The last week on the saddle took me from Canberra to the finish line in Camden, passing through Goulburn, Wollongong and Sydney Harbour before reaching the familiar streets of my hometown Camden. When I left Canberra I pedalled out with the scientist Richard Callaghan, who cycled with me to Lake George. By the time we said goodbye, the wind had picked up and I was blown northwards by a strong tailwind to reach the Big Marino by sunset…
Its been an incredibly challenging ride from Albury to reach the Australian capital of Canberra. True to form, I created the most difficult route to enjoy a brutal mountainous climb before my finish line next week in Sydney. Most of you will be familiar with my usual monthly post covering thousands of kilometers at a time, but I though being so close to the finale I should share with you the this weeks gruelling ride with Wilson… Continue Reading
It”s now just ten or so days until I finish my charity expedition, and to say I’m nervous is a massive understatement. The constant anxiety is making sleep at best sporadic, and during the days I’m trying hard to focus on enjoying the adventures of the road. And really, its hard to imagine a better ride than in the state of Victoria…
It’s been a gruelling month of riding to overcome the vast distances of the Australian outback, and as I’ve dropped southwards I’ve gone from +40 degree of the dry heat of the Northern Territory to a now wet and cold Victoria. I didn’t take on the open stretches beyond Katherine, however, without making a visit to the stunning Katherine Gorge…
Things are different up in the North End. On my first day in Darwin I was standing near the PM welcoming home troops from Afghanistan, then soon afterwards I was holding a crocodile! After over three years abroad, it was strange being around so many Aussies and it took a good few days to adjust! My parents had driven over 3000km from Sydney to welcome me back at the airport, and it was fantastic to catchup and stay with my cousin Larissa and her family for the week.
It didn’t take long for us to get out on the Adelaide River to feed the crocs, as well as check out the huge termite mounds…
I didn’t spend too much time on the bike whilst in Java and Bali. Instead, I visited international schools to promote AICR and focused on just resting up the legs before my ride through the Australian Outback. In Jakarta I stayed with a couple friends, Sego and JP (+flatmates Simon and Felix), who were happy to have me shack up with them for a few weeks. It was a fantastic time and a great opportunity to get an insight into the international school scene! Besides, the alternative would have been pedaling through the challenging traffic of Java. On my trip I’ve learned to listen to my body, and after 1400km in Sumatra it was time for a break… Continue Reading
I rode 1400km in Sumatra, between Riau and Lampung Provinces, and along the way encountered some of the most friendliest and hospitable people in the world. Most travellers only visit the north of the island, so I didn’t even see let alone meet another “boule!” In short, I had Sumatra to myself (I even met a middle aged woman who hadn’t even seen a foreigner before – so you could imagine what the children were like). The Sumatrans greatest passion in life is taking photographs, so I captured countless smiles on the camera as I made my was south towards Java.
So this post is a celebration of all the beautiful people I met on the island…
Friends know me as a bit of a history geek, so it might come as no surprise to many of you that my time in Malaysia has been spent largely zigzagging between a multitude of colonial cities including Georgetown, Ipoh, Kuala Lipis and Malacca. These places just so happen to also boast an array of gastronomic delights from Malaysia’s diverse Chinese, Malay and Indian heritage. The charming mix of colonial architecture and delicious cuisine was a sure recipe for a perfect festive season…
Today was my second Christmas on the road, and to celebrate I decided to do something somewhat festive. Ridiculous yes, but it invited endless delightful calls of “Ho Ho Ho” and “Merry Christmas” from both the streets and car windows! It was tough going wearing a thick Santa costume in this sticky tropical heat, and at times the 75km loop of the island felt like it was never going to end. Afterall, isn’t Christmas day meant to be about eating and opening presents? Anyways, despite looking a little silly I felt quite comfortable compared to the flamboyantly decorated Wilson who found himself engulfed in sparkling tinsel and a Christmas tree on his back pannier…
I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported my year on the bike and made a donation to AICR. My charity adventure has now raised about eleven thousand pounds, which goes towards financing fundamental scientific research into the causes of cancer. They are currently supporting the work of more than 165 scientists in 19 countries, or in excess of 166 projects in over 98 of the world’s top scientific establishments. So I think both the donors and the fabulous AICR Team deserve a very Merry Xmas and Happy New Years!
“Trust me, it’s paradise. This is where the hungry come to feed. For mine is a generation that circles the globe and searches for something we haven’t tried before. So never refuse an invitation, never resist the unfamiliar, never fail to be polite and never outstay your welcome. Just keep your mind open and suck in the experience. And if it hurts, you know what? It’s probably worth it” Richard, The Beach
Touchdown Bangkok, amongst swarms of foreigners on Koh San Road. It felt a world away from the wilderness I had come from, and after a couple days I was eager to hit the road again. The capital was once again kicking off with protests – at least this time there were no tanks in the street! Unlike every country I’ve cycled through since crossing the English Channel twenty months ago, Thailand strangely drives on the left side of the road! It was a bizarre experience making the switch at the border, and having to pedal on the opposite side. Thankfully I had a couple days to adjust before taking on the city’s traffic. Meanwhile, my sister Chantelle flew into the city with her bike, and after a day of preparation we rode out together along minor roads towards the ruins of Ayutthaya.
