We get excited by travel tech. It’s the reason we’ve been pestering some of the world’s greatest adventurers at this year’s Adventure Travel Show for their thoughts on all technology has to offer. Yet all the adventurers we’ve spoken to so far have one thing in common: they’ve all been doing this for years. So to provide some balance, we thought we’d ask the same questions to an adventurer who is still in the middle of his very first mammoth journey.
Luke Yates is in New Zealand. Frankly, we reckon there have to be easier ways to get there than cycling from Perth. Yet his epic adventure is only half done – he’ll be starting the next leg of his journey in LA on 9 March. While he took some well-earned time out to let his calf muscles cool, we asked him how travel tech has helped his Australian travels.
What are your feelings about technology? Do you love it, loathe it or feel excited by the possibilities it presents?
Technology is something I like and use a lot but it is also something I am trying to cut back my dependence on. I like the possibilities it has to enhance my experience and make the trip more fun. The quality of photographs and videos on modern digital cameras, for example, is just wonderful.
I am just cutting my teeth at editing and haven’t been brave enough to share anything yet. So much for being a daring adventurer. By contrast, I dislike some of the dependence that I have developed at times. I can feel a bit lost without internet, for example, but I think that is a product of modern life and being aware of it allows me to fight against this feeling. The best nights of the trip have been when I have no signal and just the stars or a fire for entertainment.
Do you use technology when you head off on an adventure, or is it merely a useful tool when planning?
I have been using technology on my trip so far though the ways I am using it are changing. In terms of routes and plans, I prefer paper maps. I don’t know why but I do. One great use is finding safe places to camp in more populated areas where just pitching a tent is difficult or even illegal. The best example of this is the app developed by the New Zealand Conservation Department which shows safe and very cheap or free camping spots.
Technology is also essential for me to share details of my trip and work towards my ambition to return to university and become a journalist. I write articles and update my website as I run it myself but I also have a great camera and a small video camera which is allowing me to gather footage of my trip. Finally, I have just started tracking my rides on Strava which allows me to share routes and profiles on social media. It is a great addition to my tools.
What items of travel technology do you use?
I have a variety of equipment with me currently. I am slowly changing the way I work and eventually will put together my perfect technology pack. First up is a very light laptop. It is still quite heavy unfortunately but the web design, memory and word processing options it offers are essential to my ambitions. I have also just started carrying a tablet. It has great memory and functionality on the go. Finally, I have a simple smartphone with a New Zealand SIM card. It has GPS so I can track my rides and it also is a safety back up with maps and communication with emergency services.
I was carrying a solar charger in Australia but have actually found it unnecessary. In the developed countries I have been in there are enough places to sit for an hour and charge a phone. I feel certain that the solar charger will come in useful in the future though. One great bit of kit has been a small rechargeable battery. It will charge my phone six times and can also be used to power any of my other bits of kit.
What are the drawbacks of travel tech?
Weight. When you are grinding up a huge climb, every kilo counts.
The other issue is psychological. I hate the dependence at times on technology. It feels like a less pure form of escape. That said I still struggle with the loneliness of solo travel so the ability to communicate with friends and family is great. It is a constant battle with myself as I feel I should be tougher and more independent but still want to talk to my mum!
You’ve now seen a great chunk of Australia. What’s left on the Australian bucket-list?
I have spent a fair bit of time in Australia and have ticked off quite a few of the main tourist experiences but there is one trip I want to take in the future, hopefully with family.
The main attraction in Australia for me is the space and remote nature. I would love to take a huge trip across the outback and down to the remote Western Australian coastline. It would be in a 4WD because so much of the country is inaccessible to any other vehicle. On board I would have a kayak, mountain bike and tent. We could carry food and water and just travel through the wilderness, enjoying the stars and an open fire! Uluru would also have to be included on the itinerary, although I fear its popularity would annoy me.
You can read Luke’s posts for Global Grapevine here, and find more about the next stage of his adventure at www.lukeyatesadventure.com
Read more interviews from Adventure Travel Show 2015
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