Bring On Aussie Steaks!
I thought I should sign off from Asia. I’ve got five minutes, so it’s just a quickie.
In five days time a cattle ship called Finola will dock in Darwin harbour and, so long as my bike tyres pass the rigid Australian quarantine tests, I’ll lower my bike off the side and begin the 4,000 km journey south towards Alice Springs, and then east to Brisbane.
Dick Slaney, country head of Elders (on whose ship I’m travelling on) has put in a big performance in getting me a passage from Indonesia to Australia (a notoriously difficult journey for travellers to make these days), and my sincere thanks go to him for all his efforts. The final hurdle, dodgy Indonesian immigration officials, has been jumped in the past half hour, my bike is on board and I’m ready to go. But I’ll have to wait. There is just the small matter of unloading 2,000 head of cattle before the Danish captain, Icelandic First Mate, twenty-strong karaoke loving Philipino crew and me can set sail.
I’ll be out of contact for at least 5 days, possibly six. When I get to Darwin I’ll tell you all about a couple of fantastic mountain-top games of cricket I had outside Bogor, Indonesia. For now though, I’ll sign off by saying that I can’t quite believe the last leg of my bike ride is nearly upon me. If the steaks in Australia are anything like they are at Dick’s place, it’ll be happy pedalling.
See you in Aus!
Cycling To The Ashes 
I’m thinking you look one hell of a lot different to the bloke I met in Ieper, Belgium.
Bon Voyage 🙂
Can’t believe you are nearly in Oz already. Have a safe journey and enjoy your steak!
one nordic looking englishman 🙂
A young jeff thomson??????
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrriliant!!
congrats man! u made it! bravooo! ;).
My OH cycled Adelaide to Darwin in April/May this year – he will have some food/accommodation recommendations for the first part of your trip (to Alice). He’s still talking about the quality of some of the steaks so you’re probably in for a treat if you stop at the right places. I know the first bit of road you will encounter is NOT cycle-friendly – narrow and lots of fast traffic. Take care and I look forward to following your progress.
THE END IS NIGH!
Keep up the good work Oli. Be careful about the kangaroos though, don’t try to out-pedal them!
Best wishes from a now far far away TURKEY!
PS: last weekend we travelled along the road from Konya towards the East – I remember you taking that road and could imagine how you felt – never ending straight road!
Abdullah & family
I cleaned the bikes in NZ for a day, before Oz. Got to OZ, at the airport went down the ‘to declare’ route. There was a big queue behind us and we were the first. Have your bikes been off road? Yes. Have you cleaned them? Yes. HMMM. Calls for back up on the radio. Meanwhile the queue is getting bigger. Customs guy opens top of bike box, looks inside with a torch. Ahh there is a small spider. Well we shall just squash that. Well that looks OK have a good trip. Chris; “well that was easy. Could have gone climbing on my last day in NZ rather than cleaning the bikes!”
Safe journey and give those legs a well earned rest. Look forward to reading the “Aussie Tales”. x
Hi Oli, long time no speak!! Hope that the tent and stove are holding up as well as you seem to be!! How about a couple of photos of our gear in action for our community site blog?? Keep on pedalling!! Barry@Cotswold Outdoor, Reading.
I can’t believe you are nearly there! One massive party will be waiting for you in Brisbane.(apart from me,misery) GO GO GO!! x
Hey oli, where’s your helmet, unfortunately mate, you gotta wear a cycle helmet in Oz.
I seem to remember he abandoned/sold/lost that some thousands of miles earlier! Too late to turn back and look for it now!
I’m sure one of the friendly Aborigines will lend you one for a while! 🙂
Bon appétit and Bon voyage!!!
The Travelavenue Team