Cold beer and crocociles : A bicycle journey into Australia

A fantastic look at an Australia that few tourists, much less citizens get to see and experience. The author cicumnavigates Austalia on a bike, and sees all that makes Australia unique. He also meets some wonderful people along the way.
This is a fantastic read.

Roff Smith is an American who'd been living in Australia for fifteen years when he realised he didn't know a whole lot about his adopted country and rather than cracking an atlas or taking a course, he decides he's going to load a bicycle and head north from Sydney one Sunday in July. He mixed inland travel with coastal beaches and desert outback and the refreshing thing about this, as compared to some other travelogues was that it wasn't a minute-by-minute account of his trip. By the same token, there were parts I wanted to know more about. Reading this book in the Build Up (to my trip North, not the Monsoon) just increased the travel itch--I want to see the whole country. Yes I know that's not feasible or practical, but doesn't mean I show more don't want to try. He mixes spur of the moment fun--a fishing trip with mates he just met, helping to shear sheep at a huge station outside of Longreach--with the mundane reality of life on the road--facing having to backtrack after an impromptu detour, long waterless stretches of the Nullarbor to make a very good book. And while I'm sure he saw a lot more than I will, I'm glad I won't be seeing this country on two wheels. show less

My second favorite bicycling adventure book. I learned so much about Australia reading it. (My favorite is Miles from Nowhere [bc:Miles from Nowhere|343994|Miles from Nowhere|Barbara Savage|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347475385s/343994.jpg|334335] by Barbara Savage).

Not done with it yet, but this book is so good. Funny and interesting - it really gives a feel for the adventure that Roff is taking.

A great book for cycling people, travel readers, and those interested in a good story.

My second favorite bicycling adventure book. I learned so much about Australia reading it. (My favorite is Miles from Nowhere [bc:Miles from Nowhere|343994|Miles from Nowhere|Barbara Savage|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347475385s/343994.jpg|334335] by Barbara Savage).

My second favorite bicycling adventure book. I learned so much about Australia reading it. (My favorite is Miles from Nowhere [bc:Miles from Nowhere|343994|Miles from Nowhere|Barbara Savage|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347475385s/343994.jpg|334335] by Barbara Savage).

My second favorite bicycling adventure book. I learned so much about Australia reading it. (My favorite is Miles from Nowhere [bc:Miles from Nowhere|343994|Miles from Nowhere|Barbara Savage|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347475385s/343994.jpg|334335] by Barbara Savage).