As soon as Scottish teacher Connor McElwaine completed his more than 20,000-kilometre odyssey, cycling from Canberra Avenue in Scotland to Canberra Avenue in the ACT, he tasted a little bit of home.
On Wednesday afternoon as Connor reached his destination in Canberra's inner-south, he swigged a can of Irn-Bru, an orange soft drink widely known as Scotland's other national drink, after whisky.
The drink was hand-delivered to Connor by good friend, Londoner Joseph Gardner, who brought some cans from Britain. (No sponsorship deal here, just pure joy and happiness.)
"It definitely feels emotional," Connor said.
"For so long, I've been looking at Canberra on the map and thinking, 'When will I get there?', 'Will I get there?' but to be here is just amazing."
Connor, 34, cycled from his grandparents' house in Canberra Avenue in Clydebank, north-west of Glasgow, to Canberra Avenue in Canberra, the journey taking one day short of a year.
The last stint of his epic journey was from Yass to Canberra on Wednesday, with Canberra cyclists Luke Wensing, Graham Smith and Ian de Plater riding with him from Hall into the national capital.
"It's just incredible," Connor said.
"It was 364 days ago that I set out from Canberra Avenue in Clydebank and it's been a journey of 21,000 kilometres now, 23 countries through jungles, deserts, rainforest, mountains, cities.
"But to be here, is just really, really special for me."
Connor set off in September 2025 on his self-supported journey across Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, China, Southeast Asia and Australia to challenge himself while raising funds for Venture Scotland, which helps people discover what they're capable of through outdoor experiences.
His grandparents Agnes and Louis MacDonald lived in Canberra Avenue in Clydebank, a village near Glasgow on the River Clyde.
"Canberra Avenue is where me and my brother and friends grew up and where we spent a lot of our time as young children so it felt fitting for me to begin the journey there, it's just such a special place," Connor said.
"I wanted to make some big changes in my life and hit a reset and go on this big adventure that I'd always dreamed about and so beginning there felt like the right place.
"Canberra Avenue in Canberra was on the other side of the world and cycling to there seemed like a good reset adventure to have and to see it all the way through to here is nice."
Connor's grandmother Agnes passed away two years ago. His grandfather Louis is still going strong and Connor's first call after making it to Canberra Avenue was to him. Connor also made sure to visit the statue of Scottish poet Robert Burns on Canberra Avenue (the namesake of the Burns Club) and then enjoyed a Guinness at The Jetty on Lake Burley Griffin.
Connor said the outdoors had been "an endless source of inspiration and empowerment throughout my life" which is why he chose to raise money for Venture Scotland, so far raising just under 5000 pounds ($AU9400).
"They're a fantastic group that really help people improve their mental health, improve connections and just overcome barriers they might have in their life. It just seemed like such a perfect match because they were some of the reasons motivating me for this trip," he said.
"I was a teacher for 10 years and it just got to the point where I realised I'd been living under a lot of stress, a lot of pressure. And doing something on this scale had always, deep down, been an ambition.
"I just got to a point where I realised, 'If I don't do it now, when am I going to do it?'. So I quit my job, left the house I was living in, put my stuff in storage and hit the road on my bike."
Connor said the hairiest part of the trip was when he fell sick in northern India before getting treatment in China for what turned out to be antibiotic-resistant parasites.
"But by far it's been a really positive experience," he said.
"People have been amazing. I wouldn't have got through Europe without people welcoming me in, giving me a cup of tea, giving me somewhere to stay and then, in Australia, I've got lots of good Scottish connections down here, people have been great.
"You've got some nice phrases. People have been giving me 'tucker', a few 'stubbies' along the way and people have been sharing their 'lollies'. The snake ones, in particular, have been great. So, yes, Australia has been great."
Canberrans Marie and Luke Wensing have been helping to guide Connor across Australia since he arrived in Perth, suggesting the best routes and giving him other tips.
Marie's best friend lives in Glasgow and also used to live on Canberra Avenue, so the connection was made and she reached out to Connor.
So what now?
Well, Connor has decided to cycle back home to Scotland.
"I'm going to rest up in Canberra, head to Sydney and then cycle New Zealand and then make my way back to Clydebank from Lisbon in Portugal. And hopefully see Canberra Avenue in Clydebank in March."
