Bike fairies need

                                Tonight's mission - get that bike into that box so that the lid closes!!
                                   Where's those magic bike fairies when you need them???

Welding pic

                This is the new weld that will hold by bike together - well that's the best plan I have.
                                                        Not so pretty but super strong.

Welding

Thank goodness I'm persistent!!
Arriving at the third bike shop in 3 weeks, here in Laos, I again informed the bike shop guy that my bike seat continued to squeak in a strange way despite all the oil squirted at it!!!!

Luckily a considerable 'crack' in the frame was discovered!!!

Honestly, I was happy to discover the crack now instead of out on the Nullarbor.
Operation 'welding' went into action. Successful mission
Ahhh - thank you. Flying Friday.

I did take pics but they are on my phone and I can't find the cable (because it's packed in a box somewhere) to download the pics. So you just have to believe me!!!

VIS support crew

This is my wonderful VIS support team.
These lovely ladies (and many more) will cheer and encourage me each pedal stoke during my 5000km journey from Perth to Sydney starting on Aug 10th. Yippppeeee
Your smiles, laughter and holiday stories will keep me cheerful along the way.
Thanks for a lovely, long lunch.

Almost ready.....

Sydney is where I will be early October, that bike is how I will get there from Perth. Just a mere 5000km of separation.
Time now to take the bike apart and squeeze it into a cardboard box for the first flight leg on Fri 1st August. Laos to Bangkok to Phuket.
Mr Bean is very excited to be heading off on yet another journey into the unknown and he hopes to see many beautiful places along the way. His favorite riding position is inside the handle bar bag, head peering out - great view from the front of the bike.
Thanks for everyone for their words of encouragement and support thus far.

Soft or Scenic options???

This is not some leisurely bike ride around the park or is it??
The soft, shorter option from Perth to Sydney would be 4000km but I wanted more scenery, more sea, more sunshine, more camping, more sore butt !!!! What ??
Yes, I wanted more, more, more. So I have selected the coastal scenic route that just adds an extra 1000km to the journey. That makes a total of 5000km.
Anticipating the the coastal regions of Western Australia will be absolutely stunning - let's hope the road goes close to the coast!

Once I leave Norseman and head across the Nullarbor, with those tail winds scuttling me along like a sail boat the views of the Great Australia Bight will be breathtaking and even more so if the southern right whales have arrived for their birthing season.
See, there is reason to my madness - the opportunity to see the whales and their calves - Bunda Cliffs here I come. Whales - save the date I'll be there early October.

Yesterday I discovered there is a ferry crossing Lucky Bay (near Cowell, Eyre Peninsula) to Wallaroo (Yorke Peninsula) which would give me a short cut of 350km - aaahhhh - let's just wait and see.
But then again there's not many short cut options whilst cycling across the Nullarbor so the thought of a 'short cut ahead' is a little exciting. Or even really, really exciting.

Traveling through Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria (yes, I think I have to dip down to Wangaratta to visit the folks!) and New South Wales will be an adventure. Friends suggested I pop into Canberra - maybe???

Spending 60 days on the bike will give me plenty of opportunity to enjoy the weather. Hoping for just the right amount of sunshine - to warm my heart and dry my clothes, tail winds, glorious sunsets to celebrate the end of each and every amazing day on the road and spectacular sunrises to do it all over again. Can't wait to meet fantastic people along the way. The 'grey nomads' will be out and about so I'll have company.

I still need to work out the 'Sydney' part of the plan. Starting at the Indian Ocean and ending at the Pacific Ocean I want to touch the water at both sides of this amazing continent. Ideally will scoot around the southern part of Sydney and reach the sea!!!
Thinking of some cool way to celebrate each 1000km and each 100km across the Nullarbor. 

Mission accomplished!!!

Packing!!!

Donations: http://www.gofundme.com/Laoslotusgirls
100% of the funds raised goes directly to the girls educational needs.

Carefully selecting which items to take !!!
Tent, sleeping mat and sleeping bag - take up so much space.
A few clothes, food and water and all set to go.
Excited !!!!!
My cycling trips are fully self funded.

Satellite view

Satellite view - does it make the ride look shorter or longer??? Kinda makes the ride look more scenic.

Map

oh I got it this time Perth to Sydney 5000km!!!

This is a map of the planned route heading south from Perth along the Western Australian coast, across the Nullarbor from Norseman to Ceduna then onto Adelaide. At this point I will then start heading inland towards Sydney (not shown on map).

Mathematical Calculations!!!

Using a trip calculator the travel distance from Perth to Sydney is 3938km.
However the route I have planned out that follows the coast is 4876km - yikeeeessss
Double yyyiikkkeeesss just added specifically and got 5127km !!!!
I just think the coastal route would be more scenic. I spent most of the afternoon calculating distances to cycle each day and where to sleep each night.
Roughly the journey will take approximately 55-60 days.

A new journey .... a work in progress

Yet again the ride from Perth to Sydney 4000km has risen it's head and presented itself to me.
Could I really do it? Is it possible?
The answer to both of these questions is an exceptionally loud 'YES'
So here it is early July 2014 and the brain is in overdrive as I begin the planning to cycle from Perth to Sydney, unsupported, with a tent. Planning to start around the 10th August.

The packing list has been prepared and I have started to get bits and pieces for the bike. Given that I am currently living in Laos it is proving a little challenging getting the right bike parts. Today I attempted to buy a couple of spare tubes. No luck. Think I need a shopping list for a good Perth bike shop.
Researching and reading blogs and websites to work out a proposed route. I like the idea of following the coast once I leave Perth.
To all cyclists who have shared and posted information about this epic journey I say 'thank you'. Without your advice and words of wisdom this journey would be considerably more difficult.

84 Girls Savannahket Laos

Whilst this bike ride across the Nullarbor never happened as previously planned there was a bike ride that took place June 2013. This charity bike ride took me from Vientiane, Laos over to Chiang Mai, down to Bangkok and onto Phuket. A ride that took 40 days and covered 3200km. The funds raised during that ride continued to support the 84 Laotian girls to attend school in Savannahket, Laos PDR.

A great picture of the 40 girls in Grade 1 with their new uniforms, shoes, backpacks and text books. Donations to the Lotus Educational Fund can be made at the gofundme site: http://www.gofundme.com/29l7io Here's the link: This doesn't want to work!!! Cut and paste : http://www.gofundme.com/29l7io