Australia, here I come.
 

Hi folks

I am off on one of my crazy long tours again. I fly out of the Uk on the 26thSept

This time to Australia, start in Perth in the west and head off across the Nullabor Desert for a couple of weeks to Adelaide and Melbourne then up to Brisbane, Sydney and Cairns to dive on the Great Barrier Reef.

I have lots of relatives there ( £10 poms) I haven't met so it will be a voyage of discovery in more ways than one.


I will of course post loads of boring updates , if I get across the Nullabor :eek:

george

No such thing as boring updates. I hate you.

Trust you to abandon England just as the interesting weather is coming. I am not worried about that as I wish I was going with you. In fact going anywhere just to lose this summer. Summer????

At least you won't have a language problem- Unless you start talking in the Northern dialect. See you in the spring but Don't forget to post pics of the trip.

I'd love to do that. I have a friend moving/retiring to Australia in two years and he wants me to come down for a visit. Not sure I could survive the plane ride.

I'm jealous. I would love to do a trip like yours.

Be sure to keep us updated and send lots of pictures.

Happy trails...

Have a good one George, I know you will.

Sounds fun, we'll be waiting for your updates.

Thanks everyone
When going on foreign tours there is always that moment when the tickets have been booked and it becomes more than just a thought or a plan.
Now the real work begins, I have a month to panic!!

and I hope to bore you all to death with tales of Kangaroos, Camels and all those poisonous things out there.

george

Australia here I come
 

And don't forget, cycling helmets are compulsory these days. A very bad idea, IMO.

Please post photos. I would love to do a trip to Australia and New Zealand as well. Someday...:(

It's gonna be tough, but somebody's got to do it. Of course we want pics, and beer reports too.

I presume you have read Cold Beer and Crocodiles by Roff Smith. An excellent abouf about cycling across Oz.
You are in for a fantastic adventure.

You're going to ride across the Nullabor?

Crazy poms.

Good luck mate and have a great time while you're down here.

Have a great time .... ENVY!

not sure when you intend to be in Sydney but if you're interested, there's a couple of big group rides which happen in spring. Check out http://www.gongride.org.au/ for the 'gong ride' which is probably the best known public ride in Australia. Some great scenery, very friendly and around 12,000 cyclists - pretty good fun.

there's also the spring cycle which starts in north Sydney, crosses the harbour bridge (only day of the year you can legally ride across the road on the bridge) and then winds to the Olympic site where this year, I believe, there's a 'festival of cycling'. http://www.springcycle.com.au/

And if you're looking to cross the nullabor - you are crazy:) I've driven it and it ain't fun. Diving the reef is much better - spend your time doing that.

//k

Kakman

Thanks for the info on the rides in Sydney but I don't think I will be there in time.

I will take some time on the West coast , going up from Perth to get acclimatised and lose the jet lag.

I have been in contact with 2 other cyclists who are riding the Nullarbor in early October and we have decided it would be less "crazy" to join together for the part from Norseman heading east.

I have relatives and friends in Adelaide, Melbourne and Tasmania so will be staying around there for about a month or so.

There is a big family party ( 60th wedding) happening in February in Sydney so I am planning to get there a few days before that.

The Nullarbor is a challenge rather than fun, I know that, but it's there and just has to be ridden. and I do hope that I will have fun along the way.

thanks

george