Perth to Esperance

Perth to Esperance

Leaving Perth and on my way down towards the southwest tip of Australia. I took the train to Fremantle and started my journey on the Indian Ocean. Down the whole highway was really lovely they had a cycle path straight down the coast. My first stop was just past Mandurah called Falcon. Another little town but was cool is that I was in the middle of a lake and the Indian Ocean. It was a bit chilly but not to bad to cycle in. From there I went to Bunbury, didn’t really see much of it because I arrived a little late in the evening but it did seem really nice haha. After the quick sop in Bunbury it was time to head to Margaret River!!! On the way I stopped into Busselton for lunch and had a coffee and a ice cream, it was a tiny shop which they made there own chocolate. Yummy yummy!!! After lunch it was time to head to Margaret River, but the road turned a little crappy with no shoulder at all. Heading into Margaret River was pretty hilly but there were so many wineries!!! The stories were true!!!! Hahaha I was getting pretty tired towards the end of the day so I decide to stop 10kms out side Margaret River to camp and quickly go see a winery because if I didn’t I wouldn’t have seen one and we all no that would be disgraceful hahah Saw a lovely caravan park and popped up my tent and heading toward a winery. I saw one that said Knotting Hill winery I thought to myself “I Love that movie”!!!!! so I went to that one which was only 8kms off the main road. Of course I tried some wine and bought a bottle for dinner hahahah

Next day was heading towards Northcliffe, but that took two days to get there had to camp on the side of the road for a night. The scenery was wonderful coming along Brockman Highway then onto Stewart road. Nothing but forest and yes more hills. Hills just got bigger and steeper as more you headed southeast!!! Just before Northcliffe I came along a restaurant, which I stopped in and took a gander to see what it was all about. It was a fly-fishing place where you can catch your own feed!! How rad is that?!!! I loved the place, it reminded me of my old man so much I have to take him there maybe on his 65^th birthday hahah, so I had lunch and a latte there and thought of all the memories when the boys went fly-fishing. Nothing but good times!!! During towards Northcliffe yup more hills and head wind, but nice big trees!! I wish I stayed in Pemberton which they have trees up to 60+ metres high, and trunks that you can drive a car through them. Anyways one thing going into Norhtcliffe was the caravan park other than its coldness was all these kangaroos everywhere haha right out front of the office there must have been fifteen or twenty just munching away. I found out later it was also a sanctuary.

Going into Walpole was really pretty but steep hills!!! I arrived right at dark so had to get tucker ready and off to bed. Next morning I took a photo along the inlet just beautiful!!!! You’ll see!!!!

On to Denmark which was only fifty or sixty km ride, so a nice short day. Coming into Denmark I stopped in a local toffee shop and tried some yummy-ness . After that I saw another place which was a tiny chocolate factory/café. Well I bought a block of chocolate and was about to have a latte but it was a hot day so I decided to go for a nice German beer!!! Mmmmmmm It was sooooooo goooooood!!!! I love their beer!! After all the detours I finally got to Denmark and stayed a night there.

Next day was Albany and got there at a decent time, and had my rest day there. I bike a little bit around but nothing too much my legs were pretty tired haha. But all in all a nice place Albany was.

Okay Albany is ticked off the list, time for Esperance!!! I planned on taking four or five days getting there but didn’t really happened hahaha First day I was going to do 120km but there really wasn’t anywhere to camp so I kept going to my second day destination which was basically Jerramungup. I arrived around 7:45 that night hahha It was a 180+km ride haha No idea was going to do it that day haha Well now I was a day head of schedule so now it was time for Ravensthorpe which was only 115km ride. When I got there I decided to take a day off for two reasons one I was ahead by one day and two the grand final was on the next day and you can’t miss the grand final!!! From Ravensthorpe it was going to take me two days to Esperance, but I decided to do it in one day haha It was a 188km ride. What a waste of time when I stayed in Ravensthorpe!! Well kinda… It was all to see the grand final but it ended in a DRAW!!!!!!!! They have to play next week but I’m going to be in the middle of the Nullarbor!! All in all it was a groovtastic game!!!

