Into the Ozzie outback

The flight goes smoothly and together with the Italian and Cayman Islands cricket teams we arrive in Australia. Our bicycles and the rest of our luggage arrive on the carousel, ready to go through customs. As soon as the customs officers see our bicycle boxes we are taken out of the queue for a special treatment. In Australia they are very careful with mud, food and other dirty things which can enter the country from abroad. Our entire luggages including bicycles are taken through a big scan. Afterwards we are asked to open the boxes in the quarantine zone. When we open the first box we hear: “Oh, that’s very clean, leave the other in the box. Thank you!” And that’s how we pass through customs. Our days of cleaning in Singapore have paid off.
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Cycling to the horizon

We pitch up our tent on the empty field of the roadhouse. We enjoy a hot shower and we think we decerved something nice after all the windy and cold days. We both order a ‘Hamburger with Lot’ and we receive a real aussie hamburger with a lot of extra things. Then we have to wait for a phone call. Since Darwin we have contact with a the NCRV, a dutch radio broadcaster. The program ‘Cappuccino” would like to cal us during their show. We gave them the number of the roadhouse and we sit ready next to the telephone on a fixed time. At the bar of the pub I have a chat with Sjors Frolich about all the kilometers and about the cycling in Australia. Sjors asks us if he can call us again, which seems nice to us.
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Rain in the outback

The people in Australia are a bit confused; it’s raining cats and dogs which hasn’t happened in years. Pools are scattered on the streets and the sky stays grey. We give the weather a break which leaves us the time to dry and gives us time to look around. As soon as the sky is clear we saddle up and we are heading south. The traffic becomes more and more busy which is quiet a contrast to the outback. With the increasing traffic the cycling becomes less pleasant due to the aussies, who are not into pushbikes, there’s one rule: give way to cars. There aren’t many options other than the main highway to Brisbane.
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Cycling with family

Last year they visited us in Nepal, this year they fly a bit further and they are not alone. We meet Maaike and Eric in Brisbane and together we look into the two big boxes they brought with them. On two brand new bikes Maaike and Eric will accompany us to Sydney during their summer holidays. The real summer feelings aren’t their yet. During the day the weather is fine, during the nights it is freezing and the only warmth is found in our sleeping bags. It’s great to talk Dutch and it feels like old times immediately.
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In search for a job and a place to live

"Pieter speaking"
"Hello this is Steven. I think we can speak Dutch...."
"Uh yes we can."
"We received your number from a Dutch radioman of the Vara. He told us about your restaurant in Sydney. In a couple of days me and my girlfriend will arrive in Sydney by bicycle and we are looking for a job for the coming six months."
"Okay come by when you are in Sydney and I will have a look what I can do for you."
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Een knallend begin van 2008

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Come again soon for an update in English!

Cycled route through Australia

Below you can view a map with our cycled route through Australia
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