It was a Honda Stepthrough, one of those old red and white ones with a 50cc motor but it was mine and I had what every growing boy wants. I had freedom to go where I wanted when I wanted. 17 is such a great time to be alive, the world opens up before you after being cocooned in a school, family environment.

My personal travels began shortly after getting my first car, in fact I was only on my learners permit and convinced a mate Rodney that we should drive thousands of klms to Adelaide and back from our homes near Wollongong. Fact was I really wanted to go and he had a licence, but hey we had a dream so off we went.

I am only 5yrs old when my father passes on and my mother has the task of raising four kids under 7, not easy and it eventually took its toll on her. Mum passed on just before I hit 22 years of age but she did much to make me who I am. We would travel at every opportunity, often large distances compared to what some thought "right and proper" She instilled in me my love of the road, I think of her often as I ride.

During one 4 year period I worked in the fast and furious courier business with a one ton truck from Wollongong to busy Sydney and environs each day. To get the numerous pickups done and so make more money I had to learn how to be quick and efficient. Time stopped costed me money. I have since felt this also has aided me in my chosen passtime.

But my own family now consists of three beautiful daughters and a great young son. My wife and I have been through many difficult times since our marriage in 1978, life is never simple but its our goal to look at the good and put aside the negatives. My wife is the only person I want to talk to as I pursue these big distances, she keeps me grounded. We have laughed and cried together at various times, most notably while I was enduring 50c temperatures across the Nullarbor in 2006.

We own a real estate office at Cooroy on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland Australia. Our two eldest daughters work in the office and we couldn't do it without them. The last couple of years have been some of our best financially, but money is not what constitutes being successful. In fact I really don't care much for financial wealth. Pursuit of happiness, that's where its at.

Back to bikes. I have always had a strong feeling towards motorcycles and they completely took over my life once before. From ages 20-31yrs I had a one track focus on dirt bikes, then in 1989 we moved to Queensland and life took over for a while until my lower back decided it needed a rest.

Then in 2003 we decided to have another go and I bought the Kawasaki GTR1000, not new but well looked after. Two years and I barely put 10,000klms on it, then I found my feet. I discovered I could ride long distances and enjoyed every minute of it. Have you ever been driving to work and thought you would like to keep on driving ? I did that once. I love the road, I never want to get to the destination.

I had heard of the Iron Butt Association in the US because a NZ mate of mine had done a 1000mi day and at first I thought he was mad. I don't think like that now. Some do it for the recognition, the certification. The best do it because they just love being on the road. I have read so many excellent tales of riders doing what many think is impossible. Who really knows what another person is capable of, who draws that line in the sand.

In 2003 I founded GTR-AUS.com an Australian group for Kawasaki GTR owners and in 2006 I founded FarRiders.com to encourage safe long distance riding within Australia.

There have been many clever things said about this but just recently I saw a movie based on the life of Christopher Gardner a stock market legend. In that movie the character playing him said "When people can't do something themselves, they wanna tell you that you can't do it"

I often say "I accept that bad stuff happens, I just choose not to focus on it"

Do you ?

If you do then I would like you to narrow your focus and actually SEE your goal, when you can "see" your goal its as easy as heading towards it. In my car I have my visor turned down, this annoys people and some say "but it limits your view, how can you drive like that" to which I reply "the road is down here, I don't need to see the sky all day as I drive"

Too much energy is consumed by taking in more information than we need to attain our goal, narrow your focus and go get it.

My name is David "Davo" Jones and I came into this world in 1956, raised just south of Wollongong. I am who I am because the road is not always what we expect. As the road turns be prepared. Traveling down that road is what we were put here for, what turns we make along the road are up to us as individuals. Opportunities are always there, some are just either too blind to see or too scared to open that door. Grab that handle and rip it open, you will be the better for it. The more you fall the better you get at staying errect.

You are writing your own life story right now, is it what you imagined as a child, have you done what you wanted. Will you be happy one day when you read back on your life. Was it a good life. This is not a rehearsal, you have only one chance.

My final word is, it's your dream, don't let anyone take it from you but most of all don't lose sight of it yourself.

See you on the road one day, after all ..... it's just a road.

Davo