Adventure biking duo stuck in their tracks after COVID lockdown

After cycling 20,000km through some of the poorest and most war-ravaged nations on the planet, Rene Hagan and Rachel Yaseen were prepared for anything … until arriving in Cairns days before the COVID-19 lockdown.

Rene Hagen and Rachel Yaseen found themselves marooned in Cairns days after the COVID-19 shutdown of the country. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

AFTER biking 20,000km through some of the poorest and most war-ravaged nations on the planet, Rene Hagan and Rachel Yaseen were prepared for anything.

That is, until the coronavirus stopped them in their tracks the day after arriving in Cairns.

Despite being forced to self-isolate for 14 days, the adventure biking duo from Denmark and the USA were upbeat about the setback.

Rachel Yaseen and Rene Hagen set off from Bangkok in Thailand with a goal to cycle around the world. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

“I don’t feel disappointed. For me, the whole (COVID-19) thing is part of the adventure and the journey,” Ms Yaseen said.

GET THE MOST FROM YOUR CAIRNS POST SUBSCRIPTION

“Whatever comes, it can be, you get a flat tyre or corona comes around. There’s always something and the challenge is the part I always remember the most.”

Mr Hagen said there were certainly worse areas to be stuck.

“I couldn’t imagine a much better place to be,” he said.

The pair began the bike odyssey in late 2018 in Thailand, travelling through Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia and finally Timor Leste before getting to Darwin.

The couple now plans on biking across the Nullarbor Plain, when border restrictions ease.

Originally published as Adventure biking duo stuck in their tracks after COVID lockdown