February 6, 2026

After 10 years, I’m going back to Australia, this time to hike, ride and reunite with Aussie friends I’ve met along the way in past cycling trips.
Flight from Detroit to Los Angeles 4 hr, to Sydney 17 hr, to Hobart 2 hr, then weeks later to Canberra 2 hours, to Berry and home again, 38 days total.

After 21 hr of flying and layovers it will be nice to spend a couple of days in Sydney to rest up and do some wandering. Thankful for the use of Michael and Louise Clifton’s Sydney apartment!

On to Hobart and check into the Grand Chancellor hotel and prep for the start of the famous four day  3 Capes  hiking tour., 65 km(40.4 mi) and1,600 metres(5,249 ft) elevation.
Of the 20 cyclists(12 US, 4 Aussies, 3 CDN, 1 UK) whom will ride the cycling tour, 5 of us will hike the 3 Capes. I will be joined by Moyra from Ottawa, Seth from NYC and Tony and Theresa from Upstate NY. It will be great to see them again (Moyra and Seth from the Shogun trip, Tony and Theresa from Othello).

Preparation for this trip has been virtual, riding the Dunnville Grand Tour’s Perth to Sydney Challenge. This has given me a base of 3,008 km (1,869 mi) and 18,032 metres (59,160ft) elevation since January 1st. I will finish the Challenge on the road in Tasmania and New South Wales.

We have named ourselves The Rowdy Roos…whether we see any kangaroos or not, we definitely will be a bit rowdy….look out down under!

Speaking of down under, the main reason for travelling all this way is to ride the circumference of Tasmania on Bike Odyssey’s UnderDownUnder.

This is a trip I’ve wanted to do for about 5 years but it kept getting bumped for some inaugural Bike Odysseys (Othello, The Odyssey, Vikings, and  Shogun). The UnderDownUnder cycling tour will be 1,658 km (1,030mi)and 26,000 metres (85,302 ft)elevation, 22 days,on road and gravel.

From Tasmania the trip will take me to the nation’s Capital, Canberra, where I will reunite with some friends and ride some their roads, really looking forward to this conclusion to my Australian adventure.

            
Maybe the Devil made me do it, but it will be the Tasmanian variety!