May 5, 2005
Today is the day! Fast riding for 5 of us for the first 70 km – only took two hours. Two flats again today – one while riding at 40kmh, glass on side of road slashed tyre and tube – total replacement necessary. Riding through the city in traffic was the most stressful part of the whole tour I think. Two incidents, fortunately no one hurt. Finally Town Hall! Relief, sadness. A huge thank you to the crew – Col and Gwen, Barry and Val – you guys have been terrific! Will miss you. Thanks to Jonathan for organising all of this and for what we have achieved. Thanks David for your friendship and all of the work you did behind the scenes – we would not have made it without you. Thanks Stephen for you friendship and your kindness on the ride. Thanks Kevin for you friendship, humour and your valuable input to the ride. Well this is goodbye!
May 4, 2005
Yass to Mittagong today – quite hilly riding. Actually not that bad, ride up, cruise down. Still a long day again, 5 riders most of the day, and we kept moving pretty well. Beautiful countryside along here, another beautiful sunrise (last one for the trip?!), tomorrow is a later start. Getting exciting – will see Rochelle and kids and my family tomorrow. Meeting well attended, I spent most of the evening organising photos from the trip.
May 3, 2005
Tarcutta to Yass. Early and cold start. Expecting some busy roads, wasn’t as bad as expected, but spent most of the day riding in the service lane. Decided to spend some time at the front of the pack, stayed there most of the day, trying to keep the pace up. Felt pretty good today, despite not really being too keen this morning! Ok up the hills, rest at the top waiting for slow rider, then off down the hill, repeat. One big hill, David and I decided to see how fast we could go – hit 73 km/h – excellent!! In Yass by 1:30pm. Lunch in the carpark. Had two flats today. Tire was low this morning, pumped it up hoping to get to breakfast, no luck. Changed the wheel, fixed mine at breakfast. Next stop, tyre low again. Another hole, found culprit stuck in tire, checked tire for anything else, fixed and off again.
May 2, 2005
Narrandera to Tarcutta. Early start, target Wagga Wagga. Media commitments here – WIN and Prime. A couple of tasks to be done around town, so had a busy time. Lunch at Subway. Two Subway’s in town, two C’wealth Atm’s (not together), maybe there are two of everything – not enough time to check. Out of Wagga Wagga go through Gumly Gumly – interesting – another double, have these places got something to prove? Road starts to get hilly, not too bad though. Stop at Wagga Wagga took up a bit of time, bit of a rush to get to Tarcutta. Found a shortcut – saved some time. In just before 4pm, commitments back at Wagga 5pm then night meeting. Mal, Jonathan, David, and Stephen went back, rest of us left to take care of things at the hotel. Tea quite nice at the hotel, get ready for tomorrow and off to bed.
May 1 , 2005
Hay to Narrandra. Early start again today - away at 5am. Had 4 flats today! First one was just before breakfast (front). Managed to cruise in to the stop. changed that one after breakfast, 200m down the road got another one (front again). David and I changed the tube then caught up (drafting behind the van at 61kmh-what a blast!) A bit further down the road I got a third flat (rear). Changed that and carried on. Not long after that I got another front flat. Changed the entire wheel and continued on. Arrivied at the hotel for lunch. After lunch, I fixed my tire. We rode into town for a 3pm meeting. About 10 people there, and the message was well received. Tea at the hotel was lovely and the owners of the hotel were extremely nice and looked after us very well.
April 29, 2005
Balranald to Hay - Didn’t start as early today – only 130km to do! Weather didn’t look too nice, but we were on the road by 6:30 anyway. Stopped to get pictures of the sunrise (again!!) and spent the next 10km catching up – was a bit easier today as weather conditions improved and I was sitting on between 35 and 40kmh without much effort to catch up. Caught up, weather got worse, a little rain, a bit of side/head wind (we turned south a bit) and then things improved again, fast riding, Keith was behind the Territory, and we got to Hay by 12:00. Hot spa bath in the afternoon – lovely! Barbecue tea by the pool (no we didn’t swim), and then off to the meeting. Local school has a great gym, which was our venue, but unfortunately the town was not well organised and no one turned up for the meeting.
April 28, 2005
Left Mildura at 5am, good days ride mostly. Stopped for photos of the sunrise – beautiful. Two stops, and I am way behind. 20km ride by myself catching up the peleton riding at 30+! After breakfast, wind picked up but it was a tailwind! Good running for a while – doing 30+ as a group. Grapes and Honey from Mildura arrived for lunch – thanks Trevor. After last break, only 20km to go things slow down a lot – not good, conditions were still great, oh well, happens a lot. Lunch at a park in Balranald. Meeting tonight, hope its not too late.
