close to…
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Flowering a new idea
They say the 2nd or 3rd day are the most painful after a stack or something similar. They weren’t wrong. Yesterday I went to the doc, got checked out and X-rayed. All clear, nothing broken. …
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The Aftermath
Everything is for a reason… All I can say is that I am so very grateful that my guardian angels can obviously fly and think quicker than I can ride! It takes time to process…
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Kanga Banga at Wilson’s Prom !!
**Warning a skippy was harmed in the making of this post** 😦 I can safely say that there is now a 3rd thing I hate about Victoria. 1. Ridiculous weather. 2. Melbourne Traffic. 3. Suicidal…
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Mt Oberon Friday’s frivolities
Day 1 It was now a couple of months that I had been in Melbourne, and it looked like I was nearing a bit of an impasse with the consulates. It was the typical thing…
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Le Taste Tour
Unleash the inner Foodie Today was a rest day on the touring schedule and decided to treat the tastebuds rather than on the bike sights. Melbourne is known for their food delights so I rode…
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Historic ‘Everything’ in Victoria
Day 3 For some unknown reason the heater which wasn’t working when I arrived late last night, decided to kick in at about 5am and warm the room up around 6am. Bit late after I…
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Mt Buffalo & (mucho!) Mitta Mitta (Cont…)
Day 2 Part 2 The road up to Mt Buffalo, climbing on the Lawnmower was a breeze and the road surface condition itself was great. Just a pity there had been so much rain in…
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Mt Buffalo (mucho) Mitta Mitta!
Day 2, Part 1 Woke up gloriously in a 25C room and then proceeded to get a slap in the face when I walked outside. It was 9C. Ouch. Looks like I was back to…
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Mt (Brrrrrr) Buller
More meetings with lawyers and more paperwork. Another lot of submissions and waiting… I’m finally getting the hang of last minute decisions on where to go riding next. Due to a predicted spattering of two…
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The embodiment of Adventure
People you look towards inspiration At this time I was learning that where the vision goes, the energy goes. By now I’ve been in Melbourne for a bit and away from much of the pressures…
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Melbourne’s Mountain Trifecta
One of the things I set about doing once I got back from my short South Australia trip, was to do some research on the bike photographers from the gifted bike calendar. As it was,…
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The Peninsula of the Rider’s Holy Grail
Melbourne to Mornington Penninsula – Day 1 Apparently there are a few things that can keep me away from the bike… Besides the ridiculously weird and wicked Melbourne weather; so was the biggest chest infection…
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A Tropical reconnaissance trip
Cairns and surrounds – A rest for the Lawnmower And a hop skip and a jump, we flew to Cairns from the Gold Coast and went to pick up our little rental go-go mobile to…
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Time to thaw
A mini Gold Coast intermission I was starting to seriously be over being cold, and sleeping cold. By this stage I was also really missing friends. After 2 weeks of more trips between the Australian…
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Another mountain – Mount Macedon
Hepburn Springs to Melbourne It was easy to find accommodation in Dalyesford as it is such a touristy place, but the posh kind. It is a nice town, with plenty of amazing looking houses, decked…
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Gold Rush steeped in history
Ararat to Hepburn Springs With a late night last night, and no real hurry to leave, it was a great sleep in morning. With a long and recharging shower and a leisurely breakfast with more…
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The Arapiles / Grampians – Victoria’s Uluru
Naracoorte Caves, SA to Ararat, VIC Another gloomy and dreary morning. With light drizzle meant that I didn’t want to get out of bed. However seeing that in the are the winds were due to…
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Carnivorous ‘Drop Bears’
Naracoorte Caves, South Australia – Watch out for the carnivorous Drop Bears! Next day I was lucky that I had a sleep in, as the first of the day’s cave tours didn’t start till about…
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World Heritage Fossil Caves
Adelaide – Naracoorte Caves I knew on the way back towards Melbourne I wanted to check out the Grampians, however when I went for the aimless meander ride the other day, I worked out that…
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The Olives & Winery Country
Day 3: Adelaide surrounds: The BIG Olives & Winery Country I spent the next couple of days bumming about Adelaide, on foot for a change, looking that the city centre and some of the gardens…
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Limestone Lakes to Adelaide
Day 2: Warrambool, VIC to Adelaide, SA. The Airbnb place which I stayed in was a modern built home, which very good soundproofing, because I was out to the world and didn’t hear the massive…
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The Great Ocean Road – Kite surfer’s dream
Leaving Melbourne towards South Australia. Day 1: Melbourne to Warrambool, VIC Didn’t sleep all that well, due to the anticipation of the upcoming trip. That’s normal and to be expected. I am certain this isn’t…
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Scrubbing in new rubbers
Melbourne – The Dandenongs & Yarra Glen Scrubbing in new rubbers Between paperwork, lawyer’s office appointments and the consulate, I managed to find and book in to replace the old and in with the new…
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Mount Tassie, but not in Tassie.
