Exploring the world in tandem

CIRCUMNAVIGATING Australia on a tandem bike during 2021's COVID restrictions became the catalyst for former locals Justin and Sharon Scholz's current adventure: setting off on a 200,000km cycling/walking/running journey around the world. Currently in the throes of completing what's expected to be a 10-year odyssey overseas, the couple recently chalked up their 100,000th kilometre on a tandem bicycle while riding in Peru. Their path to the round-the-world journey began in 2009, when Sharon first started representing Australia at world, Commonwealth and Asian 24-hour running championships and the couple would take bicycles with them to tour before returning to Australia. "This saw us cycle from Manchester to Rome, around Germany and the Netherlands, from Austria to Poland, and around the UK and Ireland," Justin explained. "We did other trips including a loop of Japan and cycling from New York to Minneapolis in the USA. "Then, about 10 years ago, we looked sideways at each other and asked if we could ever cycle around the world. "That wasn't a goal then, but gradually, our decision-making in life started to lead us in that direction; not replacing an older car, not buying new clothes, all sorts of little things that wouldn't have made sense if indeed we did decide to sell or give away everything and take off." Like many people, Justin and Sharon had travel plans scuttled by COVID in 2020 - in their case a six-day walking event in Hungary followed by cycling around the Black Sea. "Instead of doing nothing, we decided to circumnavigate Australia," Justin said. "We decided prior to starting that journey, in 2021, that if we were fulfilled by it, that it would be the catalyst for taking on a world cycling lifestyle." While they faced a couple of obstacles around border closures and restrictions on that cycle journey, Justin and Sharon arrived home in Wangaratta near the end of October 2021, with plenty of knowledge and inspiration to finalise plans for their bigger trip. It took three years for the couple to sell property assets, cars and other material possessions, and to ensure that regulatory and legal needs were covered so they could continue to exist as Australian citizens and fulfill their national obligations while overseas for an extended period. "This is more challenging than it seems, with voting requirements, banking issues, residential address and contact requirements, and taxation," Justin said. They also needed to hand over the running of the Wangaratta Marathon and Fun Run, which they established in 2011, and involvement in many other events and activities. For the journey itself, Justin said he assumed the couple could cycle about 20,000km per year (an average of about 54km per day). "Though we cycled the equivalent of 33,000km per year when we looped Australia, we only cycled during that trip; we did virtually no running, walking or strength work, and when we got back to Wangaratta, our bodies felt tired and weak," he said. "We knew for a longer world journey that we would need to manage our whole-of-body fitness and strength better; that's why the cycle portion is now smaller, but we also do a lot of walking and running (averaging about 40km per week), and just over an hour a week of strength work for our core, back and upper legs." Based on his estimates, Justin etched out a course, and the couple decided to invest "up to, but not a single day longer than" 10 years in a travelling-by-bicycle lifestyle, with occasional returns to Australia factored in. "From the big plan, we then just complete more detailed planning as we go, usually with a very firm plan at least 12 months in advance, to ensure we don't get stuck in extremely difficult weather such as cycling across Canada in the middle of winter or through the Sahara Desert in the middle of summer," Justin said. "The longer plans also give us focus and commitment, and we both like that. Neither Shaz nor I are the type of person to get up today and start asking questions about what we might like to do - we get out of bed with purpose." The couple began their journey in Europe in May 2022, and did three loops of the continent and the UK while also completing four ultra-distance walking events. "Then we cycled south through Spain and took a ferry to Morocco, looped Morocco, flew to Cairo, cycled from Cairo to Capetown in South Africa, flew to the south of South America, and cycled north and west to Santiago, Chile, then across to Buenos Aires in Argentina, north and east again to Asuncion, Paraguay, then into Brazil through Sao Paolo, and ultimately to Rio de Janeiro," Justin said. Justin's role as best man at a wedding of Australian friends in Mexico altered the original plan, but the couple spent some travel time in Brazil and flew back to Europe to again complete a number of ultra-distance walking events. "We then flew to Los Angeles and cycled to Las Vegas, then south and into Mexico, which allowed us to arrive in Cancun by bicycle nicely in time for the wedding," Justin said. From Mexico, they cycled south through all Central American countries, then flew from Panama to Colombia. "There is no navigable way through the Darian Gap; it's a plane or a boat, and we're not really water people, so the plane was our preference," Justin said. They then travelled from Colombia to Ecuador and into Peru, and crossed the border into Bolivia late last week: a distance of about 63,000km covered on their world trip. They are looking forward to a date at the ballet in Asuncion, Paraguay on 10 August, and will then fly to Vancouver in Canada and make their way back to Las Vegas by Christmas, along the Mississippi River and the old Route 66. Justin said the couple's view had altered as they travelled, and they now found the actual journey more fulfilling than reaching notable places on the map, though they have seen the Egyptian pyramids, Victoria Falls, Las Vegas Strip, Mexico City and Machu Picchu among many others. "We're keen for real, current and normal experiences with locals in the places we visit," he said. "We'd prefer an in-home meal and conversation with interesting people than visiting a famous site. "We still do undertake 'tourist' activities, and we do enjoy them, but they are not the focus of the journey." While the journey to date has involved sickness, border issues, a police arrest for taking photos in Tanzania, hot and cold weather, shortage of supplies and theft, Justin said he and Sharon felt their level of planning stood them in good stead to cope with adversity. They have also been buoyed by their interactions with people along the way. "Undoubtedly the biggest positive has been how wonderful the people of the entire world are," Justin said. "Western media makes places like Sudan, Ethiopia, Colombia and Honduras look dangerous; they're not - not even a bit. "Sure, they are different, and anyone travelling to these countries needs to have an open mind and try to understand, appreciate and engage within the culture they are exposed to, but people are good. "People in countries at war (like Sudan) see us as a novel interest and curiosity in their day. They only want to be supportive and encouraging, and are grateful that we would choose to visit them. "There is nowhere in the world that Sharon and I wouldn't visit, subject to being able to get the necessary permission. "Highlights generally are not one big 'wow' experience, but lots of little things along the way." He said he and Sharon remained fulfilled, stimulated and content. "We have no desire to stop doing this yet, but do remain committed to not allowing this part of our lives to extend even one day past 10 years," he said. "With this journey specifically, we can't get away from each other even if we wanted to, so a greater sense of understanding each other, tolerance, respect and support is needed. "Like any good marriage, we still have times when we fight and argue and don't talk to each other. "But we recognise that on a tandem bicycle, it's necessary and beneficial to get past any issues as quickly as possible. "We do have a tremendous amount of respect for each other, and a compelling desire to make the other person's life fulfilling."

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