April 27, 2005
142km ride into Mildura Today. We met up with some students from Mildura school and rode with them into the mall. We had a short time there meeting people and a short talk by Jonathan. The mayor was there too. Out to tea that evening, lovely meal. Balloon ride on dusk, just up in the air and back down – must try a longer ride sometime, and then on to the meeting. Well attended. A couple of local people spoke of the programs they are running for young people in the area – very impressive what is happening here already.
Stayed talking to people there – ‘relatives’ who dropped me back at the hotel.
April 26, 2005
Waikere to Renmark today – only 80km. Easy days ride. Passed through Berri, had a media shoot with WIN, then on to Renmark. Photo shoot in the afternoon, and then off to Berri for the afternoon meeting. Well attended, some nibblys provided, and then back to Renmark for tea at the hotel. Big day tomorrow, need to get some rest!
April 25, 2005
Anzac Day. Dropped Rochelle and the Kids at the airport in Adelaide. Mal and Melody picked me up. We saw a parade about to start on the way through the city. The other riders had already started riding, joined them when we caught up. Beautiful lunch stop by the Murray river. Arrived at Waikerie about 3pm, stopped at the skate park and talked to the kids (and one adult) there. Took lots of pics of them doing tricks. Went down to the river and went across and back on the river boat. Back to check in at the hotel, then down to the river for a quick swim. Cold! Back to the hotel, shower, have tea, then go to the meeting, Only one person there – the adult from the skate park this afternoon. Great guy. I think he is already doing a terrific job with the kids at the skate park (including his own kids), he spends time with them regularly and seems really interested in them. Gave him a copy of the pics I took this afternoon.
April 24, 2005 - Rest day.
April 23, 2005
Rest day. Went to South Australia camp in the Barossa valley. Beautiful spot. Had lunch there, relaxing afternoon with family and everybody, and then did a segment for the afternoon meeting. Full dress on bikes riding in to the meeting. Well received by the audience.
April 22, 2005
Port Augusta to Kadina. Rochelle and the kids arrive today. They will come to Kadina meet me. Long ride again, but went fairly well. Some long stops along the way, blown tyre before lunch delayed us a bit. Arrived at 5pm for planned arrival, ride to meet the mayor and meeting at 5:30. Rochelle and the kids arrived about 7pm – hooray. Late check in at the hotel and late tea, late to bed. Oh well, can sleep in a little tomorrow.
April 21, 2005
Cowell to Port Augusta. Another quite long day. Headwinds again. Seems someone in our group has done something wrong!! We started riding east – headwind. We turned and headed south – headwind. Enough of that, head north instead – headwind. Ok, not cool. Port Augusta is a nice place. Hotel is out of town, on the road we will ride tomorrow. Meeting not well attended at first, but some phone calls by the woman at the center, and a few more people turned up for a late meeting.
April 20, 2005
Port Lincoln to Cowall. What a week (or weeks)! We started out travelling east – headwinds! So we turned south and headed for Port Lincoln – more headwinds.
That being an unsuccessful riding tactic, we turned north today – more headwinds. Someone in the group must have done something really bad – we are not getting much luck at all, oh well.
Another beautiful spot to spend the night. The meeting tonight is at Whyalla – 100km away. Since I was a good boy and went to the meeting last night, I get tonight off – hooray early to bed.
Tomorrow is another big day.
April 19, 2005
Back to 5am starts! We rode 170km today. We had a slight tail wind and that helped to make it a fairly easy day.
Very cold start in the morning, breakfast on the road after 65km. More riding, stopped at lunch and went to look at Coffin Bay – very beautiful.
Short ride to Port Lincoln. Lovely place, had time to get a haircut and do a bit of shopping. Tea at a café, and then off to the meeting. Fairly well attended and people receptive and friendly.
April 18, 2005
We had a nice breakfast at our hotel at 7am. Another short ride from Streaky Bay to Elliston – 125km. Another beautiful location.
Some stops on the way to see the sights. We had a bit of time to see around the town, and get some things done before tea.
Tea was nice – vegies for main and nut sundae for dessert.
April 17, 2005
Short ride today from Ceduna to Streaky Bay. Beautiful stops in the morning and at lunch overlooking the water. Met some people who were travelling across Australia and they enquired about what we were doing. We talked for quite a while and I explained our ride. They were very impressed and supportive. It was really nice.
Arrived in Streaky Bay, for a meeting ending youth week. We gave away a bike and held a meeting with the townspeople. It was well received and the people were very supportive.
Finished the day with a lovely meal at our hotel, and then off to bed.
April 16th, 2005
In Ceduna today. We rode from Penong to Ceduna for breakfast (71km). Breakfast was in the Sailing club and was really nice. The bay was beautiful. Thanks Staff, Kari, Uncle Gordon, Owen and Robyn and Mark for your messages!
April 15th, 2005
Long day today – we rode 225km from to Penong, near Ceduna. We stopped in another Aboriginal community and spoke to them. This made the day longer as well, but we rode well today, sometimes down to four riders, and kept moving throughout the day. All of us were quite tired at the end of the day. Late meal – Chinese – but very nice.
