And then suddenly – finally – I was there. On the 7th of May at 5 o’clock in the morning, I found my feet off the airplane and onto the Australian soil. I’ve taken seemingly great leaps forward on this journey before, but this one was undoubtedly the biggest one yet. The first one (apart from those few ferries, of course) not powered by my own force.
In a matter of hours, I’d been soaring though 3 time zones and a distance that usually would take me a couple of months to cover. Effective and convenient. Something my mind ignored completely, and as it constantly kept looping the thought of what – and who – I would and could have found underneath those fluffy clouds, back down on sea level.
A combination of excitement and lack of sleep turned the scene into a bit of a blur. Before I knew it, I’d been stamped into the country, reunited with my boxed up bicycle, and had some quarantine lady half-heartedly examine tyres and mudguards in search of hostile aliens, threatening to take down the entire continent.
‘Welcome to Australia’ she said, giving me a brief look before turning back to her coffee.
With a big dorky smile I gave my thanks in Swedish, and clumsily started pushing my baggage trolley towards the exit signs.
Australia. Continent No 3.
It’s a pleasure to meet you.
–
I couldn’t have wished for a better introduction to this new world I was finding myself in. Greeted by Swedish Zandra and her Aussie husband Tim, I was spoiled ruthless from first moment. There was food. Wonderful company. The comfiest bed I’d been in for as long as I can remember. And perhaps most importantly, there was people willing and able to answer all my stupid questions about everything from twist-off beer bottles to crocodiles.
With both of them being avid cyclists we spent a couple of days cruising around Darwin on two wheels, while I was slowly getting gear and mind ready to take on the outback down south. Through great, and valuable days these troopers got me all settled in while dampening the culture shock to a minimum.
Thank you a million times!
Just before getting all too comfortable, it was time to hit the road. Though I was up for a smooth start along the big Stewart Highway, I was already filled with that good old feeling I’d been craving for so long. The tingly nervousness of someone stepping out of her comfort zone.
Joined by Zandra and Tim I peddled out of town, just as the first sheds of light made their way into the damp Australian morning.
Minutes turned into hours, and to days.
I had still barely gotten started. But perhaps that was the very reason behind the tumult of butterflies in my stomach those first days. That golden anticipation spiced up with a healthy pinch of hesitancy. After months and months of undefined frustrations in Southeast Asia I was getting back out there. Finally reuniting with my one big love. On the verge of once again, immersing myself in full on adventure.
Australia. Continent No 3.
It doesn’t take much to realise that this will ride will be nothing short of amazing.
Guys. Will you join me for this one?
Fredrika