Our last morning in Hobart, said a bientot to a few riders after breakfast, then taxi to the airport.

Flight to Canberra was uneventful on Qantas, was greeted by my friend Andrew whom I will be spending the week with. Andrew and I met on the Bike Odyssey Hannibal 6 yr ago and have stayed in co tact via Messenger and Strava.

The first I noticed when descending into Canberra was just how green everything was compared to Tasmania…and how modern the city was (this is not a sleight against Hobart or Tasmania which I found to be fabulous in its own way).

This weekend was a holiday weekend, Canberra Day, commemorating when Canberra became the official capital of Australia (previously Melbourne).

It was great to meet Andrew’s wife Amanda and visit their lovely home where they will welcome me for the next few days.

Canberra, what a city! and what has to be the envy of all countries Capital city.

The Canberra Day celebrations are hallmarked by festivals each night. Tonight the Hislop took me to an open air concert featuring well known Australian rock band Paul Seymour and the Headhunters and Collectors backed up by the full Canberra Symphony Orchestra, it was phenomenal and there had to be 5000 people in attendance. We had a couple of pints of local craft beer (cycling themed Bent Spoke Brewery) and vendor food

Literally hundreds of large fruit bats hanging in the trees waiting for the show to begin…they flew overhead once the music started until darkness descended upon us, quite eery!

Tomorrow we ride

Like fe is good in Canberra.