Setting Out After the 90-Mile Straight
Day four on the Nullarbor. The day before, I had ridden the entire 90 Mile Straightâ146.6 kilometersâin a single stretch.
Before starting, I wasnât sure if I could really do it. But when I pushed through, I realized: yes, it was possible.
My body was sore, every muscle tight, but strangely my mind felt clear. That clarity gave me the courage to keep moving forward.
Today, my goal was a small town called Cocklebiddy. This part of the Nullarbor is known for its deep quiet. Fewer cars pass through here, leaving long stretches of solitude.
Riding Into Deeper Silence
The road was unlike any I had experienced before.
There were no distractionsâonly the sound of the wind brushing past and the steady hum of my tires on the asphalt.
That simple rhythm stayed with me for hours. It was almost like being wrapped in silence, where the mind has no choice but to settle.
As the afternoon light began to fade, I finally reached the Cocklebiddy Roadhouse.
A Rare Connection in the Middle of Nowhere
At the roadhouse, I experienced something I hadnât expected at all.
Behind the counter was a Japanese staff member.
Hearing my own language, here in the middle of the vast Australian outback, gave me a relief I didnât realize I had been missing. Just a few words exchanged in my native tongue made me feel suddenly grounded, almost as if I had stepped back home for a moment.
After refueling with food and drinks, I left the roadhouse.
Camping Beneath the Stars
I found an open patch of ground about 200 meters away and pitched my tent.
When night came, I looked up at the skyâand I lost my words.
The stars were so countless, it felt as if they were pouring down. The outline of the moon was sharp and clear.
I caught myself thinking, âI donât want to sleep tonight. I want to stay here and watch forever.â
The night felt eternal, as if time itself had paused.
And in that stillness, I wished the moment could last just a little longer.
