Scott Stokes is a person on a mission: to attend each Take a look at cricket match in Australia on his little yellow Vespa — a visit encompassing 12,000 kilometres of open street.
Scott Stokes (no relation to England captain Ben Stokes) is a cricket tragic.
The 55-year-old from Canberra is crisscrossing the nation for a number of weeks on his light-weight scooter to observe each recreation of the Ashes.
Whereas some would possibly select to fly, Scott is doing it by way of bitumen at 90 kilometres per hour (85km/h if it is windy).
With the wind beneath his ft, he’s making his manner from Take a look at match to Take a look at match on “Van-espa” the Vespa.
However for Scott, the lengthy, solo journey can be one other sort of check, as he grapples along with his personal psychological well being.
Should you want somebody to speak to, name:
Lifeline on 13 11 14MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
“It has all the time been a dream of mine to go to each Ashes Take a look at, each right here and in England,” he stated.
“However the different motive is … it is a psychological well being journey for me.”
Scott Stokes has had a “lengthy relationship” with cricket, each enjoying and watching, in accordance with his spouse Helen. (Equipped)
In late 2020, Scott had a “pretty vital occasion” and was medically retired from his job in well being.
“I purchased Van-espa simply after being retired and he or she’s actually nice to trip, it is excellent for mindfulness,” he stated.
When Scott floated the thought of an epic street journey to his spouse, Helen, she “did not say no” — so he took that as a inexperienced mild.
“The Vespa has been type of life-changing for him,”
Helen stated.
The lengthy journey, culminating within the realisation of Scott’s dream to attend each Ashes Take a look at in a collection, has given him a goal and a objective, she defined.
“I am actually completely happy that he is getting on the market … he is positively doing the whole lot he can to rebuild his resilience, which has actually been low lately,” she stated.
Scott Stokes along with his mom Bev, earlier than setting off on his 12,000-kilometre journey. (Equipped)
A ‘little bit of a dance’ with vehicles
After a brief check run from Canberra to the Blue Mountains, Scott set out along with his spouse’s blessing and an in depth checklist of petrol stations to trip the greater than 3,700km to Perth.
“I adopted him on a apply run from Katoomba and he did not seem like falling off … so I used to be fairly assured he will be superb,”
Helen stated.
Contending with street trains, vehicles, potholes and a petroleum tank that solely takes him a few hundred kilometres at a time, Scott efficiently navigated the primary leg of his journey to Perth for the primary match.
Then, he jumped again on Van-espa for the second leg: Perth to Brisbane — a journey of greater than 4,300km — for the second Take a look at.
“It is a bit of a dance,” Scott stated.
“I’ve to be conscious of the place they [the trucks] are. There’s been a few shut calls, which my spouse will not wish to hear about.”
Van-espa the Vespa taking a fast pit cease on the Mad Max 2 museum west of Damaged Hill in outback NSW. (Equipped)
Whereas Scott is a “implausible driver”, in accordance with Helen, she has firmly dominated out a “his and hers” matching dual-Vespa situation.
“I am not very coordinated so we do not need me on the open street on a Vespa … I can simply go on the again of his every so often,” she stated.
That’s, when Scott graduates from his P plates in April subsequent 12 months.
Till then, Scott has Helen and household behind him as he continues the remaining 4,000km journey from Brisbane to Adelaide, then to Melbourne (by way of the Nice Ocean Street) and on to Sydney, earlier than returning house to Canberra.
“We’re about 5 years into his journey now, and it is robust on the children, robust on me, it is robust on him,” Helen stated.
“However he is working actually onerous to do what he can to get higher and you have to admire that.”
