In 2024, I flew into Perth, Western Australia from Sri Lanka after an already chaotic loop through the country, with a plan—loosely defined—to cross Australia by motorcycle. Within two weeks, I bought a 2011 Suzuki DR650, packed what I thought I’d need, and set off east across the southern route through Western Australia, South Australia, and into New South Wales. I rode across the Nullarbor—sleeping under the open sky without a tent, chasing daylight, and doing my best to stay warm through the cold desert nights. In just over a week, I covered roughly 2,500 miles (4,000 km), losing my license plate somewhere in the winds of South Australia before replacing it in Broken Hill. I eventually made it to a remote cattle station south of Lightning Ridge, where heavy rains stranded me and a blown clutch left the bike immobile. Isolated and low on supplies, I rationed what I had until someone returned to the property, giving me the chance to settle in and work for a time.