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If we had to use one word to describe Australia, it would have to be BIG. Like most Europeans, we hadn’t realised quite how big until we got here – and on our second day of cycling discovered (to our great dismay) that a black dot on a map does not necessarily signify a town – unlike in all other countries we had passed through. Australia is so sparsely populated that a black dot in the outback is, at best, a roadhouse with petrol, camping/hotel facilities, a shop and restaurant, and at worst, a junction with nothing but a few mailboxes for the adjoining farms. We thought the picture below would really make it clear how big Australia really is, in case you didn’t know already. And consider that the population of the whole country is about 20 million – same as London!!
Australian people turned out to be nothing like how we imagined it – we thought we would come across lots of tanned, tattooed and pierced surfer dudes and beach bunnies, traipsing around in shorts and bikinis, with surf boards under their arms. Instead we met hundreds of down-to-earth ‘grey nomads’ – retirees caravaning around the country. We found the people to be refreshingly honest and direct, very friendly and generous, and with a great dry sense-of-humour of the British variety.
Sure enough the outback was harsh, inhospitable, and at times quite scary and lonely. The dingos and kangaroos were not the menace we feared they might be though we did see literally hundreds (dead and alive). Australia taught us the meaning of real hardship – both physical and mental. It really cut us down to size, making us feeling insignificant as an ant and realising how vulnerable we really are against the elements.
What can we say but Well Done! We were a couple of the retirees you met along the way – just out of Attack Creek. It was a very windy day and you were looking forward to breakfast at Renner Springs (I think!!). The enormity of you both have done is great – you should give yourselves a big pat on the back and some day sit quietly and reflect on your adventures. You were a beaut couple and we wish you all the very best in the future together. Fantastic effort, Nerolie and Lance