Hello dear followers,

Day 9 of the Brisbane to Melbourne expedition brought another memorable chapter in the journey down the Australian coastline. I set off again this morning from Crescent Head, heading south towards Port Macquarie. The previous day had turned into a spontaneous break from riding after meeting some friendly people who invited me to camp with them and even share a surf session. Encounters like these continue to remind me how welcoming people are along this journey, and they make the adventure even more special.

Today’s ride, however, proved to be quite challenging. Not long after leaving Crescent Head, the route took me onto a long stretch of dirt road that continued for more than 35 kilometres. Riding on dirt is very different from travelling on smooth bitumen or paved roads. The surface creates far more drag on the tyres, which makes the trike noticeably harder to pedal forward, especially when loaded with gear and towing a trailer. This means that both battery usage and pedal effort increase significantly compared with riding on sealed roads. On sections where the surface was loose or muddy from the rain, the resistance became even greater, and progress slowed considerably.

To make matters tougher, the weather turned against me for most of the day. It rained steadily while I was navigating the rough roads, which made the dirt sections heavier and more difficult to ride. Wet dirt roads can quickly become soft and sticky, and every kilometre requires more concentration and energy. Days like this are certainly not the easiest part of an expedition, but they are an important part of the experience and remind me that adventure touring is not always about perfect sunshine and smooth cycling paths.

After pushing through the long dirt section and the rainy weather, I eventually needed to stop and recharge my batteries to assist with my travels because this road was under a state of repair and the mud was terrible. Once again the kindness of people along the way made a big difference. A local resident kindly allowed me to recharge the batteries at their home, which helped me continue the final part of the journey towards Port Macquarie.

Despite the difficult conditions, there were still many highlights along the route. The landscape along this part of the New South Wales coast is beautiful, with stretches of forest, farmland and glimpses of the ocean appearing between the trees. At one point along the route I also crossed the Hastings river using a vehicular ferry service, which was a fun and slightly unexpected part of the day. Rolling the trike onto the ferry and heading quietly across the water offered a brief moment to relax before continuing the ride, and I forgot to mention how much of a novelty it was for the workers on the ferry who all thought I was crazy riding a tricycle to Melbourne. More good news, this ferry crossing is free for cyclists! I did think about going backwards and forwards on the ferry a few times just for fun, but I was cold, wet and tired and shelter and hospitality was not more than 10 minutes away.

By the time I arrived in Port Macquarie I was tired but very happy to have completed the day’s ride. Fortunately, a friend I met a few days ago had invited me to stay at his place for the night. After several nights of sleeping in a tent, being able to recharge the batteries, dry out my equipment and sleep in a proper bed is something I am extremely grateful for.

Days like today are not always the most enjoyable in terms of riding conditions, but they are an important part of the adventure. Every challenge adds another story to the expedition, and I know that many sunny and beautiful days are still waiting further down the coast even though it seems Australia is going through one of its wettest periods in many years.

If you would like to see more footage and updates from the journey, you can follow the adventure on Instagram at @beyond.nils.

Key Takeaway: Day 9 showed that expedition touring is not always smooth sailing — wet and sticky dirt roads, long detours and heavy conditions can make progress slow and demanding, but the generosity of people along the way and the incredible landscapes of coastal Australia make every challenging kilometre worthwhile.