THE ABOVE PICTURE IS COPYRIGHT ANDREW AND JOANNE HOOKER – Adventure Cyclists from Perth Western Australia
Andrew and Joanne know of the use of the Picture and the contents of this page.

Our fellow cyclists and Adventurers Andrew and Joanne Hooker have abandoned their ride relatively close to their goal of “Three oceans on Three wheels ©”. I will reprint their statement here, it can also be seen on their website. They were instrumental in us starting our trip and provided the inspiration for us to pedal.

When we started this 3 Oceans on 3 Wheels trip we were filled with a ton of excitement, expectation and wonderment, and month after month as our trip progressed we experienced so many wonderful and amazing places, met so many wonderful, warm, hospitable and fabulous people. But as good as all of that was, as time has gone on and the miles have disappeared under our tyres we both began to enjoy the trip less and less, not so much because of the places we were seeing or the people we were meeting, but because the road is a hard task master and has been wearing us down physically and mentally.

For some time now we have been filled with indecision and wonder about where our trip has been heading and that somehow the dynamics of the trip had changed, the goal of reaching the Atlantic Ocean and thereby completing the 3 ocean trilogy no longer seemed that important any more. We spent quite some time considering a number of options but there was nothing that felt or seemed right, so the only logical conclusion was that it was time finish this ride, and to go home.

We have both recognised that we love the outdoors, especially being in the middle of nowhere, surviving by our own means and challenging ourselves, and we have also recognised that we are not good at the city to city, town to town thing.

So now it is onto another small adventure, getting ourselves and our gear home. We are fortunate enough to have friends back in Arizona where we can sort, clean, package and organise it all from, and that is where we will be while we sort it all out.

Over the course of our trip many of you have been sending us messages that encouraged us, telling us how much you have enjoyed riding vicariously with us, we have kept and cherish them all, and we thank you for them. Some of you will be disappointed with our decision to finish, we too are disappointed that the trip is over, but at the end of the day, we know that we have made the right decision.

We are not sure where life is going to take us next, hopefully there will be more tours, though maybe slightly shorter than this type of epic, and we will no doubt report on them if and when they happen, but in the meantime we will be returning to Australia to see our family, 3 children and 9 grandchildren.

Thank you for riding along with us.

Andrew & Joanne.

We salute you both, anyone that can cycle 40,000+ kilometres of the toughest terrain on the planet deserves and has rightly “earned” the respect of many. You have cycled the Arctic, the Canadian mountains, the Australian outback, Continental USA. You have encountered Freezing temperatures, Polar Bears, Brown Bears and all the Aussie “nasties” one can think of..... Just to name but a small fraction. We will cherish the memory of crossing the Nullarbor with you (Something you two have done twice!)... and read your stat's with awe. Take care and good luck on life's next adventure – We are CERTAIN there will be one, from people of your outstanding character.

WARMEST REGARDS MAL & LEE