18/01/2025
Crossing the Nullarbor was a unique experience, a mix of emotion and adrenaline. Now, looking back I smile: I crossed the fifth desert of my life and perhaps for the first time I experienced some more fear. In Ceduna I stop to rest, I decide to stay two nights, I have too much tiredness and accumulated tension to get rid of. During the day off I practically always stay in bed, except for a short outing, just to eat something.
I start the journey to Adelaide going from the scorching heat of 45 degrees to the 15 degrees I find in the morning when I leave, with the rain that catches me by surprise. During the journey I plan to meet Julie Pond, the President of the Vespa Club Melbourne and the Vespa Club Australia, she is on holiday with her husband Greg, strictly on a Vespa. I have been in touch with Julie for months, she has helped me a lot by giving me useful information and also alleviating some anxiety on the Nullarbor. We tell each other anecdotes, laugh and exchange the symbols of our respective VCs. I get emotional when Greg takes his personal band off the Vespa and gives it to me, a gesture full of meaning for me. It's incredible how much this passion unites us, even if we come from distant worlds. It's time to start again, we both have a long way to go, we leave each other hoping to see each other in Rome on the occasion of the Vespa World Days 2026.
I am in the middle of nowhere, I see on the right side of the road, therefore opposite me, a person walking, with a cart in front, as if it were a stroller, he has a yellow fluorescent jacket, very dirty and worn, a straw hat with a dark net all around, to protect his face from the flies. I see him at the last moment, but I have time to give him a couple of trumpet blasts and raise my hand in greeting, I see in the rearview mirror that he waves back. I continue, but after about a kilometer I reflect on the fact that perhaps I am missing the opportunity to meet a special person, to hear a life story, it is not normal that someone is there, on foot, alone, with this cart in front..., I go back and go to meet him. His name is Alex, a young man who has been walking for 387 days to complete the perimeter of Australia on foot, he leaves me speechless. To my question "Why on foot?" he answers "I want to live at my own speed," with a smile that transmits a contagious inner peace. At that moment I understand that travel is not just movement: it is connection, discovery, a way of being. I leave inspired and happy to have crossed his path.
Adelaide welcomes me with her vitality, Paul from the Vespa Club Adelaide offers me a place for my Vespa and organizes a meeting with other Vespa riders. Between chats, laughter and a splendid Vespa tour to Windy Point, time flies. I decide to stay one more night and spend New Year's Eve in the city. In the evening I go out on foot, hoping to find some organized public event and in fact on the river bank thousands of people have gathered together to celebrate the arrival of the New Year. At midnight the fireworks arrive, lighting up the entire city center and reflecting on the river bed forming strange plays of color. I see all the people celebrating with their families, couples, friends and this makes me feel alone, homesickness takes over, a sensation that I feel a lot during the holidays. At the same time I feel incredibly alive, aware that I am living a unique experience and that next time I will no longer be alone.
The Great Ocean Road is pure magic, since the early stages of organizing this trip I knew that these 250 km of coast are considered among the most beautiful in the world and now I'm about to travel them. Before starting this coastal route I met Herb, an Italian cyclist who had been a guest of my B&B in Italy, he welcomed me into his home with the lively and authentic enthusiasm of his entire family. I set off again and the show immediately begins, every curve reveals breathtaking views: pristine beaches, imposing cliffs and infinite oceans with shades of blue that make the sea on the horizon one with the sky. I'm excited, I stop everywhere along the road to take photos, breathe in the beauty of nature and enjoy every moment.
In Melbourne, the first thing I do is go to Vespa House, a historic workshop run by Frank, an Italian immigrant who has been repairing Vespas in the heart of the city since 1956. Stefano, the mechanic, also Italian, and Dean, Frank’s son, welcome me and my Vespa as if we were family. It always makes me happy to see how my Vespa, with all its modifications and scars from the journey, is admired. The workshop is an incredible place, full of history and passion. I spend the whole day there without realizing it. So, a tire was changed, the broken stand was replaced, the engine oil was changed, the accelerator was adjusted, 1 liter of oil for the mixture. How much do I owe you? “Nothing,” but how come, no no… and there begins a tense negotiation that leads us to agree on the payment of 100 AUD, or 60 euros. Like in Perth, here too you feel the authentic pleasure of being able to help a Vespa rider who comes from far away.
Sydney is a riot of memories and new adventures. I cross the Harbour Bridge on my Vespa, admire the iconic Opera House and return to Bondi Beach, reliving the emotions of Australia experienced 25 years ago when I was there for the 2000 Olympics. Sandy, from Scooter Meccanica, has been following me for days and is waiting for me, welcoming me into his extraordinary space, a mix of museum, workshop and paradise for every Vespa enthusiast. Everywhere I turn there is something that strikes me, I try to immortalize everything by taking photos and videos, but I realize that what I am breathing in that place I can not capture except in part.
I’ve been thinking about how to get out of Australia since Melbourne. The option of going by ship from Darwin is out of the question, the first container will be in mid-March and in any case between sailing and delivery of the Vespa a week earlier it will take a month. I evaluate various air shipping options, in the end Brisbane is the best option as it is well connected to Bali in Indonesia, where I want to continue my journey. The crate for the Vespa is quoted for between 1000 and 1550 AUD, which is a lot. Luckily I find the Ducati and Piaggio dealer Brisbane Motorcycles who kindly gives me a metal crate of the kind used to ship Ducati motorcycles from Japan to Indonesia. Every detail of the preparations for South-East Asia fits together perfectly, despite all its many snags and hitches.
Brisbane marks the culmination of my Australian adventure. As I travel the last kilometers, I think back to the 7,000 km crossed from West to East, to the desert, the cities, the faces and the stories. Australia has given me so many emotions and wonders that I will always carry with me. I say goodbye to this land with a full heart, ready to discover what the rest of the journey has in store for me. The adventure continues in Indonesia, where I arrived a couple of days ago and where I am waiting for my Vespa to arrive, I hope to get back on it by the middle of next week.
