And we’re rolling, rolling, rolling…

Day 12: Queanbeyan, NSW
Distance cycled: 100km

Who would have thought?!?! (Not something you would expect to hear from someone – or 2 – who said they would cycle 4,500km to Perth) We made it to CANBERRA!

It was an early start, getting up at 5am for departure at 6am. It was still dark and chilly. Having to put away our tent full-o-creepy crawlies also put chills to our spine. Just a night before, we saw a palm-sized Huntsman spider ‘hanging out’ at the corner of our tent. Any noise we heard, Lukas suggested that the spider is chewing through our tent.

We enjoyed the sunrise as we rolled into Hume Highway towards Canberra. Less than a third of the way to our destination, we passed the Great Dividing Range. From then on, Sue’s imaginary picture came true: we were (mostly) rolling into Canberra! The conditions could not have been better: clearing blue sky, some breeze despite the sun shining, a bit of tailwind if any wind at all, wide shoulders along the highway, and a crazy couple on their push-bikes dreaming away.

We continued along the Federal Highway, partially hoping to find a service station along the way to take a break and have lunch. We never found one. But there were many rest areas along this Remembrance Driveway, which were dedicated to Australians who were awarded the Victoria Cross for acts of valour and extraordinary personal courage in WW II and Vietnam.

One of the highlights of the day was when a Wicked camper honked at us. It was Glen and Gail! We met this ‘Just Married’ couple from Saskatchewan, Canada at the campground the day before when we were making dinner at the camp kitchen. Glen and Gail shared some fun stories including a couple who cycled for a year from Canada to Mexico and back. They were planning to head to Canberra too and said they would pull over if they spot us on the highway. And they did! It was a pleasant surprise. Thanks for the stop and picture, Glen and Gail!

Before 3pm, we arrived in Queanbeyan! WE MADE IT!! It felt good… ;=)

Locations: [NSW] North Sydney - Heathcote - Coledale - Wollongong - Robertson - Moss Vale – Goulburn - Queanbeyan