great shape.”
Despite his great life, Paolo felt his life wasn’t fulfilled,
that he needed more to accomplish more.
“I felt that I was spending my life working, worrying
about a future which I truly never had the certainty of.”
It’s a realisation that is wise beyond Paolo young years.
He didn’t know why he was doing the things he was.
There’d been personal achievements, yet for what. Paolo
was questioning what he had really achieved.
“I had to go through some personal rough times,” Paolo
becomes philosophical. “To realise that life is really frag-
ile, and it could change in an instant.”
Paolo had been hit by death; family and friends lost
from all but memories. Life changing moments that had
a profound effect and set events in motion.
“My father died in a horrible way,” it’s hard but im-
portant to hear. “Right after his retirement after a life of
work.
“I had another friend, that passed suddenly, leaving a
beautiful wife, two kids and a successful career.
Tragedy continued as another friend was diagnosed
with brain cancer and although the prognosis was favour-
able, everything combined made Paolo reassess his own
life.
“I felt that an ‘accomplished life’ meant really nothing,”
he suggests with forthright conviction. “I had to find my
own meaning to it.”
Riding Australia was the start of what was to become
a self-assessment that is rarely acknowledged by most.
While exploring the vast southern continent and its
complete emptiness Paolo started to feel small and per-
haps insignificant, a sensation that he came to enjoy and
appreciate. It was a realisation that perhaps we are just
visitors on this planet.
“I love the vast and desolate places (of Australia),” he
fondly remembers. “I love the silence and the incredible
power of the land. I’m mesmerised by the energy of the
oceans. It’s extreme … and not afraid of showing who’s
the landlord.
“I feel great when I’m humbled by the greatness of
mother nature. Australia is the only country I’ve crossed
where I feel that I am truly just a visitor.”
Paolo discovered Australia and Australia helped Paolo
discover himself. He was provided with the courage and
confidence to push forward and continue around the
world.
While Australia provided many favourable moments,
Paolo suggests that the closest country to Australia in
people, culture and vastness, Canada perhaps provided
the complete opposite. He takes it with good humour and
laughs as he explains that he was the victim of numerous
road rage incidents as well as having bags stolen from his
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