I finally got the ‘Pacific’ part of the IPWR done. I totally forgot the wheel dip, but I’m glad I waited. It was just a gorgeous evening and a stunning sunset to dip the wheel in the Pacific.
I have my IPWR closure now, but I can’t get enough of this beautiful country and its people.
Retreated to the mountains to reflect on the IPWR journey and plan on what to do next. Blue Mountains National Park was a perfect destination.
Billion-star hotel and sunrise at the 3 Sisters in Blue Mountains National Park. Life on the open road teaches you how to find the most basic needs. Food, water, shelter 🙂
Though it was extremely windy and cold, I managed to ride to Katoomba and find an epic dome-shaped shelter in a park that protected me from the elements. I woke up early to see the sunrise at the 3 Sisters!
An off-road trip to Hanging Rock on my all-road bike. It felt just like sitting on the nose of Half Dome, except that it was exposed on all sides with crazy winds. Exhilarating nevertheless.
If you have vertigo, please don’t look 😝
Hanging Rock, Blackheath, Blue Mountains National Park, NSW, Australia.
Life on the open road is life unedited. Sometimes it’s billion-star hotels and sometimes it’s a nice warm public toilet. You embrace both of ’em with utmost appreciation.
Living this unedited life is addictive 😜.
Yet another item struck off the bucket list.
It’s been a long-term dream of mine to dive in the Great Barrier Reef, swim with the turtles and see the colorful corals. I was in the Bundaberg region, home of the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef.
It was a perfect day for a snorkel/dive, with no swell and visibility of up to 30m at Lady Musgrave Island. No GoPro, and it felt good not to have the distraction of technology. I carried a $10 disposable underwater film camera and just took some random shots. The pictures definitely don’t do it justice.
I was in the water for 6 hours and just couldn’t get enough. Life under water is life in slow motion. It’s like an alien world. Fish and turtles are not scared of you; they swim and play with you. It was magical. It felt like being in one of the most beautiful and peaceful places on planet Earth.
After the dive, I was saddened, realizing that the corals are dying and that the bleaching from rising sea temperatures is killing them (Watch ‘Chasing Coral’ on Netflix). It makes me want to do all I can to make a personal impact on climate change.
The realization set in while packing my bike last night that this incredible journey has come to an end. The last 7 weeks in Australia went by so fast. It feels like it was just the blink of an eye and yet I met so many great people and collected so many wonderful memories.
When I landed in Perth, I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know what I didn’t know. But my journey to and through Australia was nothing but amazing and brought so many wonderful people into my life, both physical and virtual. I don’t know how I could ever thank you all for giving me the best time of my life and treating me like family. I am so grateful and full of gratitude.
IPWR was the most incredible experience of my life, which I will never forget. I could say “Thank you” a million times, but nothing I say would be enough to thank you all for your support, encouragement, hospitality, unexpected kindness, hugs, high fives and the love you gave me. Friends, dot watchers, I will miss you all so much, but I want to say this is not goodbye but see you soon in Australia, mate :)