August 14: Made It To Melbourne: Circumnavigation Complete
Completing my circumnavigation of Australia yesterday called for a celebration. Since the hot air balloon ride above the city I hoped to take was cancelled, I did the next best thing – rode an elevator up 88 floors to the Melbourne Skydeck and treated myself to “The Edge” experience, standing on a layer of glass a little under one and three quarters inches thick almost 1000 feet above the city. Looking out across the horizon at the skyline and down at the busy streets below, it was hard to believe it had only been a little over seven weeks since I had left to head west around this great continent.
When Adventure Baby and I set out on June 23rd, I didn’t have many specific plans, opting to try to live each day to the fullest, embracing all the beauty the country had to offer as I came upon it. I had skimmed through a few guidebooks, received great tips from fellow motorcyclists, and determined I would ride in a clockwise direction.
Although the vast majority of bikers ride counterclockwise due to the direction of prevailing winds, I was excited about first facing the challenges of crossing the often harsh nullarbor, riding through long remote stretches of arid land between roadhouses in the west and north, and managing the heat near Darwin before reaching the Great Barrier Reef, hoping to end up with some extra time towards the end of my trip to more fully explore one of the world’s seven natural wonders.
What an adventure it turned out to be! It’s hard to narrow down the list of my favorite parts but I would have to say some of the highlights were cuddling Bella the Koala, swimming with a humpback whale, staying at isolated roadhouses, living on a ship while obtaining my PADI scuba certification, diving down to the Yongala wreck 28 meters below the ocean’s surface, interacting with so many friendly people, and learning more about some of the unique aspects of this beautifully diverse country.
Riding from downtown Melbourne this morning to the same pancake house I ate at my first day in the country, I reflected on some of the little things I’ve picked up since – effortlessly riding on the correct side of the road and looking over my right shoulder when I turn, knowing it’s acceptable to pull my bike right up on the sidewalk outside the eatery, remembering to turn on the outlet next to my booth after plugging in my laptop, and realizing that I only need to order two slices of bacon.
Australians serve bacon as a “rasher” which includes the fatty strip Americans are familiar with as well as the round leaner section we refer to as Canadian bacon. So, two pieces here are equivalent to four in the US.
I am going to miss interacting with the friendly people of this diverse country, so many of whom took the time to help me feel welcome, asked me about my trip, and offered advice or assistance.
While treating myself last night to a celebratory dinner at Meatmaiden, one of the world’s top 100 steakhouses, the waitress sat down with me and asked me to describe my favorite parts of the trip. Leaving my downtown hotel this morning, the employee watching the parking lot referred to me by name and wished me the best in my last few days of riding. Daily locals along the way have stopped to ask about my adventure and responded with encouraging sentiments such as “Good on you!”
I’ve still got a few more days on the road as I ride to a friend’s house this afternoon, head to New South Wales tomorrow to stay with another motorcyclist, and then make my way a little further north the following day to leave Adventure Baby with a mechanic to get a thorough service and new tires. When I fly out on Sunday, it will be with many wonderful memories from this summer’s journey of a lifetime.
