Borderline from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
Ken reaches the border between Victoria and New South Wales. Almost equidistant along the coast road from Melbourne and Sydney, their respective State Capitals.
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Borderline
August 12th, 2011Getting close to Victoria
August 12th, 2011Getting close to Victoria from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
Ken gets ever closer to the border between New South Wales and Victoria, his last Australia State.
Flying free
August 11th, 2011I can cope with the sleep deprivation. The check-in queues. The seemingly endless security controls. Even sitting next to the odd fellow passenger who, you suspect, just loves to super size their meals. If there’s something worth it at the other end. Like Alaska. But, add a boxed bicycle and another forty kilogrammes of awkward baggage and mustering any enthusiasm becomes a bit of a struggle.
Fortunately, thanks to some help from The Outward Bound Trust, there’d been a phone call from Robyn at DHL South Pacific. Yep. That well known international shipping and courier company. Yes, she explained, they’d air freight everything for me. Details to sort out of course. Assured her I’d make sure everything was in order so not as to cause embarrassment with US Customs. Clean tyres and tent pegs. Just as I’d done for flying into Australia.
This was good news, I thought as I put the phone away. Really good news. One company rather than three different airlines. No struggling with boxes of kit around four airports, two terminal changes and an overnight stop in a Hawaiian hostel dorm. And a substantial saving in excess baggage charges. Of the order that would buy you a return airfare from Heathrow to Washington. No. Seriously.
Measure of Merimbula
August 11th, 2011By the time I actually reached Merimbula it was dark. A few unexpected climbs towards the end. Some sharp, others more drawn out. I’d found the hostel on the outskirts of town without too much difficulty, the key left in the mailbox. A sign said food and drink wasn’t permitted in the room, but made no mention of bicycles.
I wandered back into the centre a little later, and a brief foray into the late night supermarket. Like much of the South Coast, the town wasn’t unpleasant. Just unremarkable. A few more cafes than I’d seen elsewhere, by now all closed. And quite a lot of boutiques. Lingerie mostly. Purveyors of cheap nylon rather than soft silk.
Around Bermagui
August 10th, 2011Around Bermagui from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
Ken makes a brief lunch stop in Bermagui. On Australia’s southern east coast. Moving on before the bin caught fire… but that’s another story
Off the highway
August 10th, 2011Off the highway from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
Ken diverts off the Princes Highway, south of Sydney. Following the Tourist Drive closer to Australia’s southern east coast. Peaceful. Briefly.
In the hostel kitchen
August 9th, 2011In the kitchen from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
Marvel at Ken’s creative culinary delights. Made with free food. Maybe not…
Lull in the storm
August 9th, 2011Lull in the storm from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
Brief respite before the next storm front comes through. Bringing gale force winds.
Around Narooma
August 8th, 2011Around Narooma from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
Scenes around Narooma. On New South Wales’ South Coast. On Australia’s southern eastern seaboard.
South Coast laments
August 8th, 2011Suppose the South Coast of New South Wales wasn’t exactly unpleasant. It just seemed a bit dull. Recollections of the various small towns quickly blurring. Few resilient memories. The hostel at Batemans Bay, the only resident, a few early nineties videos for company. It, like most in Australia, lacked the finesse of those in New Zealand, but it was functional. And warmer than the tent. In part inspired by the hostel, I decided to push hard for another further south at Merimbula. Quiet time of year, curious to see if I’d get the place to myself once more.
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