Off - day in Perth

I woke up around 3:45—probably a mix of jet lag and the fact that I’d already had plenty of sleep: 14+ hours on the plane and another 7 at the hotel. My body just had enough rest. I took my time in bed, but eventually got up around 9, craving breakfast, especially some eggs. So, I went for a quick run and found a place to eat.

Afterward, I decided to look for a camera store to check out lenses. I only brought my 35mm and 50mm lenses, and with my 300mm zoom still back in France, I knew I’d want more range for biking photos. I found a secondhand 18–105mm lens, which seemed perfect for the trip and opened up some new possibilities.

Later, I met up with Maria, Killian, and Brit, and we walked to Kings Park—a great chance to test out the new lens. When we arrived, Jess and Marcus joined us for a stroll through the botanical gardens, where we spotted some amazing birds and plants.

Maria and I decided to catch an Uber back to the hotel, but on the way, I noticed some sun flares I couldn’t resist capturing. I popped back into the camera store to see if they had a lens hood. They didn’t, but they suggested another shop, where I discovered a better lens than the one I’d just bought. It was only a few hours later, so I returned the first lens and upgraded to a more versatile 18–200mm—ideal for the entire trip.

Back at the hotel, I grabbed my laptop to catch up on admin work for the Eivor tour and plan the upcoming New Zealand trip with Michael. I treated myself to a cocktail by the pool while I worked.

Dinner was pizza, followed by a much-needed massage to tackle some serious tension in my neck that had been triggering headaches.

Chloé arrived in the evening, and since we’re sharing a room, I gave her some space to settle in. Meanwhile, I caught up with Ruben.

By 11:00 p.m., I was ready to turn in and see how long I’d sleep this time.Read more