Lost On Earth Exhibition
This exhibition reflects a two-year motorcycle journey by Australian adventurer, Steve Crombie. At 23 years old Steve set out to become the youngest person to circumnavigate the earth on motorbike by land and sea, visiting the seven natural wonders of the world on the way. He got to five and ran out of money- but still managed to be the youngest person ever to ride from Australia to the Arctic Circle.

The photos document Steve’s epic 90,000km journey through 26 countries. From Australia to the Artic Circle.

He traversed the full length of Amazon River, sailed the Caribbean, carved his way through the Alaskan Fjords and travelled on more than 60 boats with his Honda NX650, which survived four engine rebuilds, three crossings of the Andes and temperatures from -25C to 50C.

Steve uses his journeys to raise awareness for the Inspire Foundation (click here) to help young people realize the change they wish to see in the world. (10% of all profit goes to the Inspire Foundation.)

Check out Past/Adventures/Lost On Earth to view the vehicle, maps, photos, video, diary, gearlist and media from journey.

SOUTH AMERICA

1. Ahu Tongariki, Chile
Easter Island is over 3,000kms from its nearest inhabitants, (Tahiti and Chile). One of the most isolated locations on Earth. A small triangular lump of volcanic rock slapped in the middle of the South Pacific. Best known for the giant stone Moai, (monoliths) that dot the coastline. The early settlers called the island “Te Pito O Te Henua” (Navel of The World). Today, the land, people and language are all referred to locally as Rapa Nui.

2. Itacare, Brasil
At the time I was running out of baggage space, experimenting with new ways of packing food for those long journeys toward the horizon – sticking frogs to the side stand. During these experiments it was discovered that super-gluing a rabbit on the exhaust for 45 minutes at 93 kilometres per hour with an ambient temperature of 32 degrees Celsius cooks the meat better than any hot plate.

3. Valle Grande, Bolivia
On June 28, 1997 a group of Cuban and Argentine experts found a common grave in Valle Grande, Bolivia, with the remains of El Che and six other guerrilla fighters, near the place where he was executed. My arrival co-incided with a movie being shot on the life of Che. This image is one of Che’s compadres astride Wolverine. They showed me around the set, then kicked me out.

4. Bolivian Andes
I rode ten hours on a Pee Wee 70 motorbike to get here and fell asleep on their dirt classroom floor. The evening was spent being peered upon through the dusty windows by the local elders. The morning was spent being chased and chasing the local kids around their playground, a dusty corn field.

5. Salar De Uyuni, Bolivia
Salar De Uyuni is the highest salt plain the world. Flat as a pancake salt plain as far as the eyes can squint. It is so cold your spit freezes and shatters into small yellowy green crystals when it hits the floor. It was cold (-20C). Dirt, sand, ice, snow, water and rocks inhabited every surface that rose before us. In some places the water came to just below the exhaust.

6. Tres Cruces, Peru
A phenomenal vista, spanning mountain to forest. From the edge of the Peruvian Andes 3000metres straight down into the Amazon basin.

7. Macchu Pichu, Peru
The last rays of light pass over the extreme tips of Macchu Pichu. One of the man made wonders of the world. Huaynapicchu rises in the background.

8. Taganga, Colombia
A lazy fishing village on the north eastern coast. Fishing and soccer. Soccer. Fishing.

9. Wichub Huala Island, Panama
I hitched a ride on a 74foot smuggling yacht from Colombia to Panama with my motorcycle strapped on the back. We moored on a Kuna Island. The Kuna Indian child lives on a 200metre long island in the middle of the Panamanian Caribbean. Innocent to the world.

CENTRAL AMERICA

10. Casco Antiguo, Panama
This lonesome Swiss traveler going by the name of Morro is actually a six year old stuck in a 24yr olds body. Mesmerised by the gumballs. For hours he stood transfixed, umming and ahhing as to whether his mum would find out if he snaffled just a few…the balls were winking at him, calling him, shimmering their rainbow colours for all to see. As soon as the saliva worked its way from his lips onto his striped red and blue T, they were in the bag. Just another sucker.

11. Summit Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Panama
This little critter is a Cusumbi Kinkajou (Potos Flavus). The pint sized leader of the zoological rebellion rippling through the animal ranks in Panama

12. Casco Veijo, Panama
This man has been living in Casco Veijo all his life. Using the same ancient printing press “Sheridans New Model”. It wouldn’t surprise me if he used to print propaganda for Noriega back in the 80’s. Its the only machine of its kind in the neighbourhood since Che Guevara was last here before he first joined forces with Cuba. It is said that Che used to print propaganda from this same printing press.

