18th, 19th March 2025

Hard to say goodbye while questioning my motivation as we set sail from Lady Barron, but the plan’s in place and it’s all too late now. My bike’s lashed to a bulkhead and there are cars and agricultural machinery blocking my escape….

A pleasant passage through Franklin Sound before the westerly roll sets in beyond Cape Barren Island. Not enough to be uncomfortable, but enough to keep sleep at bay through the long night.

Arrived outside Bridport at 2am and waited outside for the tide to rise, with entrance achieved by 3. Alongside, I asked the skipper if I could stay on board until first light as it was pitch black outside, Captain and crew were very obliging and I disembarked with the faint light of dawn on the horizon. 

Kona Rove DL Loaded to go

The road to Georgetown, what a nightmare! So many truck and trailer units, forestry and gravel, and it was as if they were competing with each other to get as close to me as possible, while overtaking. Needless to say, there were a few choice words vented towards a deaf audience.

Coffee break after forty kms, why not? I was really tired and it worked, as I plugged over ‘the last hill’ before Georgetown. Another coffee after fifteen kms because there was a mobile caravan at a busy intersection. Should have taken a photo, but an old guy, well, a guy my age, turned up and proceeded to tell me his life story. I made my apologies and beat a hasty retreat.

East Beach camping is perfect for a couple of nights (easing into this trip!). Lovely couple running it, though they’ve just sold up, probably why they are so happy. They’re about to take off on a five year holiday around Australia, in a luxury caravan, lucky sods!

A shower and relaxation to follow.

20th March 2025

Excellent sleep other than the 3am prostate call, oh, and a deflated air bed… tested it before I left home to… Sod’s law.

No internet here, 21st century and all that. Didn’t think that would happen till after Adelaide.

Cycled into Georgetown and found a café open. Coffee and eggs, very basic but there is internet.

Rain today, will review Bulldust with a view to start writing again after all, it’s the reason for this trip.

Preface

Pristine beaches with barely a footprint, rugged mountains, and big skies. crafted by nature.

Secluded beaches and clear blue waters

One could rightly assume that living on Flinders Island is akin to living in paradise, with its stunning landscapes, pristine beaches, temperate climate, and small population.

Surrounded by sea and sequestered among tall timbers, home is an escape from all that ails the world. Wallabies, wombats, and the occasional echidna remind us that we are but temporary custodians of the land we inhabit, and while here, it’s contingent upon us to do everything we can to preserve, protect, and not take for granted.

So, why leave this paradise?

Because occasionally there’s a need to validate such grand notions by seeking new perspectives.

All journeys are voyages of discovery and it doesn’t matter if it’s all been done before, because a journey is also about self-discovery and perspective. An opportunity for one to take stock of one’s own narrative, knowing that paradise isn’t going anywhere, as it will always be home.

This is one such journey.