Another great day for the HS crew - 228km!
We left at 0600 and followed a winding river with early morning mist, it was pretty amazing!
Then we had 30 km on a crazy gravel road that was VERY bumpy - our poor bikes and poor bums!! It was our only choice - other options were a crappy 4wd track or a dangerous part of the Pacific highway.
We had a quick 5 min ferry trip to Port Macquarie, where we were met by the local Firies and escorted into town. We did some media shots and filming for local tv and then some fundraising. Heading south to Forster and we had some issues with our planned route, luckily local photographer Darrel from Nashyspix saved us from more gravel - thanks mate, and your photos are awesome!!
At Forster we were made welcome by the local Firies, even though most of their crew were at a pretty big bushfire just south of township. Thanks for accommodating and feeding us guys - we really appreciate it!
Not so big day tomorrow, lots of fundraising planned, and still headin' south!!
Saturday, 5 January 2013
Thursday, 3 January 2013
Day three - fundraising
A short ride today - only 80km because NSW police wouldn't let us ride on the highway between Coffs Harbour and South West Rocks and the only other route was way too far.
We rode today in memory of Station Officer Peter Coppleman who passed away about 3 years ago from cancer. Many of the riders worked with Peter and say he was a great guy!!
We rattled the tins at Coffs with the help of the local Firies - thanks Sally and crew! We raised over $1000!! We then bused it to the surf club at SW Rocks, with a BBQ and drinks organized by Les and the local volunteer brigade - awesome spread guys, thanks heaps.
The spit the dummy award went to me (Em) for yelling at Andy, for making the king of the mountain finish line about two thirds of the way up the hill (he did get nominated for the dumb ass award for that). The dumb ass award went to Nigel for claiming the king of the mountain title on a hill that was more like a speed hump. Hahaha!
Big day tomorrow - 220km!!!
We rode today in memory of Station Officer Peter Coppleman who passed away about 3 years ago from cancer. Many of the riders worked with Peter and say he was a great guy!!
We rattled the tins at Coffs with the help of the local Firies - thanks Sally and crew! We raised over $1000!! We then bused it to the surf club at SW Rocks, with a BBQ and drinks organized by Les and the local volunteer brigade - awesome spread guys, thanks heaps.
The spit the dummy award went to me (Em) for yelling at Andy, for making the king of the mountain finish line about two thirds of the way up the hill (he did get nominated for the dumb ass award for that). The dumb ass award went to Nigel for claiming the king of the mountain title on a hill that was more like a speed hump. Hahaha!
Big day tomorrow - 220km!!!
Day two part two....hot,hot,hot
There were lots of nominees for all the awards - it so hard for the committee (the oldies, Polly, and Flash) to decide, although they never seem to choose themselves, they just give themselves "honorable mentions ".
Tinka will get an honorable mention tomorrow for just putting on a bright green man-kini and parading around the place- too rude for a photo,
We are staying at Grafton in an awesome gym/ house, owned and run by Tracey and Deon ( a retained firie). They have found beds for us all, we swam in their pool, went in the sauna, they prepared a brilliant BBQ for us and have made us feel very at home. Thanks guys, you are amazing!!
The Grafton Firies met us 10km out of town with their tanker and we followed them in - a brilliant welcome.
I mustn't forget to mention the Firies at Lismore, they met us at a park for a photo with the local newspaper and then led us out of town behind their pumper. Thanks Lismore Firies, great to meet you!
Day Two Part 3 - hot, hot, hot...
We are loving meeting all the excellent people on our trip south and it's only day two. We met a great guy in Byron called Ben, an elite triathlete, who was only going to ride 50 km with us this morning but ended up riding with us all day into Grafton - he's a total dude. And he has his own triathlon coaching business based in Byron Bay www.triitmate.com check it out!
Day Two part 1...hot,hot,hot
A very tough day in the saddle today - 180km from Byron Bay to Grafton. It got to 48 degrees on the road when we were south of Casino, then we worked hard against a pretty decent headwind for 80kms into Grafton. It was a day of rolling hills!
The riders all coped reasonably well in the conditions. Only one puncture, no crashes! What total champs!
I didn't report on yesterday's award winners. So I better do that first then I'll get to today's winners.
Yesterday: Spit the Dummy award : Karen (support crew) - we could hear her yelling over the phone to Polly, when she was miles away!!
Dumb-Ass award: Andy (support crew) for complaining about having sore feet from driving all day, in front of all the riders and in front of me - covered in grazes and bruises. Hahaha!!
Pink 4Shaw Socks performance award: to me (Em) for getting back on my bike after the crash and riding another 130km (as if I wouldn't get back on, and I probably should have got a gumby award instead)
Today: Spit the Dummy award went to Jason for angrily lecturing a team mate - brutal, but he did apologize profusely and nominated himself!
Dumb Ass award went to Jai (support crew) for saying "wow I think I got sunburnt today"- after sitting in an air conditioned car all day. Hahaha!,
Pink socks performance award went to Nadsy for winning the sprint into Grafton. Although he did have some assistance from Flash, who blocked Nadsy's main rival.
Tuesday, 1 January 2013
Day One
230km very eventful kilometers from Brisbane to Byron Bay!!
Our day began with a mad rush to finish off the logistics, but we ended up leaving 1 hour late from the Roma Street Fire Station. Steve Cooke, Janelle's (Tinka's wife) uncle, blew the start horn and we were off, heading south at 0630.
We made good time, negotiating our way out of Brisbane city centre. The police escort we were required to have was a no-show - go figure!!
A few things happened once on the road. Lowndsie and Jase got punctures, there were numerous dummy spits (I'll report on the awards later). At about 100km I hit a rock that no one saw in time and I hit the deck pretty hard - non broken bones, so all good, just missing some skin and I'm sporting some great bruises!!
We did some fundraising around Surfers Paradise, but not much luck there - it was almost as though we were speaking a foreign language!!
We got to Byron Bay quite late but before dark. We got met by the Byron Firies with their pumper and we followed them around the town with lights flashing. It was a great welcome. We are sleeping at the station tonight!
It was an incredible day and today was the longest , so every day should get easier. We are about to go out and about in busy Byron on New Years Day to get some money in our tins!!
170 km to Grafton tomorrow!
Stay tuned!!
Our day began with a mad rush to finish off the logistics, but we ended up leaving 1 hour late from the Roma Street Fire Station. Steve Cooke, Janelle's (Tinka's wife) uncle, blew the start horn and we were off, heading south at 0630.
We made good time, negotiating our way out of Brisbane city centre. The police escort we were required to have was a no-show - go figure!!
A few things happened once on the road. Lowndsie and Jase got punctures, there were numerous dummy spits (I'll report on the awards later). At about 100km I hit a rock that no one saw in time and I hit the deck pretty hard - non broken bones, so all good, just missing some skin and I'm sporting some great bruises!!
We did some fundraising around Surfers Paradise, but not much luck there - it was almost as though we were speaking a foreign language!!
We got to Byron Bay quite late but before dark. We got met by the Byron Firies with their pumper and we followed them around the town with lights flashing. It was a great welcome. We are sleeping at the station tonight!
It was an incredible day and today was the longest , so every day should get easier. We are about to go out and about in busy Byron on New Years Day to get some money in our tins!!
170 km to Grafton tomorrow!
Stay tuned!!
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