13. Veracruz, Panama
The closest beach to Panama City. As soon as I pulled out my camera all the locals confronted me and recommended I leave before anyone sees it. These are always the best places to take photos. I had a group of seven kids chasing me around the place peering over my shoulder at every photo. Rubbish strewn across the sand. Lines securing wooden land locked vessels pointing towards their watery master. Waiting for the tide to guide them out.

14. Taboga Island, Panama
Settled by the Spanish in 1515, 20kms offshore from Panama city, Taboga Island houses the second oldest church in the Western Hemisphere. It has two average beaches. The island secrets lay in deep caves occupying the other side of the island where pirates are said to have buried their treasure.

In the old days they used anything they could lay their hands on for Cannon fodder-. They shoved this kid down the cannon same time last year. They feed him through the opening for a year. Local lore says that when he makes it out he is a man… if he floats. If he sinks, he was never meant to be.

15. Isla De Ometepe, Nicaragua
A massive volcanic island in the middle of a lake. These people loved to smile for the camera. I don’t think they get many motorcycling trigger-happy cameramen in this part of town.

NORTH AMERICA

16. Mexico Man
Maneuvering my way through the streets of Mexico City you come across licorice allsorts of people, places and environments, people selling pigs brains, corn on the cob, hot dogs, rattlesnakes, stolen stereos, illegal animals, pirated videos (I got most videos before they came out in the cinemas) and the rest. There are also the ones that choose the true path, suffering immensely for their chosen path. This man above spent the day singing Mexican ballads to raise money to support his two children who spent all day meandering around his feet entertaining themselves at grasshopper height. I laid all my money in his pouch, snapped a few shots almost shed a tear and moved on. It was heart wrenching seeing the pain and sorrow wafting straight out of his soulful eyes. Left me in stumped silence for a few hours.

17. Dan the Man
In Hostal Virreyes you get people who you wouldn’t often meet in other capital cities. This fine gent was stuck in Mexico City for a while. Every day coming home with new jewellery, clothing and stories. He managed to get himself in trouble every single night.

18. Zacatecas, Mexico
The Mexican girl and four friends advanced. An hour later the families of all five arrived. We sat in the small park next to their local church talking and laughing until midnight where I later passed out in my tent on a small patch of grass.

19. Tucson, Arizona
Ric turned Pro at 16. He has lived the high life, low life, mid-life and mid-wife. Still standing through various enduro racing injuries here with his pride and joy, a personally autograph Penton by Penton himself. An awesome mechanic from Mussellmans Honda, who lives with two extremely crazy dogs and about 15 motorbikes in his garage, shed and backyard. I am sure he will kick on for many years more. Instead of riding the highway to work he prefers to launch himself into the surrounding dry sandy riverbeds and tear it up on the dirt. Thankyou Ric for all your help and introducing me to On Any Given Sunday (awesome moto doco) and Jim Beam with Mountain Dew

20. Grand Canyon, U.S.A.
I had almost made it out. The spiritual forces swirling their way through the heavenly vortexes that I accidently stepped into. I was on my way the spiritual world. But my Icebreaker socks wouldn’t let me go. As you can see my feet are still firmly planted on the ground, whilst my body was flirting with the horizon.

21. Las Vegas, U.S.A
The Bar. You can order a beer and bet at the same time. The bar is lined with pokies, 7-11 is lined with pokies, there are even urinals lined with pokies. After a while, all you can see is flashing lights, credit cards being snipped in two and alcohol. After a while the bartender starts to disappear. You wave money in the air in front of you and it floats through the air and comes back in the form of small plastic chips or liquid filled glasses.

22. San Diego, U.S.A
The first time I have ever been towed in two years 50miles from San Diego. My chain had snapped and twisted. Tow guy took me to a mates house where we honed to chain, relinked it and I made it. Guy helped me out for free. Good bloke.

23. Alaska, U.S.A, Artic Circle
My Alpinestars boots enjoying the view.

24. Alaska, U.S.A
Parked outside Teresa’s Hotspot Cafe five miles north of the Yukon River on the Dalton Higway (aka the Haul