Seeing as we have digressed from "Strangest load on your ST" to some other types of bikes, I will add one regarding one of my old machines.
1978, Christmas leave from the Army.
I was based at Watsonia Barracks in Melbourne, and decided that as I had 4 weeks leave, plus an extra 5 days Arduous Duty grant, that I would travel to Adelaide and visit friends for a few days. It had been a pretty hot day in the high 30's, and by the time I was packed and ready to leave, it was almost dusk and still very humid.
At that time, my wheels were attached to a 1976 Yammy TX 750
It was just after dark and very light traffic, as I was approaching Gordon, near Ballarat, when a car and caravan pulled from the side of the road back onto the highway about 2 Km ahead of me.
As I approached that point, a woman jumped into the middle of the road into my headlight, totally naked!
Of course I braked, and came to a stop. She didn't hesitate, but threw a leg over the seat, and commanded "STOP THAT CAR!" pointing at the slowly disappearing caravan tail lights in the distance.
I soon caught up to the car, and started flashing my lights, but the only reaction from the driver was to extend his arm from the window, and wave me by. I pulled alongside his front wheel, and he braked viciously and pulled to the side of the road. I parked in front of him. The woman tore past the car, and vanished into the van.
After the pair of us had finished laughing at the situation, the story emerged.
Jennifer and James Coulthard, British travellers mid 30's age group originally from Essex, had been touring Australia. As it had been a very hot day, Jen decided to get into the van and prepare a meal, so that when they pulled over at Bungaree a short distance ahead, (their destination for the days travel), they could eat immediately before settling for the night.
I mentioned earlier about the heat?... Jen decided to 'Jaybird' in the caravan, because nobody could see in through the curtains, anyway. Jim had been gurgling on many jars of Fruit juices from the esky on the seat, and it was time for a short walk to ... aaah... relieve the tension. So he stopped, stepped out the door, and as there was no traffic, proceeded about his business.
Being as the opportunity was there, Jen decided to step out of the van for a quick squat as well.
Jim, unaware of what was happening on the other side of the caravan, stepped back into the car, and proceeded to drive away.
This was when I appeared on the scene.
Jim and Jen sent me Post cards for the next 5 years from various points in Australia and Europe, until we lost contact with each other during 1984.
