EDITORIAL
TRAVERSE:
Is It In Your Head?
T
here seems to be
an
unwritten
law
in Australia that if
someone asks you
about a road you tell
them it's the worst
road in the world. No one ever seems
to say, "the roads good, won't be a
problem". This was the case recently
for the TRAVERSE team as we took to
Australia's north west.
All travellers, those on two wheels,
four wheels and in some cases six
wheels all said that the Gibb River
Road was deadly, "don't do it", they
said. "You'll kill yourself."
"It's remote and rough. You won't
get fuel and water is scarce."
As we travelled this iconic
Australian road we quickly realised
that the Gibb River Road was almost
the complete opposite. We came to the
realisation that perhaps those offering
advice had never really been on this
road or perhaps road conditions vary
according to a travellers experience,
perspection and state of mind.
We returned to south east Australia
down another iconic road, the Tanami
TRAVERSE 5
Track. Again we were warned about
the dangers, the remoteness, the lack
of fuel. In reality it was nothing like
this and actually a very enjoyable ride,
if taken slow and allowing enough
time to explore however, I had one
day that really took its toll. I lost it and
wanted to stop, give up, turn around.
For some reason that day my head
wasn't in the right place, everything
was frustrating me and I let my
travelling companions know about it.
I was quickly put back in my place.
Travel is all about experience, the
journey, what you learn. And, that
day, I learnt a lot. I discovered that no
matter how bad an experience is at the
time it can often be a great experience,
something to be cherished, something
to be remembered.
Coinsidently this issue of TRAVERSE
has a many stories of experiemce and
how one little thing can really make
the journey extra special, and after all,
isn't that why we travel by bike?
Leigh