Day 26 – The Legend of Pyap

As has been the pattern on this trip — when I don’t write a post on the night of the day, it usually means I was having too much fun.
That’s exactly what happened on Day 26, 7 October 2025.

I knew it was going to be special. To be precise — I was about to meet a man who, by all accounts, was a motorcycling legend. He had ridden in over 30 countries, including one of my bucket list destinations: Patagonia. At 80 years old, he was still an active rider.

What I wasn’t told was that Tony wasn’t just a motorcycling legend. He was a legend of a man — full stop.

But let’s start from the beginning.

When I announced that I was riding to Perth, my friend Steve from the tango community reached out and said, “You’ve got to meet my dad, Tony — he’s an avid motorcyclist who’s done some of your dream rides.” A few messages later, Tony kindly offered to host us for a night or two.

Weeks passed, and the big day arrived. The morning was mild and overcast — perfect riding weather. After a lazy start with some reading and laptop tinkering, we set off around 9:30 toward the little South Australian town of Morgan, just over two hours away, where Tony would meet us. From there, we’d ride together to his home in Pyap, near Loxton.

When we pulled into the petrol station at Morgan, I spotted a man walking towards us — silver hair, confident stride, that unmistakable air of a lifelong rider. I didn’t need an introduction. That was Tony. You can’t explain it, but sometimes you just know when someone’s “your kind.”

After quick introductions and a coffee, Tony asked,
“So, what speed are you comfortable with?”
I replied, “In populated areas, I prefer not exceeding the limit to the degree of losing my license.”
He chuckled and nodded — “Cool.” And that was that.

Tony led the way, and naturally, we took the scenic route — turning what should’ve been a one-hour ride into a three-hour adventure.

Our first stop was at the ruins of an old riverside hotel, a ghostly reminder of the paddle steamer days. Tony told us how, back in the late 1800s, the Murray River was the lifeline of trade, and these river towns thrived as supply stops for steamers hauling wool, grain, and passengers.

Further along, we stopped at one of the Murray River locks — brilliant pieces of engineering built to regulate water flow and allow boats to navigate the river even during low-water periods. The lock gates opened like giant jaws, raising and lowering vessels between river sections. Standing there watching the calm water churn inside the chamber, I couldn’t help but think how deeply the Murray shapes everything here — not just the land, but the lives around it.

We eventually rolled into Loxton, a tidy, friendly town with wide streets, leafy parks, and the unmistakable scent of freshly cut citrus in the air. The Murray supports vast orchards and vineyards here, feeding both the local economy and the state’s dinner tables. Over a quick lunch, Tony shared stories about the region’s early settlers and how the river had made all of it possible.

From Loxton, it was a short hop to Pyap, where Tony lives — a tiny community nestled quietly near the river, so small it barely registers on the map.

The afternoon was a delight. Tony showed us his collection of inventions, tools, and custom-made gadgets, along with his beautiful workshop. Then, in his shed — a place any motor enthusiast would call sacred — he revealed his collection of bikes and cars, including a mint 1964 Zeta Sports, one of only a handful ever built in Australia. He even took us for a spin in it — and we couldn’t wipe the smiles off our faces.

Dinner was in Loxton, but I was still waiting for Tony’s big riding stories. The funny thing is — to him, none of it seemed extraordinary. He was more interested in talking about his family, his kids, and the projects he’d done for his community.

But as the evening went on, the stories started to flow — not as bragging, but as memories. That’s when I learned that his legendary Patagonia ride had been with his son — yes, Steve! I had no idea he was a rider too.

The details of Tony’s stories aren’t mine to tell — but I can say this:
I came expecting to meet a motorcycling legend.
Instead, I met a legend of life.

Easily the most memorable day of this trip so far.