Outback Diaries!
Click and read about Sean's bike tour through the middle of Australia in just 89 days in 2002. An incredible, riveting read of a trip that was just preparation for the Cape to Cape trek.
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Bicycle Touring the World for Sustainability:
Cape to Cape Tour

The Event

As an experienced cyclist and globetrotter, avid writer and freelance photographer I am currently on my Bicycle Touring the World for Sustainability: Cape to Cape Tour. This expedition of up to 15,000KM / 12 months, is being made by bicycle from South East Cape (Cockle Creek), Tasmania to Cape Finisterre, Spain. In 2006 my expedition was endorsed by WaterAid Australia and in late 2007 I commenced fundraising for the NGO through the web site www.everydayhero.com.au/WaterCycle In 2007 I spent 6 months working as a volunteer for WaterAid Australia to promote and fundraise for their NGO. During the course of my expedition I have fundraising for the NGO WaterAid Australia. Also I am carrying out the Cape to Cape Tour to promote sustainable and environmentally responsible travel.

The source of my inspiration all began in 2002 when I successfully completed a solo bicycle tour across the Australian continent from Melbourne to Darwin, covering a distance of 5000KM. During the challenging course of 90 days it became a trial test for me physically and mentally as preparation for my grander vision, the Cape to Cape Tour. In 2007 I self-published my travelogue of this tour - The Outback Bicycle Diaries.

The Bicycle

My objectives are to promote maximum use of the bicycle as a form of responsible and environmentally sustainable transport, one that has a minimal impact on the planet. During the course of the Cape to Cape Tour my number one mode of travel is on bicycle, which has been assembled by one of my sponsors and through my own additional accessory expenditure. It was through the generous support of Dirt Works Australia Pty Ltd., and Brunswick Street Cycles who have provided me with a Surly - Long Haul Trucker bicycle and accessories. The use also of a Rohloff Speedhub 500/14 internal hub gearing system has been sought from Rohloff Australia.

Who's it For

There are a number of reasons why I am making my Cape to Cape Tour - apart from a spirit of adventure. It is my deepest desire to assist others to share in an activity I enjoy and feel can be of greater benefit. In 2006 I was endorsed by WaterAid Australia to voluntarily promote and fundraise for their Non Government Organization (NGO) through the activity of the Cape to Cape Tour. WaterAid is an international NGO dedicated exclusively to the provision of safe domestic water, sanitation and hygiene education to the world's poorest people.

I have sought business sponsorship with a good level of success. Business sponsors are already gaining some benefits from my project. Whether it is financial backing or in-kind assistance, small or large, the sponsors will gain added exposure and sustained interest through my activity and its associated causes. For example the successful completion of my Cape to Cape Tour on the purpose-built touring bicycle will best demonstrate the technology employed in such an adventurous expedition. The suppliers of the components, items and products used on or for my expedition will gain benefit after they have been tried and tested under the conditions I expect to push them through.

All financial and in-kind sponsors of my Cape to Cape Tour receive acknowledgements, these are presented in a number of ways. Credit is given to them on my web page, with name and / or logo as URL to their own web page(s). Acknowledgements of further sponsorship will be made in a second edition of my book after the completion of the tour.

Publicity

Already I have gained some publicity for my proposed Cape to Cape Tour, this being on the WaterAid Australia web site, through the highly successful sales of my travelogue The Outback Bicycle Diaries and with added interest at public presentations given. During the course of the tour I have been documenting the journey through photographs and a written journal, as well as giving the occassional slide shows presentations on my Outback Australia bicycle tour.

I expect to have a good level of media exposure after the successful completion of the expedition. I intend to publish articles related to my activity of bicycle touring in magazines and web media. These I have been approaching recently with some added interest.

Also I intend to mount a photographic exhibition in Melbourne immediately upon the completion of the Cape to Cape Tour. If I am successful into completing my expedition I hope to produce a travelogue of the journey - Cape to Cape, in the immediate months following its completion. A potential photo-essay is also planned, a proportion of its profits going towards the endorsing NGO WaterAid Australia.

Logistics of the Cape to Cape Tour

The Cape to Cape Tour is an unassisted and solo tour, travelling over 15,000KM on bicycle in its entirety and approximately half way around the world! 5000KM has already been completed on my Melbourne to Darwin Tour in 2002. The Cape to Cape Tour is divided into Three Stages.

