Donation protected
Overview:
On the 3rd of June we (Sam and Zac) will be embarking on an almost 6000km bikepacking trip across Australia. Our journey will see traversing the vast and unforgiving Australian outback on our journey from Derby in the northwest to Melbourne in the southeast. Along the way we will pass through the unceded lands of many indigenous nations. In a small effort to give back we will be raising money for Pay The Rent, mutual aid program that distributes money to indigenous communities across Australia.
Pay The Rent:
Pay The Rent is a mutual aid program that encourages non-indigenous Australians to ‘pay the rent’ for the indigenous lands on which they live. Mutual aid is a system in which communities pool resources and skills to address challenges faced by the community. Paying the rent recognises that all non-indigenous are living on and benefitting from stolen indigenous lands that were never ceded. Pay the Rent collects these payments and distributes them amongst indigenous communities across Australia. All money collected will be distributed amongst indigenous communities across Australia. Decisions regarding the distribution of this money will be made by a Sovereign Body comprised of Aboriginal people from a range of first nations across Australia.
The Route:
Our route will take us on a 6000km journey across Australia's outback. Starting in Derby we will first venture through the Kimberly along the infamous Gibb River Road. We will then turn south and into the desert enroute to Alice Springs. After some respite in Alice Springs we will take a slight diversion to the heart of the country and the halfway point of our journey - Uluru. From here we will we resume our ride southeast through the Flinders Ranges and onto the Murray River before one final push south to Melbourne.
This will be the most difficult physical challenge either of us have undertaken. We will need to be prepared for both Australia's harsh climate and it's vastness. We will encounter both 40 degree temperatures during the day and sub zero temperatures overnight. As well as several stretches over 1000km between stores, and upto 300km between reliable water sources.
About us:
We met in a share house in Naarm/Melbourne’s north and bonded over a love of the outdoors and Sam’s part time kiwi heritage (which he claims when it suits him). The idea for the ride was born after long nights watching the Tour de France. Zac, on a whim concocted a route from Broome to Uluru, based on a Ride to the Rock route. Thinking it a laugh, Sam responded with additional kilometres to Melbourne. Neither of us wanting to show weakness suggested shortening the trip and alas we were now locked in to embarking on one of the biggest journeys of our lives.
There are two key reasons we feel compelled to complete this ride. The first, we both love the outdoors and want to experience the unique and diverse wilderness that Australia has to offer. Second, we want to learn more about the land we have both been living on and the peoples and nations that have cared for it for over 60,000 years. Both of us understand that we are from countries with a long and rich pre-colonial cultures and histories.
Co-organizers (2)
Samuel Reeves
Organizer
Batman, VIC
Zac Blakely
Co-organizer