3 days to go..

So its all happening!

This Wednesday the 13^th of Feb we leave to cycle around Australia, a rough distance of 16,000 kms if completed. Since planning and training for the past four months, I guess the trip all seemed like a dream, but today it couldn’t seem any more realistic being only 3 days away.

The idea came together during a drive home to Melbourne from the Caloundra Music Festival in October last year. I was playing the festival and invited Harv to come keep me company on a bit of a road trip. I’d been brainstorming ideas over the past couple of years about doing a musical tour on foot, bicycle, etc for the past couple of years. I wanted something to do something a bit crazy, adventurous, including my passion for music, and on a low cost. What better idea that cycle around the country playing gigs, sleeping in tents, cooking whatever we can carry along the way?

I mentioned the idea to Harv about riding from possibly Melbourne to Brisbane, or maybe Melbourne to Perth. Harv being fit, adventurous, and a serious triathlete, I knew he would be keen, good company, and I also knew he would give me the physical motivation to work hard and train for such a mission.

We got talking and decided that if we did ride as far as Perth, why wouldn’t we go the whole way round? There’s no use going all that way and not finishing the loop ey?
So it was all on, our smiles we’re beaming and we were both bursting with ideas for the trip. We pulled over the van, bought a notepad and pen, got the good old Aussie touring map out, and the planning began.

We will be riding mountain bikes fitted with slick tires for less resistance on the road, both fitted with rear pannier bags to carry gear, as well as towing a bob trailer also full of gear. I’ll be taking my trusty guitar along (in a waterproof bag thanks to Jesper!) stashed in my trailer, as well as a tent, cooking gear, pens and notepads to document the trip, bike tools and spares, and most of all food, and plenty of water for remote destinations. So it’s a pretty heavy load so far! We will be heading Clockwise round Australia, Starting in Melbourne and first heading towards Adelaide.
The tour will hopefully be completed in 4 months (without injuries!), as I’d like to head back overseas to play some more music in the European summer, and Harvey wants to get home to kick back into the next Triathlon Season.

The gear is all packed up and we’re ready to go. I’d just like to take a moment to say how lucky Harv and I are to have the privilege of embarking on such a tour. Not everyone in the world can put themselves in such a situation, and it’s a real honor to be able to follow this dream. I’ve been riding around with my gear loaded up doing a bit of training, and its awesome to see peoples reactions when they see the bike setup, whether it be a smile, or a bit of a huh, what is this guy doing…

Harv and I give massive thanks to our Family’s, Friends, and to those who have supported and encouraged us to give it a go. And to anyone who has show any negativity, thanks for the inspiration!

Catcha somewhere along the way!
Thanks
Rob