Evan Lewis and Dat Tien Lewis met in San Francisco in 2015. Evan had left a tourism consulting role in China to start a Mongolian vodka business in the US, while Dat worked as a specialised nurse. Despite their different backgrounds, they quickly formed a strong bond. 'He had this way of calming a room,' Evan recalls. 'He was always supportive, even during the hectic early days of my business.'
Leaving the US for Australia
In 2018, the couple decided to leave the US after Donald Trump's election created an uncertain climate for Evan's business. They moved to Australia, where Evan is originally from, and took over the Broadwater resort in Busselton. During the Covid-19 pandemic, they worked and lived together 24/7, a test that many relationships might not survive. 'It just worked,' Evan says simply.
The Cycling Challenge
After five intense years at the resort, the couple sought a proper break in 2023. Evan wanted to sail around the world, but Dat couldn't swim, so they settled on a cycling tour from Venice to Athens. Dat didn't know how to ride a bike at first. On their first training ride, he fell off within minutes. 'I thought, "Oh, that's it. It's never going to happen,"' Evan admits. But Dat got back on, finished the 40km ride, and they continued training.
The Venice-to-Athens ride covered over 2,500km and was extremely challenging. One day in Albania, temperatures reached 37°C with a headwind, and they had 130km to ride. 'Dat didn't complain,' Evan remembers. 'Once he's made up his mind, he's going to do something, no matter how hard it is.' They were among the few riders to finish that day.
The Moment of Clarity
After the ride, the couple stopped in Hokkaido, Japan, for a slow, relaxing break. One afternoon in Sapporo, they visited Whisky Bar Tasokare, a tiny six-seat bar. Over a Kanosuke single malt and a whisky cocktail, they reflected on their journey. 'We rode over 2,500km without arguments,' Evan says. 'If we wanted to swear, we swore at the hills, not each other.'
During those drinks, it clicked: after navigating foreign countries and spending every waking hour together, marriage probably wouldn't be the hardest thing they'd do. There was no big proposal, just a mutual decision. They embraced and told the bar owner, Ms Maki, who was thrilled.
Getting Married
The couple married in 2024 at the Broadwater resort, with family and friends from around the world. Evan's son, Travis, served as their celebrant. During the ceremony, Dat surprised Evan by taking his surname, so he could share a name with Travis. 'I thought that was beautiful,' Evan says. The celebration included a drag queen and many tears.
Now living in Cottesloe with their rescue dog, Harvey, the couple continues to cycle together, having completed rides in Norway, France, and Australia. 'Through it all, we've always had each other's backs,' Evan concludes.
