Across Continents

Ken's Blog

Bottoms up

May 24th, 2011

Did I find the chairs comfortable she asked? Yes, I said. But quickly adding I probably wasn’t the best person to ask. Explaining I spent much of my time perched on a leather saddle. After which razor blades had a certain appeal.

saddle

I’d stopped at a small cafe. Eager for some respite for my posterior. Ordinarily the saddle is pretty bearable. Invariably aware of its presence of course. But beginning to think I’d soon have to add "Imprint of leather saddle" to the Official Observations page of my passport. Quicker than dental records to identify me in case of my demise.

But the saddle had become a little more challenging of late. Eye-watering. For which, fortunately, I’d a little tube of ointment….

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Travellers tales

May 24th, 2011

There are, I suggested, two types of travel books that narrate one’s experiences journeying afar. Those that make good reading for friends and family. And those with wider public appeal. Remarkably few in the latter category. Which, I added, gave me a modicum of confidence in the oft-maligned publishing industry. Their reluctance to fill bookshelves with ramblings from the road.

I’d been asked if I might write a book when I got home. Recounting my various experiences riding a bicycle around the world. Not an infrequent question of late. My answer always a little hesitant. Non-committal. Certainly I’ve the source material on the website. But it’d be a huge undertaking editing it into something I’d even be vaguely content with. And that’s just for friends and family.

As for penning something with much wider appeal. I’d need to be convinced this was a realistic prospect before ever setting out on such a mammoth task. Nothing ventured nothing gained perhaps. But I’d like to think I’ve got my feet vaguely on the ground. Not too many delusions of grandeur.

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Makings of a cunning plan..

May 24th, 2011

At first I thought Roger might have thought me a bit odd. He’d wandered into the campsite kitchen as I was in talking aloud to my small computer. Gesturing a little as I did so. Animated. Quickly explaining I was recording a piece for local radio.

Roger

He was from Birmingham. Goldsmith by profession. Not just jewellry but higher end object d’art. Well-travelled. Europe certainly. Had taught himself German. Could get by in Norwegian. But felt his Danish had faded a bit now. Just a few words. More than I’d ever manage.

Roger had been visiting his daughters. One in Australia, the other in New Zealand. Now spending some time exploring. Hired a car and bought a tent. We exchanged a few suggestions on places to stop along the coast. My favourites like the St Lawrence wetlands. Did he have the map of Queensland’s free sites? Yes. He did. I shouldn’t have been surprised. The attention to detail I suppose you’d expect of a skilled craftsman.

Rogertent

But it was his experiences of New Zealand that had me most intrigued. I’d begun to toy with not visiting. Partly focus. It hadn’t ever actually been part of the original plan to go there. And cost. Flying there with a bicycle exorbitant. And I was still smarting from the similarly priced cost of living in Australia. But Roger had me reinvigorated. Much cheaper there, he said. And an excellent network of hostels and public transport. Far better organised than here. Affordable. Makings of a cunning plan….

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Southbound to… Somerset

May 23rd, 2011

ken-in-oz-web

Southbound to Somerset. Actually the one on the north coast of Tasmania, just off the southern most tip of Australia. And a town rather than a county – or shire as they’d say here. Strictly speaking, I suppose, I am heading towards Somerset UK, but that’s a little further off…

A little short of the half way point along the east coast – Queensland’s capital Brisbane – the plan is to avoid the city proper by detouring inland towards the Glass House Mountains, Lake Somerset and the Wivenhoe Dam. Some blame the latter for much of the flooding in Brisbane back in January.

Then it’s back to the coast at Southport. Just south of Brisbane. Postcards to send to friends and relatives in Lancashire’s namesake. Then plunging south to Sydney. Onwards to Melbourne and the overnight ferry to Tasmania – Tassie.

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Paths crossing

May 23rd, 2011

That’d be fellow cyclists Chris and Roland I said. Explained I’d met them up in Cairns. While back now. Adding Chris had, I thought, been a British diplomat, Roland, an Aussie landscape garden designer. Very much into environmental and indigenous issues.

I’d found a small coffee shop in Maryborough. Chatting to Jason, its young owner. Offering an irresistible deal for coffee and toast. He’d invited Queensland’s Premier Anna Bligh to the opening but she’d politely declined. Other engagements her letter said. On the cafe’s noticeboard. Wished him the best of luck nevertheless. Actually, I’d discovered she only drank tea. Of this I was quite sure. Met her doing a talk radio piece.

Jason had seen a few long-haul cyclists pass through the town. Chris and Roland included. He thought they were heading for Rio de Janeiro. Some sort of environmental event. I agreed. As for the others, quite a few, he thought, riding around the whole of Australia. Mostly anti-clockwise. Prevailing winds on their backs.

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Poppin into Maryborough

May 23rd, 2011

Maryborough. Another birthplace town. But one I actually liked. Bit of character. From where author and former Shakespearean actress Pamela Travers hailed. Penning the first of the Mary Poppins novels in 1934. In England. Not only did she leave. Changed her name as well. Born Helen Lyndon Goff.

Poppins

Chancing on a decent van park on the outskirts, I’d decided to stop for some days. Set up the new netbook. Barely out of its box. Upload photos and videos. Courtesy of fast WiFi. Knuckle down and catch up on the blog, e-mails. Dull stuff like admin. The odd visa application. Domestic chores. Itching to return to the road. Once the necessities are done.

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Inconvenience store

May 22nd, 2011

Inconv

Maryborough, central Queensland.

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Colonial Childers

May 22nd, 2011

Childers from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.

Childers. Small motel town. Made bearable, to the eye at least, by its colonial feel. Historic the sign said. I’d camped a few miles outside. Quiet wooded site. Ventured in ostensibly to pop a few postcards in the mail.

Straddling the familiar Bruce Highway. Constant stream of traffic. Busy. Public Holiday. Easter Monday. Tourists, mostly Aussies, passing through. Drawn briefly into the pricey cafes along the main street.

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Provocative mutterings

May 22nd, 2011

He despised everyone. Or so it seemed. But especially the French. And the Germans. Both of which there were quite a few at the campsite. If he disliked the English he didn’t say. Far too cowardly for that. Instead, a steady stream of provocative mutterings. Confident in the knowledge that he’d not be challenged by those he lamented.

Deuusi had been staying at the site for some weeks. Fruit picking locally. But soon to return to the Paris suburbs. One week left. And then the park’s cleaner cum gardener consigned to history. Where he belonged. She smiled.

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Message from the Management

May 22nd, 2011

marsupials

You may have noticed a little humour creeping into the blog. Or at least, stuff that amuses me. Persevere. Like those annoying garden weeds, good chance the cold will kill it off. Soon. Starting to get nippy here. But, until then, some insight into what tickles my proverbials. What sort of one-liner might secure Wallace the Wallaby for you when I complete the Australian leg. Give it a go. Get donating – click here to find out more.

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