This post is where i will try and update after each days ride in the comments section. Please feel free to post replies. Fingers crossed it all goes OK. Thanks to everyone for their kind comments and words of support as well the incredible amount of donations to date.
Unfortunately I have not been able to get to the internet as i was hoping but daily updates are on this link CLICK HERE
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Jason now has the bus and will be getting ready to pack later today. This hasn't been the best preparation as i only got back from Tasmania late last night and have to work today. I am excited although the forecast looks atrocious for the weekend.
ReplyDeleteDAY 1
ReplyDeleteAfter arriving in Adelaide and being greeted with a storm with wind gusts of up to 120kms per hour, the Team were subdued contemplating a very tough day ahead.
Dawn broke and the rain continued unabated with some stiff breezes. Departing at 7.00 am, the team were soon wet and needing to be cautious on the slippery roads. John Palamara the superb support person kept us well fed and had dry clothes at hand throughout the day at each of the designated stops. With cool buffeting winds and constant rain, the Team noted the following highlights:
- climbing the iconic Old Wilunga Hill
- crossing through floods on the roads six times up to half a metre deep.
- a 47 km tail wind assisted sprint from Strathalbyn to Wellington
- freestyler wy medical portable oxygen concentrator gift and sponsorship with local press coverage.
- 45 km headwind ride from Wellington to Meningie
Got in to Robe around 6.45 PM after riding the last 15 km on the dark. Hilly had to change 4 tyres before we left Meningie (although one of the was because he 'replaced' the old tube with the same one). We then rode 190 km through Storm Boy country, with some nasty head winds. Plenty of wildlife, including emus, kangaroos and 'The Big Lobster' in Kingston. Jason and I went to Kingston hospital to promote the oxygen concentrators but also meet with some of residents of the nursing home who kindly did a whip around for donations. Jason was being cuddled a little too tightly by one of the residents who was 88 years old but very keen for Jason to spend some more time in Kingston. Hahaha
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to an 'easier' 190 km tomorrow!
DAY 3
ReplyDeleteAfter a sensational dinner at the pub in Robe last night, we awoke to the best conditions of the tour so far - no rain in sight and little wind to speak of. We knew it was going to be a good day when we spotted a pod of dolphins in Robe Harbor as we riding out. Spirits rose even higher when John greeted us at the first stop of the day with the best Boston bun we have ever eaten - it even had 'Robe' written on it in jam! Plenty of logging trucks along the road from Millicent to Mt.Gambier, where we stopped to have the first coffee of the ride while we checked out the Blue Lake. 5 km from our destination, we finally crossed the border into God's country, Victoria. We arrived in Justin's town (aka Nelson), to the sight of a very swollen Glenelg River flowing into the ocean. All in all, a pretty good 175 km day. So far, we are all holding together, thanks to Hilly's magic healing hands, and looking forward to tomorrow's ride to Warrnambool.
DAY 4
ReplyDeleteWe set out early to try and make sure we got to Warrnambool in time for the local celebrities, Hilly (Brad Pitt) and Powelly (Storm Boy), to fulfill their media commitments. We discovered that 6.15 AM in Nelson is cold and dark. Tough grind for most of the day, even though it was 'only' 170 km, with logging trucks ensuring we never relaxed. The promise of good food and coffee at Rebecca's in Port Fairy helped keep us focused. We were not disappointed, as Rebecca, Trevor and Trish treated us to some amazing food and hospitality. Although it was only 25 km to Warrnambool from Port Fairy, the winds were not kind, but Hilly had organised a mate of his, Brian Polkinghorne, to give us a massage on arrival. We cannot begin to explain how good that felt! Brian, who very kindly donated his services, is a cyclist himself, and has worked with professional teams in Australia and Europe, so he really knows his stuff. A special thank you to Rob Mazza and his team from Harvey Norman Warrnambool, for generously donating a TV/DVD player to be auctioned at a fundraising dinner tonight.
DAY 5
ReplyDeleteWe always knew today was going to be tough, and we weren't disappointed! We were lucky enough to 'pinch' the first 70 km out of Warrnambool with the help of Rob Urqhart, Phil McKenzie and Kev Chiller from the Warrnabool Latte's Cycling group and Jeff McLean from Port Fairy Cycling Club - four of the best blokes you could ever meet. We even got a real taste of Tour De France, when a local dog chased us down the road! We stopped in Port Campbell for a coffee and feed before setting off in pouring rain on what was to be the most difficult stretch of the ride. Despite the weather, we made time to check out the Twelve Apostles and magnificent coastline. Laver's Hill (18 km) and Horden Vale (much shorter, but even steeper!) really tested our mental and physical strength, but we all came through it in one piece. By the time we got to Apollo Bay, we were pretty tired, but agreed that the last 45 km from Apollo Bay to Lorne was some of the best riding we have ever done. We finally rolled into Lorne after 6.30 PM, but were very ably supported by Scot Menzies driving behind us with his high beam on! 210 km, rain, wind and wild dogs. One day to go. Bring it on!
DAY 6
ReplyDeleteRain greeted us again this morning when the alarms went off at 5 AM, but the finish line was in sight - just 200 km between Lorne and Melbourne! Incredible scenery along the Great Ocean Road and relatively flat terrain made today an easier ride than yesterday. The ferry trip from Queenscliff to Sorrento provided a great chance to recoup before the final assault. To give you an idea of what the weather has been like, the Mount Martha road was closed because a section of it had collapsed! The detour didn't take us too far out of our way and we were soon flying along Beach Road, the finish line in sight. John managed to get the van bogged in Dromana. Luckily a damsel came to HIS rescue and towed him out of the mud, enabling him to complete his road crew duties to the lofty standards he had set all week. We saw the sun for the first time all week, as we approached Melbourne........who would have thought?!?!
1130 km in 6 days - done!
Thank you to all our families, who have been so supportive - you inspire us. Thanks to all of you who donated so generously, both financially and of your time. Thanks to the wonderful community of Warrnambool for getting behind our cause.
Stay tuned for our next challenge!
For photos of our amazing adventure please go to the cycle4lifeoz.com site and look under news to see photos from each day. Again my apologies for not being able to update daily as i had hoped. I think next time we will get a proper website organised. Thank you everyone for donations, help or just simply offering words of encouragement and support. It was all most welcomed.
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