Between February 2002 and March 2003 I circumnavigated 12,504 miles around the Australian continent on my bicycle, or push bike as they say there. After that I went to New Zealand for three months and met up with a friend and ended up pushing the total mileage to 14,115.7 miles (22717.02 km). I spent 269 days on my bike, 272 days not on my bike, and getting 67 flat tires over those 17 months.
I started and ended my 13 month lap around Australia at Luna Park in St. Kilda/Melbourne.. The distance around Australia (including Tasmania) ended up being about 20,281km (12,600 miles).
One fun thing I did during my trip was to visit six "confluences", which is where a whole-numbered latitude/longitude mark intersects for The Degree Confluence Project.
Craig
Haven't really slept at this point but it is daylight again so it warrants a new day on this site.
Did sleep a little on one of the benches. My laptop bag at my head and the bike making a nice little wall on the other side.
Turns out they forgot to charge me for excess baggage on the way to Auckland...cause I had to pay for it this time. Waited and waited till 9:30am when I got on the plane to Christchurch. The flight was alright. Getting off the plane, four the fourth time now the stewardesses all acted the same. "Thank you...thank you....thank you very much....uh.....". I they'd just look at me and I'd smile and they wouldn't say anything.
Walked into the airport and no MCQ. Then I realized this was past the security checkpoint so he might be downstairs. I came down the stairs and there he was holding a little "Craig" sign. Funny, we didn't even greet each other at first, the first thing we both did was pull out our little digital cameras and take pictures of each other. So good to see a familiar face. We spent an hour or two at the airport while I put my bike back together. Stopped at a fish and chips shop on the way to the holiday park. Yummy! Pulled into the caravan park and talked awhile, then I slept slept slept slept. Somehow I woke up several hours later and then we went to the stoore. VB is half the price compared to Australia! Wow!
Went back to the HP and made a big stir fry and I drank my first beer in New Zealand. Making sure this time to buy cans so I could give my Dad the can. We are taking tomorrow off also, I need more sleep anyway.