Any ways on to Esperance!!! Well I can some up the whole ride in one word……..Alfred Hitchcock……….Yup that’s right the movie we all loved or seen once before. You know the movie……………..”The Birds” I was in that movie basically on the way to Esperance!! 60km left of my journey nothing but magpies from hell!!!!! I’m serious I was freaking out!!!! They were all over me swooping and diving, pecking at my head!!! I took out my water bottle and started throwing that around. Whenever it came to a bunch of trees on the road you can see them all just ready to peck me to death!!! One time I had six bloody birds attacking me!!! No matter how hard I peddled they were there and would stay there for almost a kilometre. I almost came of my bike; I was zigzagging all over the road and almost came right off the thing. I took out my bike pump and started using that to wack them away. People on the road had a strange look on there face when I was riding with a pump in my hand hahaha. My light on my helmet came off and fell along the ditch, I’m not going to see that light again. No way was I going to pick that up haha. Well that continued until I got into Esperance.

In Esperance now and what do you know while riding along the street? Another bloody bird swooping and pecking at my helmet!!! For now on I’m sooo paranoid about birds. I’ve seen enough to last me a lifetime I think haha

Well folks I’m in Esperance and heading out tomorrow towards the Nullarbor and wont have much contact for about two weeks maybe. My next day off will be in South Australia a place called Ceduna and should be there around October 12^th See You then!!!! Hope all is well you blog readers!!!! I’ll try and put up some more pictures today!!!

Ps. wish me good luck with the birds from hell!!!

Broome to Perth

Broome to Perth

I couldn’t believe I was on the complete other side of Australia, it feels so surreal to see that I have travelled on a bike from Melbourne. I kept cycling from Broome to Perth. It has been a tough cycle through the western side of Australia. Glad that its done but sad at the same time. Nothing but a love, hate relation with the whole ride around haha

Right from the word gecko it was an annoying ride out of Broome. Well the first 10km was groovy, David road with me just out of town, so that was sweet. After that I was struck with the west coast wind. Land out of Broome was awesome first bit was flat as far as the eye can see. After that came trees and little hills nothing to bad. But that wind!!!!! I don’t think the west coast liked me so much haha

Around five hundred kms out of Broome I was riding my bike at night too pick up at bit more kms. After riding for a bit I saw some bright lights in the distance and wondering what it was. While I was getting closer there were more and more lights everywhere. I was wondering where I was, I looked on the map to see, and there was no town or road house just a road and a river haha. As I came closer to the area first I thought it was aliens with all the lights in the middle of nowhere, I mean what else could it be! Seriously!! haha. When I got right up too it there were search and rescue team. Police, fire brigade and volunteers, I thought to my self whoa what is going on hear?!!!!! I slowly biking by checking everything out and all of a sudden I hear my name of in the distance in the trees. I pondered to myself who knows me??!!! Hahah So I responded back to the trees, YA !!!!!! They said “come camp with us tonight”, I replied Okay!!!!! Hahaha I had no idea who this was but they knew me and I guess I’m about to find out who haha What do you know it’s the lovely couples from Katherine!!!! Jacqui and John, Margi and Rick!!!! What are the odds on that!!! Lol They told me about a rest area close to a river called De grey river had no idea was there lol Well I set up my tent and by the time I was almost done that they had tucker for me!!! Chicken and vegies and rice!!!!!! So good!!!!!! While I was eating tucker I asked them what’s with the rescue crew? They said an old man got lost and has been missing for 2 days. They have had helicopters go up and down the area all day but no sign of him. It was pretty sad to hear about the situation, the old man also had dementia as well. The next morning they the lovely people sat me down in a chair and fed me eggs, bacon, sausages and toast until I was over the top full!!!!! It was just amazing!!!!!! They even let me have some ginger spread that you put on the toast, it was so good I had to try it with a sausage. Really good with a snag but they all looked at me with discuss, how can you put those two things together you must have a stomach like a concrete mixer lol I just laughed and said no its sooo good you have to try!!!!

After breakfast it was time to head to Port Hedland!!!! What can I say about Port Hedland, one word well two……..Mining and Road trains haha that day a road train would come every bloody min. The crazy thing was they were all four or five trailer’s long!! Insane it was not really a pleasant ride haha

After Port Hedland it was nothing to crazy just desert haha Next big stop was Karratha but I decided to stop out side in a little place called Roebourne. Wasn’t all up for going into Karratha or Dampier, it was just 30km of track so I gave it a miss. From there it was another 600km of nothing just bush until you came to the next big stop, which was Carnarvon. Cool place all Carnarvon was is fruit and veggie farming, so awesome!!! If I had a car I would have bought soo much fruit and veg!!! cheap cheap cheap and fresh fresh fresh!!! It was my rest day, I was pretty exited about after coming from my last rest day which was Broome haha

