Sheba Rides Australia

Amanda and Sheba right before a massive Australian journey

A travel diary and blog written by Flying Solo Gear Co founder, Amanda Phoenix as she completes a full 18,000km, 40-day journey around Australia on a 2007 Suzuki GSXR600 sportbike.

Riding clockwise from Melbourne, she writes about:

  • Numerous near misses with wildlife
  • Her experience spending weeks on the saddle in the dusty red Outback
  • Having to tough out 60km of 4WD-Only track on a bike designed for the opposite
  • 6 deep water crossings following a cyclone in Northern WA
  • Camping amongst the insects and frogs (she's not a fan of frogs)
  • Finding her way to the nearest town using only the light of the moon
  • Adjusting a needy chain on the side of the road
  • Losing a footpeg at the worst possible time, and making a new one
  • Her strategies in riding in extreme heat, during cyclone warnings, through torrential downpours, and on bald and squared off tyres
  • Making her way all the way home keeping the shiny side up - almost
  • Crossing the Nullarbor, watching an Uluru sunrise, visiting the Daintree Rainforest, and chats with the locals throughout Australia

 

 

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The Journey

Amanda and Sheba near Esperance WA

Day 1: Melbourne to Adelaide - The First KM

Day 2: Adelaide to Ceduna - The First Taste of Loneliness

Day 3: Ceduna to Madura - The Nullabor in all its glory

Day 4: Madura to Esperance - The 90 Mile Straight test of endurance

Day 5: Esperance to Albany - The BROWN PANTS DETOUR

Day 6: Albany to Margaret River - The First Corner of the Country

Day 7: Margaret River to Perth - The World's Most Isolated City

Day 8: Perth to Cervantes - Camping Under a Cloud of Bats

Day 9: Cervantes to Denham - The Pinnacles Desert

Day 10: Denham to Monkey Mia - Playtime with the Dolphins

Day 11: Denham to Nanutarra - The Start of the Red Country

Day 12: Nanutarra to Port Hedland - Wet Season Warning

Day 13: Port Hedland to Broome

Fitzroy Crossing water crossings on a motorcycle

Day 14: Broome WA to Halls Creek WA - The Brave Wet Journey

Day 15: Halls Creek to Kununurra - When Cows Outnumber People

Day 16: Kununurra to Katherine - Northern Territory Welcomes You

Day 17: Katherine to Darwin - Tropical Storms in the Top End

Day 18: Darwin City - Capital of Northern Territory

Day 19: Darwin to Daly Waters - Bras on the Wall

Day 20: Daly Waters to Devils Marbles - Karlu Karlu Up Close

Three ways roadhouse heading to Alice Springs on motorcycle

Day 21: Devils Marbles to Alice Springs - Seb's Alpine Ski Hut

Day 22: Alice Springs to Uluru - Preparing to Meet a Legend

Day 23: Exploring Uluru - The Sacred Monolith

Day 24: Uluru to Alice Springs - The Biggest Backtrack Ever

Day 25: Alice Springs to Devils Marbles - Back and Ready for More

Day 26: Devils Marbles to Mount Isa - A Single Turn into Queensland

Day 27: Mount Isa to Normanton - The Savannah Way

Day 28: Normanton to Cairns - Sleeve of Wizard

Day 29: Cairns City - The Chain Saga

Day 30: Cairns to Port Douglas - Birthday Footpeg Party

Day 34: Port Douglas to Townsville - Cyclone Debbie has Come and Gone

Day 35: Townsville to Rockhampton - Beating the Flood Rush

Day 36: Rockhampton to Brisbane - Losing My Soul to Highways

Day 37: Brisbane to Byron Bay - Finding My Inner Peace

Day 38: Byron Bay to Coffs Harbour - Nude Pizza and Kate

Day 39: Coffs Harbour to Sydney - Old Friends in The Harbour City

Day 40: Sydney to Melbourne via Canberra - The Final Adventure

Traveling to the Great Barrier Reef by boat under the Australian Flag