Shortly after buying the van and getting some essential repairs done I started developing some of the usual covid symptoms. A few days and a positive test later we found ourselves having to undertake a real deep dive into the pleasures of van life - self isolating in a foreign country with no support at … Continue reading Struck down by Covid in Colorado
Category: adventure
Buying a Home
It’s our one month anniversary of arriving the United States after a three week stint traveling around New Zealand and things have finally settled down enough to write this blog post. Up until now the trip has been one of dealing with issues that could threaten to derail the whole project of traveling the Pan … Continue reading Buying a Home
The Pan-American in a Prius
In a few days myself and my wife will be setting off to Los Angeles (via NZ) to undertake an epic journey along the Pan American highway. The Pan American is a route that stretches from the Arctic Circle in Alaska all the way to the bottom of South America. Officially it traverses 14 countries, … Continue reading The Pan-American in a Prius
I rode to Sydney and saved a turtle
In early November I set off, alone, on a bikepacking expedition from my home south of Melbourne to Sydney, In the end the trip took about 1,100km and I did it in 10 days, with one day extra for rest. I’m not sure why I did it, it was a spur of the moment thing. … Continue reading I rode to Sydney and saved a turtle
Google Earth Studio
Its Day 42 of Melbourne's second lockdown. I'm allowed to travel outside the house only once each day and within a 5km radius. My cycling trips have been curtailed to doing laps in the local Velodrome with a one hour time limit. So, no bikepacking trips from Melbourne to Lisbon. No rides around Australia or … Continue reading Google Earth Studio
Bike Touring a world afflicted by coronavirus
When planning a long term bike tour there really isn't much point in doing anything more then outlining a rough route and schedule. There's simply too many unexpected events that can disrupt the best laid intentions. A broken bike chain, an injury, visa/passport issues can all wreck having with a schedule. However, when I was … Continue reading Bike Touring a world afflicted by coronavirus
Planning a bike tour
Last week I cleared space on a wall in my spare bedroom, switched on the printer, grabbed my coloured pens and post-it notes and got started planning my cycle tour from Melbourne to Lisbon. I've been dreaming of this trip since getting back from my first serious bikepacking trip around the South Island of New … Continue reading Planning a bike tour
How I secure an exit row seat
I have long legs and this means that long distance flights in standard economy class seat are agony. This is why, over the years, I've developed a strategy to improve my chances of being assigned a free exit row seat. The first thing I've learned is to always check-in at the airport. Those emails airlines … Continue reading How I secure an exit row seat
What I pack
Over the past three years, I've made 5 lengthy solo trips around Asia, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Except for the times that I've taken my bike I've never taken more than a carry-on bag onto the plane when I've left home. I've learned to travel light and discovered unexpected benefits in going without and … Continue reading What I pack
Attack of the Buns
Last week I rode the Attack of the Buns, a 300km trail through the New South Wales southern tablelands. I actually started the journey in Newcastle and rode south for a few days before arriving at the start of the trail. This meant that I rode it in the opposite direction from what is suggested … Continue reading Attack of the Buns