Cycling Plus #1:
Introduction, kit and first leg.
1/12/98.

The days pass by in a haze of place names reminiscent of England, unending roads, inland hill climbs, beautiful beaches and heaps of pasta! Once off the busy and monotonous Pacific Highway, coastal and rainforest tracks are punctuated by water stops in remote service stations, relief from the burning blue sky.

Cycling frees you from the cocoon of a car and makes you feel part of the nature around you. I see kangaroos bound by the roadside, koalas sleeping in trees and sometimes dolphins playing in the sea. Having up teamed with Sacha, a German cyclist heading the same way, up to Brisbane,we have camped in small towns and national parks. One night we camped in a Macadamia nut farm and watched bats silhouetted dramatically against the dark sky swoop down for prey. Where ever we stop, locals are guaranteed to offer advice. They ask. 'Where have I been, where am I heading? Or they simply chat to pass the time of day. In one caravan park, an Aboriginal women warned of a legend, a tale of a strangely hypnotic light leading travellers away from the main road, into the outback until they are lost in the desert. 'But I just believe it's a giant moth!' she chuckled.

Cycling across Australia redefines the word vast. At times it seems to have no beginning and no end. As the kilometres go by, my position on the map inches forward slowly. The weight of a fully laden bike takes some getting used to and my Specialized Rockhopper Comp, named Possum, is no exception. It is fitted with Michelin road tyres for the sealed Australian roads, drop down handlebars and a suspension stem for comfort, a sturdy Shimano bar end shifter system, a larger than standard 46 tooth outer chainring, front and rear Ortlieb panniers and 36 spoke Mavic rims with XT hubs.

I am carrying a tent, stove, sleeping bag, medical kit, spare parts and tyres, walkman and the clothes on my back! A Psion Series 5 palmtop, Ericsson mobile phone and Garmin GPS allow me to send emails, keep a web site updated and write a monthly travel journal for Cycling Plus. Food and up to twelve litres of water weigh me down further. Despite shedding all the trappings of society, I still wonder what I can throw out at every long hill!

This first part of the tour has gone smoothly but it continues to be a physical and mental challenge. Although questioning what I'm doing at times, I ultimately look forward to every new day. In the words of Ursula le Guin, "It is good to have an end to journey to, but it is the journey that matters in the end."