From Broome to Carnarvon was pretty hard I had head wind the whole way down and tell you what… It wasn’t over either haha. Leaving Carnarvon I had big head wind and could only do 70kms lol Well I’ll tell you this right now the whole way down the west coast like right down to well Albany I have had nothing but head winds except 3 or 4 days of tail hahaha

Anyways from Carnarvon to Geraldton well maybe 200 km before Geraldton I can tell you one thing about travelling on the west coast on a bike….You will go insane when you stop peddling because the fly’s will get you!!!!!! If you stop for a break the fly’s will stick to you like honey!!! And they will multiply if you stay longer. Like every 10 mins they double in numbers around you, its insane and they keep flying in your eyes and ears and mouth just about everywhere. Wait!! It was bad with fly’s from Karratha to Geraldton, my bad. As soon as you got to Geraldton not more fly’s!!!! YAAAA!!!!!! I can ride in peace again!!!!!

Had a rest day in Geraldton, which was nice and peaceful. I camped right on the ocean but didn’t go swimming because it was too too cold haha I could feel the coldness once again coming down south everyday was getting a little bit more chilly at night and in the morning I wasn’t to impressed hahaha I hate the cold!!!!!!

Anyways kept going down the west coast until I hit Perth!!!!!! I Finally made it to Perth!!!! Coming down in the city on my bike it was so epic!!!! One thing I like about Perth not busy one bit!!! When your cycling on the streets in the city there are no cars at all its awesome!!! I went to my hostel and unpacked a bit and I looked at the time and it was 5 o’clock. I decided to go take a look to see what to have for dinner. When I was walking around I saw all the shops closing. I pondered to myself once again, oh no!! everything is closing and I’m hungry this can’t be good!!!! Everywhere I was looking everything was closed or just putting down their security bars!!! So I looked for the first thing I found which was subway LOL

That night I picked up the beautiful Stella from the airport and we spent a whole week exploring Perth.

Katherine to Broome pics

Breakfast





Victoria River
On the way to Victoria River
3:30 am haha

Katherine to Broome

Katherine to Broome

Well here I am in Broome!! All I can say is that it has been one up and down ride towards Broome…… Shale we take a gander of what I have been up too?................

While leaving Katherine in the early morning towards Victoria River it was going to be a long day of 193km’s. It was a wonderful day of riding but at the end it was getting a little bit hot. That day was about 35 degrees, I had to pull off to the side and quickly find some shade for fifteen mins or so. Got into Victoria River and what a site!! Beautiful place to camp, I pitched my tent and a dude came up too me and offered a coffee so we chatted till dark haha. His name was Darren, awesome guy so cool straight to the point just an all round good guy and tough as a cast Iron pan and smart as a arrow tip. It was a good visit in Victoria River learn’t some stuff there.

Next day was to Timber Creek and it was just a 100km ride but WOW it got hot!! It was about 40+ degrees just sizzling!!! But I made it there with no burns to the body and no DH (dehydrated).

Timber Creek to Kununurra was my next big cycle, which was 230km, around there. I started at 3:30 am ready to go, was doing alright around 7:00 am I’ve done 60km and pulled over to have breakfast. I saw someone in the distance in a wheel chair getting ready, so I walked by and introduced myself and what do you know, he was a cyclist too but on a hand bike. I finished my breakfast and caught up with andreas and we cycled 60km together and pulled off at a rest stop. He was planning to spend two nights at the stop and I was going to have lunch and keep trucking down the road for the big ride. He asked me to stay and chill here for the night but I told him that I wanted to get to Kununurra today and do a goal breaking ride. He put a icy cold beer in front of me, so I slammed the beer back then he put another beer in front of me, at that time he said stay and drink some icy cold beer and some good food and company you can do a big ride another time. I was getting pretty comfortable after slamming the first beer haha Second beer sealed the deal that I was staying the night haha.

