Day 29 — The Final Leg
It took me a couple of days to write this post — finishing such an epic trip leaves you both fulfilled and drained. But here it is.
We woke up to an overcast morning, dark rain clouds drifting in the distance. They seemed to be heading sideways, so we weren’t too worried about a wet ride. Still, we decided to skip the scenic route home — no Daylesford or Mount Stirling detours this time. Straight home it would be.
Well, almost straight. We still needed breakfast.
Kyneton looked like a perfect stop — a town we’d never visited before. Quick research pointed us to Monsieur Pierre, a charming café with good reviews. The coffee was excellent, the food even better, and as we finished, Noune noticed a bustling market just down the road.
Turned out it was the monthly farmers market. So, despite having no luggage space left, we wandered through the stalls, enjoying the colours and aromas. Then, suddenly, I heard a voice:
“Hey Vahram, are you back?”
To our surprise, some good friends of ours were running a stall there! What are the odds? We had a great chat about family, life, and our travels — a perfect, heartwarming moment to wrap up the journey.
From there, it was a straight run home. Everyone was glad to see us, but no one matched Harley’s enthusiasm. My son’s labradoodle practically tackled us — all 35 kilograms of him — leaping up to Noune’s height on two legs and refusing to let go.
Sunday became cleanup day. The gear, the bike, the luggage — all washed, sorted, and put away. The bike now gleams again, though her rear tyre tells the story of 8,000 kilometres of adventure.
Normally, motorcycle tyres have a nice round profile, which helps the bike lean smoothly into corners. After so many days of long, straight highway riding, mine now looks more like a car tyre — flat down the middle. That also means I now sport the biggest chicken strips imaginable. For non-riders, “chicken strips” are the untouched edges of a motorcycle tyre — a mark of how far you don’t lean. The wider they are, the less spirited your cornering has been. After weeks of outback straight lines, mine could probably host a small family picnic.
But hey, every mark tells a story.
A few stats from the trip:
Kilometres travelled: 7,983
Maximum lean angle: 41°
Types of animals spotted on the road: 7 (kangaroos, snakes, lizards, goats, magpies, crows, dingoes — not counting mosquitos or other insects)
Animals hit: 1 (presumed magpie)
Mosquitos and insects killed: Possibly a million
Fun had: Immeasurable
And that’s a wrap. We set out to explore the wide open roads of Australia — and somehow, they gave us back more than miles. They gave us stories, laughter, friendships, and freedom.
