After waking up this morning in the backyard of my very kind host, I decided it would be wise to take things a little easier today. The past 2 days have been a very long ride on the trike, covering close to 160 km, and my body was definitely feeling the effort. Instead of pushing on immediately, I stayed around the area and spent some time enjoying everything this beautiful part of Australia has to offer.

One of the things that continues to impress me on this journey is how friendly and welcoming everyone is. Almost everywhere I stop, people come over to say hello, ask about the trip, and wish me luck. Today was no different. I met several travellers and locals along the North Coffs Coast, people from all around the world who have come here to experience Australia’s incredible coastline and adventure. It’s amazing how quickly conversations start when people see the trike and hear about the journey.

Australia really is a spectacular country. The coastline here around the Coffs Coast is stunning — long sandy beaches, clear water, and a relaxed atmosphere that makes it easy to slow down and enjoy the moment. Instead of riding all day, I followed some recommendations from people I met and went snorkeling in the morning, which was a great way to recover after the long ride of the past few days.

Later in the day I spent some time surfing. I was lucky enough to be gifted a surfboard earlier in the trip, and although I am still very much a beginner, I can definitely say my surfing skills are slowly improving. I’m now able to catch a wave and ride it fairly successfully, which feels like a big achievement compared to when I first tried.

Another funny cultural thing I have noticed here in Australia is the coloured zinc people put on their faces when they go out in the sun. It almost looks like war paint! You see people with bright stripes of colour across their nose and cheeks. It comes in many different colours — and today I even tried purple zinc on my face, which made for a great photo.

Overall today was a lighter day on the bike, only a local 10km ride, but a really enjoyable one. Spending time with new people, enjoying the ocean, and taking in the beauty of the Coffs Coast reminded me why journeys like this are so special.

This evening I continued a short distance along the coast and will be sleeping somewhere near the beach tonight before continuing the expedition tomorrow.

Key takeaway: Such a beautiful area north of Coffs Harbour, nearly deserted beaches and lots of friendly people.