Naresh holding the Indian flag on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, his bike in front of him
Fremantle, Western Australia to Sydney, New South Wales

Indian Pacific Wheel Race

Biking · Adventures
Distance
5,500 kmIndian Ocean to the Pacific
Days
2417 March to 10 April 2018
Support
NoneSolo and unsupported
Riding for
IJM AustraliaAgainst trafficking and the online sexual exploitation of children
Route
Fremantle to SydneyWestern Australia to New South Wales
When
Mar 17, 2018Saturday
Reading
1 min162 words

Solo and unsupported across Australia, from the Indian Ocean at Fremantle to the steps of the Sydney Opera House.

The Indian Pacific Wheel Race was 5,500 km, solo and unsupported, from the Indian Ocean at Fremantle to the Sydney Opera House. I would have been the first Indian on its start line. In February 2018, a month before the start, it was cancelled.

I decided to ride the course anyway, and I wasn’t alone: dozens of us started at Fremantle at 6:22 am on 17 March, the minute Mike Hall’s tracker stopped when he was killed in the race the year before. I rode it for International Justice Mission Australia, against human trafficking.

After 24 days and 5,500+ km of pedalling across this wonderful great continent, I rolled into the Opera House. This journey was nothing but phenomenal: an extremely humbling and blessed journey which brought so many beautiful people into my life, making me richer and happier.

What follows is the ride as I posted it at the time, mostly to the dot watchers who followed us on the map.

The journal

25 days on the road, March 17 to April 10, 2018.Pick a day, or start at the beginning and read it like a book.

Before the ride

  1. ·The race that was cancelledMonths of training, then an email. And a visa that arrived anyway.
  2. ·FremantleThe Indian Ocean part is done. Just a continent and 5,500 km to go.

Western Australia

  1. 1Fremantle to Merredin320 km, flats and nausea, and dinner with a couple who opened their shop for me.
  2. 2Into the windRoad trains, hot wind, and 600 km in the bag.
  3. 3The wrong way to Kalgoorlie50 extra bonus kilometres.54.7 mi
  4. 4To NorsemanThe Nullarbor puts me to the test, and so does the voice in my head.191.8 mi
  5. 5The 90 Mile StraightHeadwinds of 35 to 40 km/h, a bivvy by the road, and crosswinds like a hockey puck.
  6. 6A new road surfaceIt’s the simple things that make you happy.168.7 mi

Western and South Australia

  1. 7Eucla and Border VillageLamb rogan josh from a stranger, and a clock that said South Australia.

South Australia

  1. 8Trees againThe eastern end of the treeless plain.186 mi
  2. 9A family partyInvited in for food, beer and conversation.15.4 mi
  3. 10Halfway, and a kangaroo2,560 km, and a bloodied knee.
  4. 11AdelaideDot watchers rode me in, and Avanti fixed the bike.
  5. 12Ben and familyA dot on a map, and people who come out to meet it.

South Australia and Victoria

  1. 13Into VictoriaCrossed another state line. Not too long now.

Victoria

  1. 14147 rescuedThe news from Chennai that reminded me why I was out here.
  2. 15The Great Ocean RoadThree hours of sleep, and the Twelve Apostles.
  3. 16Geelong to MelbourneGI trouble: six toilet stops in three hours.132.9 mi
  4. 17The burnsWear plenty of sunscreen and avoid the sun, said the pharmacist.151.3 mi
  5. 19The WTF climbWay to Falls. It was WTF for sure!43.6 mi
  6. 20Tawonga GapA billion-star hotel, and breakfast brought up the mountain.

Victoria and New South Wales

  1. 21Wild dogs, and the Australian AlpsA dead power bank, a wrong turn, a wild dog, and a stranger’s fire at −3 °C.114.7 mi

New South Wales

  1. 22Canberra21 days and 5,100 km.
  2. 23The truckies at MarulanA cheers honk, a lounge to sleep in, and a note by the couch.
  3. 24ExeterUnexpected kindness, and a third breakfast.
  4. 25The Sydney Opera House24 days and 5,500+ km.

After the ride

  1. ·The Pacific, the Blue Mountains, and the reefA wheel dip, a night at the Three Sisters, Hanging Rock, and the Great Barrier Reef.
Start reading →

The route

MerredinCoolgardieNorsemanBorder VillageCedunaPort AugustaAdelaideMount GambierWarrnamboolMelbourneOmeoCanberraFremantleSydney
FremantleElevation from 0 m to 1,719 mSydney

Further reading

Biking · Adventures · 2017Freedom Seat New ZealandBiking · Adventures · 2019Freedom Seat, Chennai to HamburgBiking · Adventures · 2019Silk Road Mountain RaceRunning · Adventures · Food · 2015Black Forest cake in the Black Forest

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