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Damien Kelly at the beginning of the Nullarbor Plain crossing. Image supplied.
Cycling solo across Australia to honour lives lost too soon
By Geoffrey Williams
Briefly …
A 67-year-old retiree is cycling solo and unsupported across Australia, driven not by distance but by purpose – honouring young lives lost and supporting a foundation built in their memory.
Perth retiree Damien Kelly is currently undertaking a 4,000km solo, unsupported cycling journey across Australia, a ride defined as much by its motivation as its physical demands. At its core, the journey is about honouring Callum (32) and Jake (31) Robinson, two Australian brothers who, along with their friend Carter Rhoad (33), were tragically killed while travelling in Mexico in 2024.
Damien is riding to raise awareness and support for the Callum and Jake Robinson Foundation, a not-for-profit established in their memory to help others “Live Bigger, Shine Brighter and Love Harder” and to create positive outcomes from an unimaginable loss.
“This ride is about honouring Callum and Jake and supporting something positive in their name,” Damien said. “Like many people, their story stayed with me, and this felt like a way to contribute, to do something meaningful and to help keep their memory alive.” By linking a deeply personal endurance challenge with a broader charitable purpose, the ride aims to generate awareness, build support for the Foundation and reinforce the values it represents – resilience, compassion and connection.
Having departed Perth on 16 March 2026, Damien has now spent approximately 18 consecutive days on the road, covering an estimated 1,400 to 1,600 kilometres under his own power. Carrying all equipment required for the journey, he is riding entirely unsupported, relying on his own planning, resilience and adaptability.
“Carrying all equipment required for the journey, he is riding entirely unsupported, relying on his own planning, resilience and adaptability.”
Images: Damien Kelly’s Instagram
The journey has already reached a significant milestone, with Damien arriving at Border Village and officially crossing into South Australia – marking the beginning of the Nullarbor Plain crossing. Reaching Border Village represents both a symbolic and logistical turning point. The Nullarbor is widely regarded as one of Australia’s most challenging and remote cycling stretches – a landscape defined by vast, treeless plains, long distances between services, exposure to the elements and extended sections of uninterrupted road.
Unlike earlier stages through Western Australia, this phase demands careful management of supplies, energy and mindset. With limited shelter and minimal margin for error, the crossing is as much a mental test as a physical one – and, as Damien acknowledges, central to the character of the ride itself. The early stages have already delivered difficult and often unpredictable conditions. Strong and persistent side winds across Western Australia have played a major role in shaping daily progress, adding a significant layer of difficulty to an already demanding endurance effort.
“The crosswinds have been one of the toughest parts so far,” Damien said. “They hit you from the side all day. You’re constantly correcting and working just to stay in a straight line, which takes more out of you than you expect, especially when you’re doing it day after day.”
Despite these challenges, Damien has maintained steady forward progress, demonstrating physical resilience and mental discipline as he prepares for the defining stretch ahead. Following the Nullarbor crossing, the route will continue east through South Australia and into Victoria, taking in Ceduna, Kimba, Port Augusta and Adelaide, before heading south-east toward Mount Gambier and then along the Great Ocean Road to Geelong, where the journey will conclude.
This next phase will introduce more varied terrain, increased traffic and a gradual transition from remote to more populated regions. Even so, the demands will not ease. Sustained physical output, recovery across consecutive days and the cumulative fatigue of weeks on the bike will continue to test both endurance and consistency.
The Callum and Jake Robinson Foundation stands as a legacy of two lives lost too soon, focused on creating meaningful and lasting impact through initiatives aligned with its mission. Damien’s ride carries that message across Australia in a tangible and visible way – linking individual effort with collective purpose.
You can follow Damien’s journey and contribute to the cause via the following links:
Live tracking, making a donation, and on Instagram.
For more information or to support the Callum and Jake Robinson Foundation, please visit the Foundation’s website here.
Geoffrey Williams is The Solo Traveller Group’s Founder and Publishing Curator.