Whilst on one of our long weekend romps round Scotland last year (yes, it was sooooo good we did it twice), the Lippy Ladies MCC had the good fortune to meet an extremely interesting lady by the name of Jill Maden. Jill, who was, at the time, managing the Inveraray Youth Hostel had an interesting story to tell  about a solo road-trip around Australia on a bright yellow SV650.

Jill has now written a book about the adventure titled - Excess Baggage: One woman, one motorbike and a huge amount of luggage ride across Australia, and is available from Amazon.

The back cover reads-

“In 2010, after the closure of her dream business, Jill Maden sets off to tour Australia – alone on a motorbike. Weighed down by seven stone of luggage, and a crushing sense of failure, her riding skills rapidly deteriorate. Freezing weather, violent winds, and treacherous road surfaces all add to her fright.

Jill almost decides to give up and buy a car.But the need to overcome her fears pushes her on. Testing her resolve Australia throws everything it has at her: the worst floods in living memory, extreme heat, plagues of insects, torrential downpours, hurricanes and her ultimate nightmare, gravel roads. But turning back is not an option.

What results is a heart-warming adventure through a vast staggeringly beautiful but unforgiving landscape”

So if you don’t know your jumbuck from your jam roly-poly, or the correct way to address a passing Swagman, nor how many Troopers to anticipate in such circumstances then your best bet is to have a go at Waltzing with Maden. What could possibly go wrong?

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