Stage One: Melbourne - Darwin

In 2002 I completed this stage of the journey on bicycle, covering a total distance of 4915KM over a period of 90 days.

Stage Two: Singapore - Cape Finisterre, Spain

On Thursday 18th September 2008 I commence the journey abroad. This has been the long-haul. After flying from Melbourne to Singapore I travelled by bicycle through Malaysia and Southern Thailand before a second flight took me to Kathmandu in Nepal. Some ferries and long train journeys will be made to overcome visa restrictions and seasonal extremities. However when possible the journey is being made by bicycle.

The reason for the two "Capes" chosen is symbolic. South East Cape (Cockle Creek) Tasmania is about as far south as one can get in Australia on bicycle and is located at 43 degrees south, while the point of my chosen destination of Cape Finisterre, once considered the-end-of-earth by the medieval traveller on his pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, is at 43 degrees north. It also has other meanings for my own modern day journey, which is a kind of pilgrimage for social and environmental causes. I have also effectively utilized my 2002 Melbourne to Darwin bicycle tour as a legitimate stage of the expedition, it was the source of inspiration for the Cape to Cape Tour.

Timing is crucial, taking into account the seasons, gaining accessibility and effectiveness into completing the Cape to Cape Tour. During the course of the journey I have had to make adjustments as a response to social unrest or disturbances - particularly this was the case with my original proposal to travel via Pakistan and Central Asia of which I had to unfortunatey abort. It is in my best interests as a traveller to engage with the local populations en route, in a way that is socially responsible, respecting their culture, while being most insightful.

The Cape to Cape Tour has taken me, after SE Asia across Nepal and from Mumbai to Cape Comorin, the southern most tip of India. After my itinerary change when concerning Pakistan I decided to fly from Delhi to Damascus, Syria from where I commenced cycling into Turkey where the journey to Istanbul is being made. From Istanbul I will make my way into northern Greece and southern Italy, travelling the Appian Way and the via Francigena. Then I will cycle across the island of Corsica, ferry to Marseille, and from there up to Le Puy-en-Velay, the official beginning of the ancient pilgrimage pathway of St James. 1500KM later and via Moissac, towards journeys end at Cape Finisterre, along the Camino de Santiago de Compostela.

From Spain I will fly home via London where I expect to make a public presentation of my Cape to Cape Tour. London also being the world headquarters for WaterAid.

Stage Three: South East Cape (Cockle Creek) - Devonport, Tasmania

This 489KM part of the journey will be made over a period of 14 days in 2010. It will be symbolically the part of my Cape to Cape Tour. In 2007 I made a 1700KM bicycle tour of Tasmania and the ride I propose in 2010 will be part of my post Stage Two - Cape to Cape Presentations Tour.

The Cape to Cape Tour's Budget

Through my own travel experience and research using up to date guide books I estimate the min daily budget of my expedition to be from AUD $15 - $40 per day. This excludes in-kind assistance or other further sponsorship en-route. With the inclusion of travel insurance, flight, train and ferry fares, bicycle maintenance, photographic costs and other extras (such as Travel Visas, postage and internet usage) the overall budget for the The Cape to Cape Tour will be approx. AUD $15,000 min. I expect to raise some income from the sales of the Outback Bicycle Diaries as PDF Downloads from my web site. However much of the tour's entire budget comes from my own personal savings and earnings.

The Cape to Cape Tour's Presentations:

While undertaking my Cape to Cape Tour I have made several informal presentations along the way. However it has been through the promotion of my web JOURNAL page where I have primarily reached my audience. After the successful completion of my Cape to Cape Tour, I propose to make an Australia wide presentations tour.

Importantly the activity of my Cape to Cape Tour has be a vehicle to promote my endorsing NGO WaterAid Australia, their cause the stated reason why I am carrying out my expedition. All Donations towards WaterAid Australia are made on-line and metered via Everyday Hero at /www.everydayhero.com.au/WaterCycle

My endorsement by WaterAid Australia, of the Cape to Cape Tour, has been a positive and constructive message for sustainability in the developing world. I expect to reach a wide audience during the course of my tour and importantly raise funds for a highly worthy organization. Further activity arising from the Cape to Cape Tour will do so even more broadly after the expedition's completion.

Cape to Cape for water