Starting My Australian Coast-to-Coast Journey

Daily miles 27.02 miles | Total miles: 6029.06

My alarm went off at 5am, but there was just no way. My body had reached a point of total exhaustion the night before, and my mind was still hazy. I finally got up around 5:45am, made myself a coffee, and slowly started piecing together the plan for the day. I asked someone for a place to sleep tonight, packed my gear, and said farewell to Vic, my kind host.

Despite the mental fog, my body and legs felt much better than the day before. And I felt excited—ready to continue my Australia run. Since I was staying close to the beach, I couldn’t resist doing a short loop to officially start this leg by the ocean. The sun was rising behind an overcast sky—a soft, quiet beginning for a big new chapter.

I followed bicycle paths for most of the way. At times, they were smooth and lovely; at others, they vanished without warning or twisted so tightly they made pushing the buggy a real challenge. But hey—built-in strength training, right?

I ran through peaceful parks lined with incredible tropical plants, giant trees, and vibrant flowers. Signs warned of wildlife like koalas and kangaroos (none spotted yet!). Some sections followed the motorway—rough and rugged in parts, sleek and elevated in others. The air was thick with humidity, and the birds were singing nonstop, adding to the tropical feel of the day.

About two-thirds in, I still hadn’t heard back from the place I had hoped to stay. I stopped on the sidewalk to rework the plan: a couple of phone calls, some quick research, a decision. Plans shift fast out here—and so do the skies. Dark clouds loomed, and though I’m not yet tuned into Australia’s weather, I’ve learned to expect surprises. I like to be ready.

Somewhere along the way, I realized I hadn’t stopped my watch during one of my breaks. Not a big deal—but funny how little things like that can bug me when they really don’t matter at all. Good reminders to keep perspective.

Eventually, I decided to book a hotel a bit earlier than planned. I didn’t want to push too far on only half a battery. There will be time to stretch the miles again soon—Australia’s a big place. Let’s start it with care.

The sun came out in full force toward the end. I stopped at a store for food, checked into my hotel (poor Wi-Fi again, but I’ve almost stopped being surprised), and had a simple dinner: salad, beans, hummus, bread. I also got my accommodation booked for tomorrow—small wins.

Now I’m off to sleep. A bit more rest, some gentler days, and I’ll be gold again. Thanks for following. Dream Big, my friends. Andrea