A TRIP ABOUT 3,000 KM ONE WAY, FROM MOUNT MARTHA, MELBOURNE, VICTORIA TO CLIFTON BEACH CAIRNS (FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND), FROM THE BOTTOM OF AUSTRALIA TO THE TOP…
May 2025 (G.T.) – Past end of April our editorial office received this email – subject: ‘Moto Guzzi California Audace - Melbourne to Cairns 2025’ - from Tony Merrett, Australia, a great biker and passionate of the Italian motorcycle eagle brand (Moto Guzzi # authentic rider). A kind of communication that nothing else needs to be added. Read it!
“In February this year I rode my Moto Guzzi California Audace solo from Mount Martha Melbourne Victoria to Clifton Beach Cairns FNQ (Far North Queensland), a trip of about 3000km one way, from the bottom of Australia to the top on a map.
Source: https://www.australia.com/en
This time of year, is the Wet Season in Queensland, it’s the tropics, and I was lucky to ride after the floods in late January and before Cyclone Alfred in March. From Townsville to Cairns the floods had washed out Highway One in three places, it was repaired but still being managed by road repair crews.
The Start.
After a big meal Kay read to me from ‘The Motor Guzzi Story’ by Ian Falloon and then I had an early night in preparation for the big ride.
The ride took 12 days as I rode only for 6 days and had a few days off visiting friends along the way. A usual ride day was 500km and 7-8 hours including rest breaks. It was hot and humid most of the way. The bike came home via a motorcycle courier, and I flew home with wife Kay. She flew up to meet me in Cairns.
The Middle.
A King Parrot sitting on my bike in Northern New South Wales.
The End. Arriving in Clifton Beach after a 650km ride that took 10 hours including breaks, I left Airlie Beach at 530 am and it was before sunrise and 25 degrees Celsius and very humid, almost unbearable until the wind cooled me down. You can see my new Moto Guzzi gloves. The bike was covered in dead insects from the ride. The last 1500km was endless sugar cane farms”.
“Another great adventure on my beautiful bike”. Ciao by Tony Merrett.
WIDE REWIND – READ ALSO THE PREVIOUS ARTICLE:
https://wide.piaggiogroup.com/en/articles/people/father-and-son-tony-and-alexander-merrett-our-passion-for-the-moto-guzzi-motorcyles/index.html
MOTO GUZZI CLUB OF QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA:
https://motoguzziclubqld.org/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/MoGuzQld/
MOTO GUZZI OWNERS ASSOCIATION NWS, AUSTRALIA:
https://www.mgoa.org/
MOTO GUZZI AUSTRALIA:
https://www.motoguzzi.com/au_EN/