Melbourne – Settling in: First trip in Mount Tassie but not in Tassie. It was one week since the first introductory ride, and I am hungry for more. I received a call from the couple…
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Introduction to the Melbourne Riding Scene
Settling in: Introduction to the Melbourne riding scene For this trip on a budget, and tight for time, I never invested in a camera or large laptop or too much technology. I have an iPhone…
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These boots are made for ridin’
Melbourne – Settling in: These boots are made for ridin’ I arrived to Melbourne to my temporary accommodation in time for the start of the weekend. Which meant that the Spanish consulate was shut, however…
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The Goodbye – Gold Coast to Melbourne
Day 1: Gold Coast, QLD to Walcha, NSW Since at this stage I wasn’t sure whether I would be leaving the Gold Coast for good or not, I enlisted a ride buddy for the 1st…
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Moto Packing 101 – Long Term Touring
have been looking at many other websites trying to work out what is the best way to pack the metal beastie to the hilt – packing for a non-camping tour. One of the tips I’ve…
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To eat or not to eat? That is the Q!
To eat, or not to eat? That is the Q! It seems like my days of multi-day trekking and camping trips on foot have paid off by making me learn how to pack, small. This…
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Is bigger, always better!?
Is bigger always better!? Finally getting the first 1000kms on the new grafted motor on the old bike frame, it was time to book in the bike for its first service. There is always a…
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How the Lawnmower became V2.1
How the Lawnmower became Version 2.1? Things in the bike department were also adding to my woes while this was all going on in the background.
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Where the adventure REALLY started
I was not in a good place in life throughout most of 2015, and into early 2016. My world was falling apart, and mostly all out of my control. Home life, family life, work life,…
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Goldilocks and the three bikes
One too heavy, one too slow, but one juuuuuuust right. Once upon a time there was a little girl named Valvoline. This little girl was far from blonde, and definitely not called Goldilocks. This little…
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Big Girl’s Bike
The time came that I was able to go from my P’s to my Open unrestricted license and eventually the lack of power of the CB250 just got too much to be able to bear. …
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My first metal love
They say your first bike is your first love. ❤️ Something v special, which will be the formative years you the rest of your riding journey. When I was looking to buy a bike after…
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Where it all started
My memory is pretty shoddy at the best of times. However one of the earliest memories that I have was me grabbing on the side of a wire metal shopping basket, zooming around the block,…
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About
Hola!! I’m a Spanish vertically challenged (1.48cm / 4 foot 11) rider, with: The energy of a lizard’s cut tail, The passion of a Spaniard at MotoGP, As annoying as a flea in the ear,…
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My Latest Posts
- The pleasures of bedding in a new motorI wanted to make sure that this bike would be tried and tested, as well as having had its first / 1,000 km service completed before I left Melbourne. And,Continue reading “The pleasures of bedding in a new motor”
- It’s like going on a first date…Getting a new bike is like going out on a first date. All giddy and hoping that it’s going to go well. Butterflies in the stomach, with a healthy doseContinue reading “It’s like going on a first date…“
- The Lawnmower ResurrectionThere is always a silver lining to every cloud….although at the time you don’t quite see it that way. During the week I finally got word from the doc thatContinue reading “The Lawnmower Resurrection”
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Touring Valvoline 