Udeni has been enjoying a variety of accommodation throughout his journey, including motels, road houses, caravan parks and even a cleaner’s shed when there was no room available. But the most interesting has been his Bush Camps. So far Udeni has set up Bush Camps 13 of the 37 nights of his journey to date.When Udeni finishes cycling for the day and he is not anywhere close to a town he sets up camp under the stars, in a spot further from the road not visible to passersby. Sometimes when he can see rain coming he needs to act fast and quickly find a suitable site to pitch a tent, The worst situation Udeni says in bush camp is that if everything gets wet you risk getting very sick. He says that on the Nullabor the rains can go for two hours straight.
“Once I’ve found the spot I park my bike, unload it and then try to conceal it as best as I can. I need to clear the site including an area for my tent and a place to do my cooking. I then begin to pitch the tent and also take out anything I need for my meal that night. I’ve got to be careful how much stuff I leave out though, because there are bull ants everywhere. Once I had a problem where bull ants got into my tent- and they’re vicious!!”
When asked what he does for food, this turns out to be more of a mission than expected! “I try to start cooking two hours before sunset. My GPS gives me the time of sunset for my particular location. Using a Trangia (camping stove) I first prepare a soup and then my main course of rice and lentils (easy to carry and a substantial meal). I mix a sachet of tuna fish and add some seasoning and wash it down with a cup of green tea. During this time I listen to my radio- news and weather; one of the small luxuries I have (another is the little camping stool I carry, to sit on)!”“Water is precious, so a wash is just a rub down with a damp face towel. Nights are freezing cold but I have a -5 degree sleeping bag which keeps me quite warm. I need ear plugs as it gets extremely loud on this road with trucks passing by throughout th
e night. The GPS has been useful because it helps me to plan the day ahead. It lets me check the profile of the route, how hilly it is, what the roads are like, the type of accommodation available and so on.
e night. The GPS has been useful because it helps me to plan the day ahead. It lets me check the profile of the route, how hilly it is, what the roads are like, the type of accommodation available and so on. “I wake up at 5am every morning to an alarm because it takes a good three hours to get ready to leave in the morning; to prepare myself for the riding day and to pack the gear on to the bike in the right and most economical way. By the time I’m done with this and after a breakfast of two minute noodles, it’s around 8:30am and I’m ready for another day’s work!”
