Where we all live.

[Tony Smith]

Here is a series of videos which show not only Cairns in two distinct eras, but is also a stark record of the changes.


The first is Cairns in 1964. I first came to cairns to live in 1975 and frankly not much had changed. It took me two more attempts to make a life in Cairns, I've lived here now since 1990.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sXtjcqV_IA

The next one done by a visitor to our shores, gives an interesting perspective on how others see us.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvoDHRMmdTY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJpqrptdlwc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTNQI_A-8I4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBNJl2SxT2Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBNJl2SxT2Y

[Motu]

Roadside view of my beautiful town. This vid was done in 2007, at that time I was  working in the Honda shop, now at the Mitsi shop you can see further down the road.  Pity he didn't cross  the river to the West side where I live...and you wouldn't want to get off your bike there...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VDuNcEGGM4

This is one of the reasons I like this area, I get to ride roads like this whenever I get on my bike.  Now you might understand why my bike is set up like it is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7NAijbXjK4

Train ride through town, going south.  The Waikato River, State Highway One and The Main Trunk Line all go through this narrow gap, it was the only route to follow in pioneer days. Now the town is being bypassed on the highway, some say it will be the making of the town, others say it will die.  We've lost the mines, the powerstation is shutting down, dairy farmers are losing money, not a good place at the moment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSwcIkzely4

[Bob_Roller]

Here's an eye opening documentary of what goes on a two hour drive south of where I reside .

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/border-wars/


https://www.youtube.com/show/borderwars

[Matt Chapter]

The less said about Austin the better.  Otherwise you'd all be clamoring to live here!

Ok, fine.  You've got 9 solid months of riding weather, and if you put some ice cubes in your pockets you could ride all summer too.  The University of Texas has a beautiful campus, the coeds are all yoga certified.  There's more great breweries inside city limits than you can shake a snowflake rim at.  And even more outside town that are just a scenic cruise on a twisty two lane away.  The live music scene can't be beat, and there's always something going on.  The high tech industry, silicon and software, is still booming along, paying for those airhead parts.  Skip the big name brisket joints and you'll find plenty to beef about.  Did I mention the lake that runs through downtown for non motorized boats? (Those coeds are all on stand up paddle boards...)  Then you've got the highland lakes an hour or two away.  Motorcycle dealers include Ducati / Moto Guzzi, the BMW/Big 4, plus a bunch of independent mechanics.

I could go on but I think you get the picture!

[Ed Miller]

https://www.google.com/maps/@44.8662286,-123.4553366,3808m/data=!3m1!1e3

Explore as you wish.

[montmil]

Matt, You ought to snag a job with the Austin CVB. However...

Both my sons and their families, plus my 1983 R65, live in Austin. I agree with your highlights of Capitol City but you did neglect to mention one significant item; the near total gridlock on Austin's highways and byways.

From my eldest's home on the south side of the Colorado River and those paddle boarding coeds, it's a near two hour drive to hit the north side of Georgetown, just 22 miles away.

That's why wife and I turn a deaf ear on 'em when they 'encourage' us to move to Austin.  

[skippyc]

It takes me 3 minutes to get from home to the highway for a leisurely ride around the area. Horsham is on flat plains and riding all year round is no problem if you miss the really hot or wet days.

[Matt Chapter]

it's a near two hour drive to hit the north side of Georgetown

It's a personal rule of mine to never go north of Round Rock!  It did take me an hour to go 15 miles this morning.

Wish Texas would just pass the lane splitting law, and edumacate some drivers.  That'd solve my problem in no time.

[wilcom]

Wish Texas would just pass the lane splitting law,

Do Texas  cops on motorcycles just set in traffic and wait to become a sandwich between  two cars or trucks?

[montmil]

Wish Texas would just pass the lane splitting law,

Do Texas cops on motorcycles just set in traffic and wait to become a sandwich between two cars or trucks?

Rarely. They most often park their Victory police bikes in a secluded, shady spot and snag speeding cagers as they crest low hills. At least that's been the observation in my village.

Even if lane splitting ever becomes law in Tejas, I'd be concerned. Too many times I've seen idiot drivers not even notice motorcycles. Just because you can doesn't always mean you should.

[wilcom]

20 years ago b4 I realized you couldn't legally split lanes in Texas I was splitt'n away between Fort Worth and Dallas. I did notice that the lanes at the time were narrower than I was used too in California. It wasn't by much, but it doesn't take much either.

Those folks there  sure could use their horns, like they hated me or something. Even if they changed the law that mentality would take a few generations to mellow

[Matt Chapter]

their Victory police bikes  

"Anustin" (as an friend who lives here now but is from Wisconsin calls it) uses beemers.  And they'll share lanes with each other, but not other cars, as far as I've seen.  I've been know to shoot the gap at a stoplight from time to time, but that just puts you first to the next traffic standstill.

[montmil]

their Victory police bikes  

"Anustin" (as an friend who lives here now but is from Wisconsin calls it) uses beemers...

Denton motor patrol formerly leased BMW police bikes but had to have them maintained in Dallas. Once a giant multi line dealership opened up and had Victory in their store, the easy maintenance logistics made the switch a no-brainer after the lease period expired. Plus, the cops seem to favor the traditional V-twin layout. I've pretty well got their hidey-holes plotted... Not that I might accidentally slip over the posted speed now and then.

[montmil]

Here's an eye opening documentary of what goes on a two hour drive south of where I reside .

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/border-wars/
https://www.youtube.com/show/borderwars

Good ol' Laredo. Natty Geo's Border Wars was on my mind when I made my solo run to the Rio Grande border last June. Did chat a bit with the Border Patrol at a check point a few miles north of the River on my way to the Texas Hill Country. They were way more interested in my Triumph than my side cases.

[Bob_Roller]

Here's all I could find on where I reside, a suburb of hell !!!!!! 8-)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempe,_Arizona