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Interview | ELSPETH BEARD
Q How did that experience change your life? A For me I think it was the fact I had succeeded and survived against all the odds, I came back a changed person, I was not afraid of anything. I learnt so much about myself as I had been tested to my limits, and this gives a sort of inner strength and confidence to tackle anything the world can throw at you. I would never take no for an answer (and still don’t!). If I couldn’t achieve something in one way I would go around it and tackle the problem from another direction. I learnt to think outside the box and be imaginative and resourceful, qualities I have applied to my life and work ever since. Q Knowing what you know, would you have done that trip? A Absolutely, without a doubt. It’s important to take yourself out of your comfort zone so you can learn about yourself.
Above: The '90-Mile Straight'
Riding out of Kathmandu, Nepal
on the Eyre Highway in Western Australia, one of the longest straight stretches of road in the world
traveller, and neither had Robert, so it was a rare sight in those days. We bumped into each other riding our bikes through the streets of Kathmandu. Catching sight of each other, we both stopped dead, jumped off our bikes and then sat on the side of the road and talked nonstop for over three hours. Robert was Dutch and had emigrated to Australia a couple of years earlier, but he hadn’t been able to settle so had decided to ride his bike back to Holland. Travelling with Robert changed my trip from day to day survival to something that almost started to feel like a holiday. The risks when travelling alone are far greater and mentally you have to be very strong. I had become weary of always having to sort out and deal with problems entirely on my own. Whether it was problems with my bike or being ill or simply trying to find the right road, just having someone to share and discuss things with made all the difference – it no longer felt like an endurance test.
Q What sort of things went through your mind when you were travelling long distances in a day? A Travelling across America at the beginning of the journey my thoughts were often of my boyfriend who had broken my heart just before I left. By the time I had ridden across Australia, I had put my demons to rest; crossing the continent had been so tough my mind had been occupied with just surviving. Much of the time I would be thinking about my bike and working out petrol consumption, when I would next have to fill up, my oil consumption and when I would next have to service her. I would think about my route and plan how far I would try and get the following day. I would calculate how much money I had left and work out how much I was spending a day. The fact that my funds were so limited was a constant worry, not knowing what lay ahead or what expenditures I would have, as the only fixed cost I had was fuel. Q Did you ever want to stop and turn back? A Turning back was never really an option; by the time I had reached Australia and I was on the other side of the world it was just as easy
SEPTEMBER 2017 | essence-magazine.co.uk 9
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