The Big Lap
Each Saturday night at work I listen to The Idlers on ABC radio. It's a spin-off program from the Coodabeen Champions, broadcast on Sunday nights. Amongst other travelling segments, The Idlers reports on people doing the Big Lap, or tour around Australia. Of late they have interviewed some really interesting venturers, such as...
- Rob Gray who with his wife is slowly travelling around Australia in a 6WD ACCO ex-army truck, converted to a motorhome.
- Jonathan Green, a Melbourne journalist took his family around Australia in 80 days, via a Landrover Discovery and pop-up trailer. Using a phone and laptop he posted a daily diary to a newspaper column which has now become a book.
- Llyod Scott an Englishman who is currently travelling coast to coast from Perth to Sydney - on a penny farthing bicycle ! Believe it or not.
- Dirk Gion who has been sighted by tourists and truckies for some weeks now, but not interviewed. Dirk, a German, has just crossed Australian on a kite-driven skateboard. Go figure.
I'm sure there are plenty more thrill seekers out there, and I may just do it myself one day. In a cab - in reverse !
The German bloke is having a great trip; I've been following his exploits. There is a great web site here with some terrific photos. Cheers.
Posted by: Ian | November 28, 2004 at 09:07 AM
Today's WA Sunday Times has a story about a Japanese couple who are travelling around the world on an electric scooter that has a range of 20km and a top speed of 30kmh. (they are carrying six batteries for the thing)
The male partner of these weirdos has been to Australia before, he rode a 50cc scooter from Perth to Kalgoorlie.
Prime candidates for the Darwin Awards.
Posted by: PQ | November 29, 2004 at 01:23 AM
This is a great post! I love the idea of not being tied down to anything and having the freedom to explore the whole of Australia. I showed my boyfried the link to Rob Gray's "truck" and now I think he wants to buy it! In fact, I'm so in awe of his "home on wheels" I may just write a separate post of my own about it. . .
Posted by: kimbofo | November 29, 2004 at 09:36 AM
Ian, that's a great link to a very professional website with fantastic images. Worth a visit, it has an English language option.
PQ, yes, 'weirdos' is the operative word here. Still an awesome trip which only lacks a website.
Kimbofo, you sure your man wants to shell out $175,000 ? You can still do what they're doing for probably half that...without the inevitable headaches. Though driving a beast like that is sure to muscle up your man - every night you'll have an 'animal' on your hands. You want that..?
Posted by: adrian | November 29, 2004 at 03:25 PM