BRIAN Wright has seen more of Australia's green valleys and baked deserts in his two years here than most us will in our lifetimes.
And most of that dogged sightseeing has been over a set of handlebars - or from the wind-whipped seat of a speeding sidecar.
Brian, 70, emigrated from East Anglia in the UK in 2009 to be closer to his daughter, who lives in Brisbane.
With him came two prized possessions - a 1956 650cc Triumph Thunderbird and 1981 BMW R100RS.
Since he arrived and settled in Bendigo, Brian has added to his small stable.
He has bought a Yamaha TDM900 for longer trips, a Yamaha 225cc for around town and a 1997 BMW K1100 he has pulled down and is rebuilding with a sidecar attached "for the dirt roads and deserts".
He found his way to Bendigo after meeting Lockwood South local John Cecil at a rally in the Brindabella Ranges, near Canberra.
"I got my first bike when I was 15 - a 250cc Velocette - but, being on a farm, I'd had bikes before," Brian said.
"The Thunderbird I've had since 1966 and I've done a lot in England and Europe with it.
"It's been rebuilt several times over the years and I redid it again just before I came. The engine's still fairly standard, but the bore's gone up a couple of times.
"I usually kept about five bikes at any one time - any more than that and they took too much looking after.
"The Triumph cost me 10 quid in '66 and the dearest one I ever bought second-hand was the '81 BMW, which cost me $2000 in 1985."
Other bikes Brian has owned include a BMW 800, 750cc Honda K2 inline four, Matchless singles, a few Nortons and several Japanese makes.
"The last small Honda I had over there did nearly 100,000 miles and the engine was never pulled down," he said.
"I was a motor vehicle mechanic by trade, but I got out of the motor trade quite early and went into machine shop fabrication, tool making, welding and all the rest.
"I was an engineering inspector for 25 years.
"At one stage, I was with Howard's, producing agricultural equipment - spreaders and rotary hoes."
Brian was involved with several bike clubs in the UK, but, over here, has joined only the Bendigo Historic Motorcycle Club.
He also has a bunch of eight to 10 mates of similar age around the area who go for longer rides together.
"Last year, John and I went over to the races at Lake Gairdner in South Australia and I've been up to Queensland a time or two to see my daughter," he said.
"I've done all the coastline from Queensland through to Adelaide and had a three-week trip to Central Australia, plus New Zealand and Tasmania.
"There's also a motorcyclists' get-together every two years spread through word of mouth at some remote location in the bush.
"Last year, it was near Hungerford, on the NSW-Queensland border, and I went with two friends as a sidecar passenger.
"Another time, we headed for the South Australia-Western Australia border, having a go at Goog's Track, which runs from near Tarcoola to Ceduna.
"But the sand dunes proved too much for one outfit with a slipping clutch, so had to retreat and make repairs at Port Augusta."
Brian's next big trip when his sidecar project is complete is to the Gulf of Carpentaria sometime next year.
"I haven't been to Perth yet," he said.
"I'd like to go up that West Australian coastline and maybe the Canning Stock Route when one of the boys is going that way."
For the amount of time Brian has spent on two wheels, he's come off remarkably well.
"Once, in the Outback, I did have a kangaroo come out in front of me and I've encountered a few goannas," he said. "I've never come off over here, but in the UK, I was thrown off by a cat once.
"I'd just come round a corner and it ran straight in front of me.
"I've cracked a couple of ribs coming off on leaves, but never really broken any major bones.
"Provided my health holds up, I'd still like to do a few things.
"South America appeals, but I've still got a lot of Australia to see.
"I've never been one to sit about.
"I've had bikes for 55 years and they've always been an interest.
"They keep you young and active."