On to Kununurra today!!! Well it was only 110km something like that so I thought it was going to be a easy day. It would have been but my ass was killing me!!! The whole 110km I did not sit down on my seat lol seriously not once just did four or five pushes then coasted for a second then did another four or five pushes with the pedals. When I got to Kununurra my ass needed to take a day off haha I couldn’t find buddy, who I was suppose to meet here, on the contrary I think I went to the wrong caravan park. When I was in the super market who did I bump in to…. Mr. David who offered me a coffee in Three Ways when I arrived, while setting up my tent. It was crazy!!! So he invited me out for dinner the next night with his wonderful wife Kathy. It was amazing that they took me out for a lovely dinner, I couldn’t have been so blessed. While chatting they invited me to stay with them in Broome when I got there. I didn’t know what to say, I was speech less, just wonderful loving pair just nothing but smiles on there faces all the time. I told them I would contact them when I arrived in Broome and we will go from there.

Leaving Kununarra was really crazy actually, nothing but head winds and rain. Well the first 60km was rain and total speed on the bike was around 14km/hr haha ya it was tough. But at the end of the ride it was a lovely 10km down hill right to the roadhouse called Doon Doon. After Doon Doon was Turkey Creek which was a nice 110km’ish ride. Beautiful scenery all the way through the start of the Kimberley’s. It would have been nice to do the Gibb River Road but you need a 4x4 for that haha always next time eh?!!!!!

After spending the night in Turkey Creek it was time for a ride to Halls Creek (aka wolf creek hahah) It was going to be a 160km ride today so a full day of riding. Well I thought it was going to be a fast day but I thought wrong!!! It was a bit hilly and hot!!! I got really frustrated for some reason, don’t really know maybe because it took till dark to get there and felt sooo long of a ride, couldn’t get a good pace going on the bike just going berserk all-round!!!! There was still 60km of the ride to go, that was around 3:30 or so, which bothered me as well. Hills weren’t helping either with my patience but I just wanted to get off my bike and grab the front wheel and hammer throw the bloody thing into the bushes and start walking to Halls Creek haha. Well, if I did that it would have taken me longer to get there by walking so I scraped that idea. The head games are coming into play and I knew these were the biggest challenges of my trip, just control that sponge that’s in that hard round thing that’s connected to your neck. Even after threatening to javelin my bike I had another crazy loony outburst. By this time I was 40 or 30km away and the sun was coming down. While riding I picked up my front tire and slammed it down on the road, of course there was some improper words that were lashing out as well, I wont lie haha I did that once and still didn’t feel better because I didn’t get me anywhere but a flat tire 10kms down the road lol hahaha. (Just laugh at myself while typing this lol) All in all Fixed the tire and got to Halls creek after dark.

That was so far my most loony and frustrated day out of my whole trip so far haha stay tuned there might be some more lol

I took a rest day in Halls creek to calm the nerves and rest the legs and bum. One more thing, the aboriginals crazy bunch of people that’s all I’m going to say, my two cents.

Onwards and forward to Fitzroy Crossing which was a 290km’s away haha. Ya!!! Camping in the bush for a bit. What can I say about the start of the ride, GROOVTASTIC!!!!!!!! Was one of my best rides so fast the first day. Did 190km and watched the sunset go down. I think nature gave me a little break because of the epic journey to Halls Creek, they had their fun and laughs with me so they took it easy on me, that’s what I believe at least haha. At the end of the ride it was dark of course and wanted to get to the rest point. The sun goes down at 5:30 and it was 8:00, so it was pretty dark. I was getting all disoriented and woozy and lights blurring together but bang there was a gorgeous blue sign saying rest stop. I pulled in but try to find where the road is, it was really dark and hard to see where the road was going. I was doing zig-zags down the road haha I saw a fire in the distance, oh!! People lets say hello and see if I can get a description of the area to set up my tent. I head over in a zig-zag pattern of course and ask them where the tables are and toilets and all that. They told me well just there is the tables and there are the toilets and one more thing watch out for the cliff. Perfect!!!, cliff? What cliff I asked they said theres a cliff, okay cool cool I said and went to find a place to camp. I saw a van on the left of me and a caravan on the right so I decided to camp in the middle of them. Quickly put up my tent and went to bed. Next morning I got out of my tent stood up stretched the arms to the bright sun to say hello and turned around and said HELLLLOOOOO!!!!! OH MY !!! Oh that cliff hahah I just camped right on the edge of it and didn’t even realize lol hahahah. It was a good shocker that morning haha.

