Location: Stoned Backwash Reserve 

Papi John’s first encounter with Cruising happened when he was around 18, when a friend from another school showed him the ropes. This opened his eyes to a whole new world of exploration and he began practising cruising regularly. Riding his bike, he would travel to neighbouring suburbs and soon discovered that the local shopping centre was a highly active cruising spot. 

However, being aware of the murders at the Sydney beaches during the 80s, Papi John never dared to venture to that area. Instead, he preferred smaller, closed-in areas as he struggled to decipher the cruising language and often missed signals and signs. Leather bars were a preferred cruising environment for Papi John, as they offered more overt opportunities for cruising.