Dec 2023 – Jan 2024. Jindabyne to Jindabyne.

Cycling Days: 14 Rest Days: 4 Distance: 745kms
Ascent: 11,230m Time: 83hrs Punctures: 0

Ibuprofen: 1 Aspirin: 5 Bandaid: 3 Lomotil (Immodium): 18

What makes it possible?

Time and direction

We had over four weeks which allowed us to plan a good leisurely long trip without having to chase a tight deadline. After all – it is meant to be a summer holiday!

Our route only revealed itself after we started. Bad planning? Not really, more by design. We had a few goals: see a new part of Australia, challenge ourselves, spend most times riding on gravel roads and camping along the way. To meet interesting people and also to acquire local knowledge which would help with directions and difficulty. We achieved all of these together with not making it too hard that it’s not a holiday. We didn’t want to be out riding until darkness fell. Mid afternoon is just fine.

Support

We feel privileged to have an amazing set of people to look after Glenella while we have been away – Tessa, Mark, Kevin, Sarah, Susi and Femin. Thanks to you all and we much appreciate everything you do.

Janine and Geoff for welcoming us to stay in their home before we left and when we returned, and also for storing our car for the duration. Thanks.

Equipment

Two great touring capable bikes, and everything for touring backcountry, rough and rugged backroads. We have pretty much everything we need and nothing that we don’t. — ok we can/should/will still reduce some of the surplus/comfort goodies. Next time, haha.

Food and water

Margaret is a wizard (witch?) with the food, always whipping up a creative set of trail food daily. Sourced from whichever shops we find along the way, ranging from well stocked to almost nothing-useful stocked.

We can camp overnight in a wide variety of places as long as its almost level, clear, and has water. And the water comes in many forms, such as from a water tank feeding a cattle trough, off a shed roof, creek, lake, river, muddy dam. And of course from the servo tap or the ultimate luxury of a caravan campground with taps and camp kitchen. The only equipment we use is our trusty water filter which gets well used and often.

Resilience, knowledge, experience, capability

Without wanting to blow our trumpets we have a measure of all the above, having done many backcountry bike trips over the years. This trip and on others we have met many others still on the pathway to acquiring the experience. Bike trouble is a common issue and underestimated often. And just having the tools and spares is only the beginning – you need to know how to use them and adapt them to solve whatever issue comes up. This can just as easily be predictable as it can be unpredictable. You need to adapt. And this also applies to your body and to your health. Tummy bugs, bites and stings, etc., etc. You just need to be resilient and adaptable. We often change plans along the way. But hey, that’s the freedom of it.