Two days in a row now I have met interesting people who I thought might also be travelling on a bike. I talked to each and quickly realised they were both homeless. I guess I am technically homeless too (although I do have a very nice place to stay in Darwin). The first guy was sitting on a park bench on the esplanade, alongside a bike with a couple of rear panniers. I sat next to him for a five-minute chat during which time I just nodded and said ‘Oh yeah’ as he explained to me that he was personally responsible for building every Australian city. Canberra was just a hobby for him. He is in Darwin waiting to have a meeting with some important people before he can start on the next city that the world needs. The second guy was also called Mark and I met him on the wharf. He had a girl’s bike with a trailer. He was stoned and offered me weed. I politely declined but chatted to him about Darwin. He said he comes down to the wharf to sleep. He pointed me towards a couple of places I might be able to begin my enquiries into catching a boat to Asia. I had a lonely Saturday night tonight. I considered going to a bar on my own but ended up at home cooking dinner, drinking beer and watching tv.

Darwin’s beachfront