I started from Sydney together with other cyclists. Tom, Toco and Jeff did a weekend tour to the Royal National Park south of Sydney. As we started Tom said in proper German “Auf Los gehts los!” (off we go or let’s go). I didn’t heard this slogan for years and I had to laugh about it. Jeff leaded us on a cycle path out of the city. The Royal National Park was hilly, we often had to wait for Toco, it was his first long cycle tour. But we were not in a hurry, our daily target was 60 km and in the end we did 80 km. Jeff took us to Wattamolla Beach, where daring visitors jumping from the cliffs in a lagoon. It was very beautiful. Jeff had to go back on the same day. But Tom and Toco stayed with me in Scarborough, where we camped next to a surf club. On the next morning we cycled together to Wollongong. There Tom and Toco took the bus back to Sydney.

I stayed in Wollongong, I had to do some more paper work that couldn’t wait. I had to do my tax return, the deadline is the 31.10. and we had the 27.10. I was sitting in a park over the form and tried to understand what I have to put into it. Then a man came along, saw me with my cycle and offered me to stay at his home. His name is Cohen, I was happy that he picked me up. At his home I could use his computer and internet to do my tax return with the software e-tax. One week later my effort got rewarded with nearly one grand, that I’ve got back from my work time from April till end of June. My host showed me where he cycled in Canada (his Blog http://bike.veganarky.net). He also provided me with information about the Snowy Mountains, where I want to go next after Canberra.

From Wollongong I cycled to Nowra. On the way I stopped in Warrawong to buy me a new sleeping bag that keeps me warm. Because I had only a 10 $ sleeping bag which was to thin and short. The forecast for Canberra predicted -2° C in the night. In Nowra I bought enough food for the next three days. From Nowra to Canberra it is nearly 200 km and on my way through the Morton National Park is no supermarket. The road through the National Park was contrary to expectations asphalted. It was new, not one year before it was an unsealed road refer to my map. I had to climb up to 700 m. I didn’t had to climb so high for a long time, but the Snowy Mountains on my way will be higher. There was one pub in a little village called Nerriga where I refilled my water. The road was easy to go, there was not much traffic. When I cycled after the National Park through a valley it was difficult to find a place to camp, because next to road was a never ending fence on both sides. Behind the fence were sheep and cattle ranches. So I asked in the evening at one of these ranches if I can camp there. The owner had no problem and mentioned that I’m already the third german cyclist who camped on his ground. On the next morning, the 31.10. I arrived in Canberra.