After that wonderful day it was time to do the last 100km to Fitzroy Crossing. I got there and decided meh?!! Lets keep going, so I went another 40 or 50km down the road. Sun has dropped and dark again as I ride and look up at the beautiful star’s and space junk flying across the earth all of a sudden my trailer tube popped. So I fixed the bad boy up but the tires were looking pretty bad believe me haha. I fixed it and kept on going until the tube popped again so I pulled over and walked in the bush and camped the night and see what I could do to fix the tire the next morning. Next morning I fixed the tire (look at the pics haha so funny I’ll try putting the video up) Hoping that my patch job would work which was going pretty sweet until 60km or so in when bang!!!!!! Sounded like a gun shot it did, AWWW man not again!!! Well at this time I’m down to my last tube and the tire looks rough haha On the side of the road when who comes along to say hey!!!!! Jo and Frank!!! Another beautiful couple from Melbourne. They asked me if I needed any help. I didn’t know what really to do I’m in a desperate situation so……..Yes they gave me a ride to the next road house which was I think 100km away. I know I know!!!!! I feel bad but it had to be done!!! Trust me I didn’t want to do it. Jo and frank dropped me at the road house which was called Willare Bridge. Thank you soo much Jo and Frank!!!!!!!!! When I got dropped off had lunch and tried to fix my tire once more this was the last tube and it was getting dire my tire haha Did another patch job and off I went to Broome!!! Which was 180 km ride so I figured do a 100km the camp in the bush and do the last bit next day. Started my journey on my superb patched tire until I got around 50 or 60km in until…… You guessed it flat!!!!!! What was I going to do?!!!!!! No tires left or tubes I had to think of something quick because the sun was going down. Looked around and a light popped on or it was the bloody sun in my eyes one of the two, what is ther tons of and its all around me? Hmmmmmm ROCKS!!!! So I packed my tire ful of rocks and duct tape the hole so they wouldn’t fall out hahaha. Well that lasted 5 or 8 kms lol Had to keep filling it up because they were going to dust and it was pretty heavy plus don’t think my wheels were designed for that hahaha I set up camp in the bush and pondered to see what I could think of for the next morning to Broome.

Next morning I had nothing so I had to do the thumb thing. That’s right hitch it to broom. Another hitch and this one was 120km, I had no other choice. But I had a groovy talk with this dude called Ben and he dropped me off right at the bike store in Broome which was pretty splendid of him. Got to the bike store and spent money haha. Thanks Ben!!!!!

In Broome!!!!! So happy and glad I made it this far!!! I’m absolute mind boggled!!! I look at the map of Aus and just go YAAAA GROOVTASTIC!!!!!!! Hahaha Following the spending of money at the bike store I called up my buddy Mr. David. He was out with his parents so they walked over to the shop to say hello!!!! He invited me to stay at there place where in Broome for the night, I couldn’t pass that up. Haha We all walked to the house and had lunch together and spent the day just relaxing and drinking coffee at the house. That night David and Kathy invited me to dinner again!!!! I know!!!! It was the 14? Year anniversary (David Kathy let me know I got that right) I can’t believe they invited me to dinner with them and their parents. I was a wonderful dinner and good company as well. Just remarkable people. Thank you so much you two!!!!!!!!!!

Next day it was time for more relaxing and shop for some supply’s for tomorrows ride. I had to do something for David and Kathy after they took me in and gave me a bed for the night and a wonderful dinner, twice!!! I decided to make them dinner. It was Pasta and Bolognese !!!!! hahaha Before dinner that day it was ladies day at the horse races that were going on in Broome. So Kathy got of work early and we went to the races hahah. I didn’t bet anything until the last race. Well…..David gave me two dollars and said Jesse go make a bet, I told him no that’s alright bud but he wouldn’t refuse so I made a bet. We watched the last race and what do you know!!!!!!! I WON!!!!!!!!!!!! That’s right my horse came in first!!!!!! That two dollars became ten dollars!!! So I put that towards HD. Thank you soo much for your hospitality Kathy and David. Can’t wait to give you a call when I’m back in Melbourne and I’m buying dinner this time hahaha.

I have been a stubborn monkey my whole life, never wanted help from no one always wanted to do it on my own never asked for help. That was just me. But now on this trip even before a little when I came to Australia I’ve learn when people ask if you need help you should always say yes. It’s more rude to say no then yes, I have always said no for so long but now it’s yes. I don’t think I would have made it this far if I kept saying no all the time. Want to say thank you to all the people who have helped me an my trip right from Melbourne to Melbourne!!!!!!