Preparing for the First Day
March 31. The first day of the Nullarbor Plain.
I began by carefully packing my supplies. Three bags of oatmeal, instant noodles, tuna cans, energy supplements, and rice. These would be my lifeline for the days ahead.
I didn’t know if it was enough—or maybe too much—but it wasn’t about comfort. It was about survival. On this road, food isn’t just nourishment. It’s security.
The biggest fear here isn’t hunger or the weather—it’s a bicycle breakdown.
The Nullarbor is a single, endless road. If the bike fails, help doesn’t come quickly. That thought stayed in the back of my mind as I checked every bolt and pedal before setting off.
The Road Out of Norseman
Leaving Norseman, a sign stood before me:
“Limited Water.”
The next water point was 189 kilometers away. Until then, what I carried was all I had.
Another sign read:
“1986 km Until Adelaide.”
A bitter reminder—my broken smartphone wouldn’t be fixed for nearly 2,000 kilometers. All I could do was laugh. And keep riding.
Despite the weight of it all, my heart felt strangely light. “So this is the Nullarbor,” I thought, and my spirit lifted. I was finally here, on the road so many travelers had warned me about.
Facing the Vast Horizon
The road stretched in a straight line. The sky spread endlessly. The wind was calm, and cars were few.
The weather changed quickly—sun, clouds, and then sun again. The plain had its own rhythm, and I had no choice but to match it.
Then I saw another sign:
“Next sheltered area, 250 km ahead.”
It wasn’t just a number. It meant no shade, no benches, no roofs. Just the open sun above and the road beneath me. That was the true meaning of “harsh” here.
The First Night on the Nullarbor
By evening, I had covered around 90 kilometers. Surprisingly, there were many flat spots along the roadside that made good campsites. I chose one, pitched my tent, and settled in.
The day had drained me, but it was only the beginning. The Nullarbor had already shown a glimpse of its scale and silence.
I lay down early, knowing tomorrow would demand everything I had.