April 14th, 2005
Hard ride today. We had to travel 190 km by 3pm, in order to drive out to Yalata Community by 5pm.
Only five riders today, we made it on time! Headwinds were very strong, and that made riding difficult. Sometimes we had to ride behind the van. We stopped briefly to look at the cliffs beside the road.. The Aboriginal community was interesting. We saw mainly children, but they were lovely and we had a lot of fun playing with them and talking to them.
April 13th, 2005
188 km today from Madura to Eucla. Didn’t really feel that excited about this day, but we started early, had an extra 45 minutes of darkness, and rode well.
Keith left early and rode by himself. We rode after him, our average speed was well up today. The day wasn’t hot and we had a tail wind. Got to Eucla by lunchtime.
After lunch we went out to the old telegraph station and then down to look at the Bight. Tea time now. Tomorrow we ride 190km, and then have a meeting at a closed Aboriginal community – looking forward to that. It should be quite an experience meeting them.
April 12th, 2005
155 Km to Madura today. This should have been easy but it was 40 degrees today – not fun! Kevin entertained us today. Because of the extremely slow pace set, he put a book on his bike and read it while he rode!
At the Madura road house we were having drinks before tea. As I went to get my drink from the counter, a man there asked me about my shirt (Circle of Courage) When I explained he and his wife said they had heard about us on the radio. He enquired what it was all about. I explained what we were doing, and as I did he nodded and said that what we were doing was excellent. It was really encouraging.
After talking for a while he said to me, “How do I help? I only have bankcard, how do I give you money!” This is the response we are getting from people all across the locations we have travelled.
April 11th, 2005
We traveled to Caiguna today. We are about 70km from the coast, and there is a blowhole tourist attraction – the air flows from the coast all the way into Caiguna blowhole. Quite interesting.
We also rode the 90mile (146km) straight today) The cook at the road house was a nice man. He was single and had a sad story of losing his wife a few years ago. He too was enthusiastic about what we were doing.
April 10th, 2005
Rode from Norseman to Balladonia today (188km) We passed the German runner again. He is very friendly (even though he speaks very little English.) He was surprised to see us, so we explained through his interpreter how this had happened.
The managers at the Balladonia road house were lovely. We had a nice stay and were well looked after. The food was good and the owners addressed us by name – after hearing my name once, they remembered me each time and were very friendly.
We met two cyclists riding towards Perth. They were stopped here as well. I spoke to one of them (German) he was a really nice person. He praised us for what we were doing and was really supportive, and felt that the message was a really valuable one for the communities across Australia. It seems that wherever we go, we meet many wonderful people, and receive great support for what we are doing.
April 9th, 2005
Writing from Esperance. Rest day from riding. 2 meetings here today. Both were well attended. The response has been very positive.
In speaking with people, it is obvious that they are interested in the message and that they are interested in their young people. Many times people have approached us to ask what we are doing. our shirts draw attention and then we have the opportunity to spread the message of the circle of courage.
Spoke to a young person who is working as a social worker – he was worried about two boys who were using drugs and alcohol. He also was looking at starting a program for the community where the home was an important element in the lives of young people.
The managers of the hotel in Norseman were wonderful to us. They looked after us very well, and were always nice to us. We enjoyed staying with them and highly recommend their hospitality!
April 8th, 2005 - 2.30pm
Writing from Norseman where we had lunch.
We rode hard today. Some of us left our breakfast spot early and we had to catch up.
While riding, we came across a German runner who is also going from Perth to Sydney. We tried to speak to him, or rather, tried, since he couldn't speak much English.
Kevin's practical joke made me laugh today (can't say more!).
One thing I could do with from home right now are my kids.
April 7th, 2005 - 9pm
We are currently in Cunderdin, and had just had pizza for tea (yum). Breakfasts and lunches have been lovely as well. Gwen, Col, Val and Barry do a wonderful job.
Am feeling tired out, but it's ok.
There was a beautiful sunrise today. Enjoyed the day riding, although it was a long ride getting into Coolgardie.
Jonathan's coin game, where we either give or fine each other $1 coins depending on whether we've been helping our fellow cyclists or committing silly mistakes like breaking road rules was changed today. The coins were now given for many new events - jokes, distance to points, etc.
I really miss my wife today.
April 5th, 2005
We are in Cunderdin, and we have just had tea - lovely salad, and vegies! Hot day today, but we got here.
Thanks Melissa, Kari, Megan, Daniel and Jeremy for coming along! Also Jan Barnett, John Elsegood, Steve Jones.
Thanks to the Sanitarium crew - Sue and Helen for the goodies. We are staying at the Ettamogah Pub - 'with no beer'.
154 km's down, 4300 to go!!!
