A Day of Rest and Reading
On March 2, I woke up at my host’s house in Busselton with no plans to ride. Instead, I spent the entire day reading a thick book about bicycle maintenance that I found in their home.
The book was in English, yet it fascinated me. It covered everything in detail—from the basics of repairing punctures to maintaining disc brakes and even inspecting and repairing carbon frames.
At one point, I thought to myself, “I really want this book.” But it was an astonishing 502 pages long. That meant if I bought it, it would be far too heavy to carry on my journey. So, I decided not to purchase it now. Still, I promised myself I would buy it when I return to Japan.
Meeting a Japanese Cyclist in Australia
Later in the day, I received a message from a Japanese cyclist I had been in touch with. I first learned about him a few days earlier while checking Warmshowers—a cycling community platform. I saw a review that mentioned a Japanese traveler had recently stayed at a nearby host’s house. Out of curiosity, I looked him up on Instagram and we started messaging.
By luck, our timing worked out, and he came to Busselton to meet me. What amazed me was that he had already been cycling further ahead, but he turned back nearly 100 kilometers just so we could meet. His kindness left a deep impression on me.
He told me that his goal was to cycle from Perth to Esperance—roughly 1,200 kilometers—during his university spring break. To hear a young student say he was using his break to ride across such long distances reminded me of the power of curiosity and courage at that age.
Reflections on Encounters Abroad
I don’t often meet Japanese people during my travels, so this encounter felt particularly special. Speaking in our native language while sharing our cycling stories made me feel both nostalgic and inspired.
His determination and adventurous spirit reminded me of the importance of staying curious no matter what stage of life you’re in. Encounters like these—unexpected yet meaningful—are what make the journey so valuable.
I left that day feeling grateful and more determined to treasure every meeting along the road.
