From a breakfast on the balcony with a multiculti crew, to cycling on a dirt track in the dense bush, to admiring the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge in the sun, to a record amount of bike-hate abuse hurled at me on the Pacific Highway. A day of differences.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge
It was peaceful and quiet in the Royal National Park. From a beautiful view on the cliff-faces above the coast, I plunged into the dense forest, leaving the main road for the little dirt track that followed a stream.
View from above
Royal National Park
Dirt track
Road block
Then a long trip into the city, swapping between cycling on the main highway, to trying to navigate my way down small bike paths, when I could find them. The weather was beautiful for my arrival in Sydney.
Opera House
Unfortunately the road-rage against cyclists continued. On the 20km stretch north from the city along the Pacific Highway, I had as much cyclist hate yelled at me (and tooted at me) than I have had on my whole 2-year trip from Europe (all of this hate has been in the last few months since I entered Australia).
Anyway, Sydney is a beautiful city, with lots of lovely family and friends living here. I’m looking forward to my time here to finish off an amazing 2016.
arctic-cycler.com 
Hi Mathew ,
We wensen je alvast vrolijke feestdagen en een inspirerend 2017!
Leuk om weer te lezen over je reis/avonturen!
Je schrijft ook over de ‘hate’ naar fietsers. Is het echt hate of schrikken de bestuurders van auto’s en vrachtwagens enorm van een fietser op een highway? Zoveel zullen ze dat misschien niet meemaken? Benieuwd!
Hartelijke groeten uit Delft!
Hoi Samira en Remco.
Ik zou het meer haat noemen. Frustratie omdat het verkeer is zo veel.
Ze gaan langzamer, open het raam, en schreeuwen ‘you’re a fucking wanker!’
Een heeeel fijne kerst toegewensd!
Glad you arrived safely. So what’s up with all this Aussie anti-bike-angst? Seems pretty narrow-minded.
It’s pretty silly but very present, unfortunately.
Hey,
Great photos 👍
I think the bike hatred is fueled by a few arrogant road rides blocking traffic. It’s been an on going battle for a long time. Down here in Melbourne riders deliberately block traffic and nasty people leave tacks on the road. Hope it hasn’t tainted your time in Aus.
http://spottymoz.com
Yes. There is some bad behaviour from both motorists and cyclists. 😦