Morning at the Campsite
On March 16, I woke up at a campsite near Walpole. The morning air was cool, and I began preparing breakfast. By now, I had grown used to cooking with a gas canister. Today’s meal was a packet of Ben’s Original rice, bought from Coles. Simple, but surprisingly tasty.
After eating, I packed up my gear and set off. My first goal was the town of Walpole. It wasn’t far—about an hour’s ride—and soon I arrived. One thing I always enjoy is noticing how postal boxes differ from country to country. Even small details like that make each place unique.
Pushing Toward Denmark
Since it was still early and I felt good, I decided to keep going all the way to Denmark, about 100 kilometers ahead.
Along the way, I passed through stretches of land where trees were charred black, some completely burned and others partially damaged. These scars were reminders of past bushfires. They appear again and again along the route, a sign of how deeply bushfires shape the Australian landscape.
A Simple Lunch on the Roadside
For lunch, I ate the same flatbread wrap I had prepared the day before. Lately, I’ve been eating it often, mainly because I want to finish the jar of paste I’ve been carrying. The glass jar takes up space and adds unnecessary weight.
On a bicycle journey, every gram matters. Over time, I’ve realized that reducing weight isn’t just about comfort—it’s about energy and endurance. These are lessons you only learn by doing.
Evening Camp and First Cup Noodles
As the evening approached, I stopped at a roadside spot and set up camp. My clothes were soaked with sweat after cycling all day, but the campsite was well located. There was shade, and it offered some protection from rain, which was a relief.
For dinner, I finally ate my first cup noodles of the journey. I had bought them back in Perth almost a month earlier but never used them. The noodles tasted incredible after so many days of simple meals.
At first, I was nervous about using a gas canister, fearing an accident. But now, I’ve grown more comfortable. I realized it isn’t as dangerous as I imagined, and it opens up more options for meals on the road.
Tomorrow, I will finally reach Denmark. I look forward to seeing what kind of time I will have there.
Have a nice day.
