About Me:
Call me Ishmael...or Scott. For those of you that know nothing about me my name is Scott Barnett and I am 30 years old. I grew up in California, Oregon and Washington; I just moved from Chicago to Lake Tahoe, Nevada, in order to train for this trip.
After graduating from college in 2000 I joined the Marine Corps. I served almost three years in Okinawa, Japan, as well as a tour in Iraq in 2004. While I enjoyed my time in the Marine Corps, I was ready for a change in scenery after 6 years of service. I left as a Captain in 2006 and took a job with Johnson & Johnson.
To my surprise, a year later I found that I was unsatisfied with life in corporate America. While in the military I thought that a six figure income and the freedom to take whatever job I wanted would make me happy. The fact is that I am not content with my life; proof that money does not make you happy. Don’t get me wrong, I work with friendly people and Johnson & Johnson is a wonderful company (very ethical and generous to their employees) - I just don’t think that many people who’ve lived my kind of itinerant, unique lifestyle can easily transition to the mundane stability of a sales job. The bottom line is that at the end of the day I am 30 years old and the window to do something extraordinary with my life is waning.
The two most common questions that people ask me regarding this trip are “why Australia?” and “why bicycles?” First, I have been lucky enough to travel to over 35 different countries on 6 continents, so I had a pretty good idea of where I wanted to travel next. Australia is a well-blended combination of eccentric personalities, sunburnt deserts, saturated rainforests, evolutionarily-confused fauna, and of course, stunningly beautiful women. Furthermore, my brother and I rode our bikes up the east coast of Australia in 1998 (pics here) and we had such a phenomenal time that we decided to go the full loop this time around.
As to the bicycles...I think it’s the best way to get to know a country and its people. You’re moving slowly enough to connect with the environment, yet quickly enough to cover substantial distances (40-75 miles a day). You’re overloaded bike draws interest and sympathy (sometimes pity) from the locals, as well as the occasional free meal and warm bed. The fact is that you are not a faceless tourist bent on ruining local beaches and destroying communities.
Pat and I will take up to a year to complete our trip. Upon my return to the states I will apply to Medical School.
Thanks,
