Australia 1998. Twenty years ago tommorrow I landed in Sydney after living in London and working in the West End Restaurant industry. These are my adventures written from diaries of that first year, Go and explore its a big world out there.
February 17 Arrive Sydney, find hostel above pub in Newtown.
February 20 After 3 days on the streets talking to couriers with bike brought from London go to Paramatta for interview for job. Get messenger work with Astro Couriers working alongside Mailcall and other riders.
Two months riding Sydney, beaches, Mardi Gras and hostel life.
April 10 Trip to Manilla, NSW.
April 30 Canberra stay. Party.
May 1- May 09 Cooma NSW first visit , MTB riding with ‘Out the Back’ guiding firm.
May 10 Blue mountains, exploring.
May 11- May 17 Leave Sydney in car with Brit friends, Bike onboard, Road trip camping, hostelling Newcastle, Seal Rocks, Port Macquarie, Manilla.
May 18 –May 24 Byron Bay area, beaches, SLC festival.
May 24- May 27 Road Moree, Goondiwindi, Toowoomba.
May 27 Arrive Brisbane QLD stay in Nundah with Oz friends met in London. City riding and job hunting. Exploring area. No work found.
June 11. Leave Brisbane bikepacked.
June 12 Arrive Wamuran Davys Strawberry farm. Explore Sunshine coast, Glasshouse mountains, walking ,riding,climbing, camping.
June 16 – September 07. Farm Work and night watchman on site. Riding Mt. Mee, D’Aguilar ranges, Woodford. QLD life.
September 08 Ride north bikepacking. Stays at Noosa, Coolooola Nat. Park, Rainbow Beach. Hospital in Maryborough with Achilles Tendinitis.
September 11 Train/ Bike Maryborough to Bundaberg. Drinking Bundy rum with sugar cane cutters from Bundy. Camping/ Hostelling all September.
September 12 Bundaberg to Rockhampton train.
September 13 Great Keppel Island
September 14 Rockhampton to Townsville
September 15 Townsville
September 16 Townsville- Mt Isa
September 17 Mt Isa
September 18 Mt Isa- Longreach
September 19 Longreach
September 20 Longreach- Emerald
September 21 Emerald- Fairburn-Dam
September 22 Emerald- Mackay
September 23 Slade Point Beach
September 24 Mackay – Townsville
September 25-30 Townsville, Magnetic Island explore area.
October 01- 07 Bikepacking Paluma Nat. Park, Crystal Creek, Jourama Falls, Toomulla Beach.
October 08 Townsville – Caboolture train.
October 09 Wamuran.
October 10 Ride Brisbane.
October 11 Brisbane- Sydney by train.
October 15 London Girlfriend arrives, live in Leichhardt, holidays, Buy Holden Kingswood car.
November 08 Leave in car, week camping, beach life NSW.
November 15 Arrive Cooma again
November 28- December 15 Work on Broccoli Farm, only ever sacking from horrible job!
December 24-26 Pambula Beach.
December 29 Begin work at Sharp Food on Sharp Street Cooma, NSW. Girlfriend and I bring London restaurant systems experience to fill Cafe. Continued working there on working holiday visa, then flying to N.Z twice for holiday and VISA extensions. Up to end of August 1999.
