Canberra to Sydney

Canberra

I caught a bus from Batemans Bay to Canberra. I had been advised that the road to Canberra could be quite dangerous; at least one car a week spins out on the road because it’s quite twisty and hilly.

Travelling from Batemans Bay to Canberra was quite a transition. Canberra looked very autumnal due to its deciduous tress whereas on the coast there were a lot more gum trees that drop their bark and branches and not their leaves.

I spent two weeks in Australia’s capital. My first week was spent with Thom and Gail who I met last year for a couple of days in Canada when they were cycle touring.

I initially thought that I’d maybe only spend a few days with them as I didn’t really know them that well and I didn’t want to overstay my welcome. I had so much fun with them and spent the whole week giggling lots and lots. I’m so glad that I got in touch with them. Thom introduced me to the rules of cycling. Rule number 5 was impressed upon me. http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/comment-page-8/

My second week was spent with Carol and her family. I met Carol over 20 years ago when she was living and working in Samoa. I’ve met her a few times since. She looks amazing and looks exactly the same as she did when I last saw her 20 odd years ago.

In Canberra I sent all of my camping gear home. Whilst cycling along the coast of Australia I romanticised about getting rid of so much stuff that all I would need would be my saddle bag and handle bar bag.

I dreamt that I’d be sending home at least 20kg home and imagining just how speedy I would be. It was actually only 10kg that I sent back and I do have a couple more bags than dreamed. So I am lighter and have two less bags to worry about whilst I’m in South East Asia. In order to send my stuff home I did my first and only attempt so far at dumpster diving:

Canberra is a lovely city and I much preferred it to Sydney. Very cycle friendly with loads of cycle lanes everywhere. Loads of museums and art galleries and micro-breweries, so reminded me a bit of Portland, Oregon.

At the end of my two weeks I caught a train back to Sydney as I only had a week left and I didn’t have time to cycle the distance back in a few days. I really didn’t want to catch the train because although Australia is pretty cycle friendly, their trains aren’t . The bike needs to be boxed to go on the train and it’s only a three hour journey and I knew that I’d have to assemble it when I arrived in Sydney so that I could cycle back to my friend’s, so obviously I had a good chunter to myself about the ‘whole inconvenience of having to get a bike box’ and ‘that’s not very cycle friendly is it really?’ I’ve finally gotten over it.

Palm Beach and Some Bridges

In my last week I spent a few days with Liane and Emma. First day was spent cycling around Sydney, which was great. Getting a tour from someone who knows the area is obviously so much easier. So we cycled over Sydney Harbour Bridge and saw the sights.

We also went to Palm Beach which is where Home and Away is filmed.

I left Australia 20th May, and it was very cold by then, so I was definitely ready for some warmer weather.

My favourite dog of Australia had to be Alfie: