Martin Parker Broome to Newcastle Bike Ride 2009

Day 28 Mitchell to Miles 232 ks Cum 4413

Another day, another ride, this time 232 ks. The dark start is crisp, almost frigid. Today we strike a bit of cultivation for the first time in Qld. sorghum and wheat. The green is soothing after the harsh colors of the outback, its more familiar and it lifts your spirits a bit.

The track is pretty straight forward, long rolling hills, ups and downs, good stuff. Everyone is enjoying day 28.

This is now the longest tour any of us has been on. Perth/Newcastle was 4200, Cape York/Newcastle was 3850. We are now at 4413 kilometers, all new territory and it feels good. We are a strong cohesive group both as riders and tour buddies.

All trip Alan, Craig, Dennise and Ian have been giving it to me about wearing rose coloured glasses. They recon I make the days sound easier than they are, that I see beauty where there is none and that a session that I say was a good one was actually a horor. Now they are comming around, borrowing my glasses now and then and seeing the world as a better place, Dennise even finding good in Captain Black Dog.

Sitting around chatting before dinner its hard to believe that we rode our machines for 8 hours 57 minutes today. We were out there for 11 hours, averaged 25.9 and had a max of 44 kph. Thats a big day but everyone is fit and well. A few had PBs today at 232, well done Dennise and Bryan. Dennise has put a few demons to bed, she now rides confidently on the front and hills are no longer an issue.

The girls cook up a treat for dinner, fried chicken and vegies with pasta, a riders dream. We are at the Miles Crossroads Van Park, our hosts are lovely people and the place is very clean and tidy, if youre up this way call in.

We are fed by 6 PM in time to watch the Tour De France. Those guys are incredible. We do similar distances or more each day but their speeds and the terrain they travel have us in awe.

So another day finishes with a red and an early night, we are on again tomorrow.

Day 27 Augathella to Mitchell 185 ks Cum 4181

A sky full of stars and a waning moon and we are riding. Its brisk, perhaps cold. You need a few layers to be comfy, but we are all out, all alert watching for kangaroos in the dark. The glow of dawn and the sunrise are familiar friends, our daily companions.

We have been in the Marray/Darling catchmebt area since yesterday, enjoying the Queensland bottle trees. Before that we spent a week in the Diamantena/ Georgina River system that flows via Chanel Country to Lake Ayre. Its incredible that rain that falls here flows so far south.

Todays ride was a good run to 60 ks then a bit of work to morning tea at 70. We settled at a station entry and were quickly joined by a sprightly 80 year old Dulcie Neilson, the property owner. We shared a cup of tea and she gave us $50 then gave the girls a tour of the homestead as we rode off.

Then some more hard work to lunch at 120, some were suffering. But lunch often revives a strugling rider and the last 65 was riden in style, lots of chat, some laughs and the Chinaman again  beat Tony into camp.

All up we finished well, 185 ks in 7.42, averaging 24, top speed 47, a good day out.

The little places we ride through or stay at are quaint, worth the ride, Mitchell is a nice little town and we are in a early enough to relax, have a swim at the atesian spa and sink a few at the Court House Hotel. A 5.45 dinner is superb, the girls do it sylishly again. So early to bed for tomorrws 230.

Day 26 Blackall to Augathella 222 ks Cum 3996

Another dark start , a fast one today, we are away on a 222k spree.

The scenery is same, same, same, cattle country and scrub. Lots of roadkill, the smell never changes.

Again we have a headwind holding a firm hand against our progress, but we just hammer on. Its just an annoying persistant stall, you pedal all day.

We tough out 222 ks in 8.48 ride time, on the road for 10.30. We topped out at 34 kph and averaged 25.2, so you can see how the wind affected us.

We are in the middle of week 4. At the moment we are in a five day stretch, 216, 222, 185, 227 and 210. This will test a few of us out. Today a few put together their first back to back 200s. Dennise (great effort kid) Ian, Dave, Craig and Jack rode strongly to achieve this.Others already knew the pain of 17 hours bent over the bike in two days.

The toll is also showing in the wardrobe department, most of us struggle to keep up arm warmers, leg warmers and other clothing is loose. The Chinaman has lost all of his body fat and his gear is hanging off. Several have lost their buttocks and I.ve lost my hair.

The Chinaman had a stage win today, first into town and took out the Augathella cup. He gave Tony a flogging.

We do 5 k rotations on the front, taking the wind and covering the peleton. You do 2.5 right, slide left for 2.5 and then slip back in the line to rest and hide. Rossco and Craig do more work than most, helping those who are struggling.

When you are back in the bunch crazy suff happens. Today a competition started, "'who would Allan Moyle look like if he were a woman"' Nominations included, Margaret Thatcher, Helen Clarke, Bronwyn Bishop. But the winner was Amanda Vanstone, they wear the sme shirts.

So another day down, we are all tanned and healthy, still laughing a lot and enjoying a great ride. 

Day 25 Longreach to Blackall 216 km Cum 3774

Ride in the dark on a full moon morning. Its fun and we all rip into our route east to Barcaldine. Someone turns on the fan, right on our nose again. It punishes us for 105 ks to Barcaldine, What a nice place. The Tree of Knowledge is very interseting but the row of five pubs all only 700 meters apart gets our attention. Must come back for a pub crawl.

But we need to move and we turn south to south east. Finally its flat to down and the wind becomes a friend. We crack into the final 105 ks all smiles. All up a good 216, top speed 39 ks, average 25.3. We were man and bike for 8.30 hours, road time 10.30. We are no longer at war with our machines, no longer carrying wounds or mental scars. Just tough and ready to ride no matter what gets thrown at us, 216 today, no sweat.

We are still up around Rockhampton height so while we feel like we are headed home we still have a way to ride. The heat has eased, the days are nice and we are still riding in short sleeves and nicks once the morning chill has passed.

The only downer on the tour so far is that Mick and Paulette flew home today, Micks dad is ill and they need to be there. He wished them well, hugged them and we will be thinking of them for the rest of the tour. They are good people.

 

Day 24 Rest in Longreach July 7, 2009

Rest, rest, rest. Recover, and feel good. Some wash, some have a massage, breakfast at a cafe, just take it easy. Most visit the Stokmans Hall of Fame, so, so interesting.

Rossco services bikes, swaps tyres back to front and replaces a few chains. How do you survive a ride like this without him. On tour we have,

Phil and Tony on Raceline Giros running Shimano 105

Ian on a De Rosa                      running Shimano Durace

Rossco on a Trek Modone 2009  running Campagnolo Velove

Alan on a Trek Modone  2009     running Shimano Durace

Bryan on an Argon 18               running Shimano Ultegra

Jack on a KHS Flight 750          running Shimano Ultegra

Garry on a Giant TCR C1           running Shimano Ultegra

Craig on a Cannondale              running Campagnolo Record

Denise on a Merida                   running Shimano Ultegra

Mick on a Cervelo                     running Shimano Durace

Dave on a Wilier                       running Campagnolo Chorus

Marty on a Trek Modone 2004   running Campagnolo Chorus

 

So there is a variety of hardware on tour and Rossco carries spares to accomodate most problems, and two spare bikes as well.

 

 

 

Day 23 Winton to Longreach 181 ks Cum 3558

Once again a sensational sunrise accompanies us on the start of our days journey south east to Longreach. Its chilly but we make it a cozy ride with arm and leg warmers and a vest. Thats all you need to start and after 20 or so k's you are peeling it off to ride in short sleeves again. A magnificent riding day. The heat appears to be ovee, thank god, it was a constant issue up until now. Its all cattle country again and the herds we see are large and the cattle fat. The wildlofe for the whole tour has been intersesting. Its not that easy to see bcause of the good season they have had right across the top end. But we see agile wallaby, grey and red kangaroos, emu, pigs, parrots, bustards, brolgas, finches, eagles kites, pigeons, snakes, hawkes and lots of crows. And we see and smell a lot of it on the road. Ian has been known to ride through it.

We pull into our digs after covering 181 ks in 7 hours 2 minutes, averaging 25.8, Maxing out at 44 kph. We were on the road for 8 hrs 30 but it was a pleasure cruise, just perfect riding conditions on a great surface.

Again our road stops are a highlight for all of us. Its the time when the rubish really gets turned on. If someone is havinga bad day they cop heaps. There are no prisoners taken. Tony is out the back again today so we give it to him at lunch. He replies by riding away off the front, too strong for anyone to catch. The days on the road are long but friendships grow out here.

We dine in camp tonight, Steaks, waldorf salad, pasta and wine. The girls have done it again.

Because tomorrow is a rest day we go to town. But Monday night in Longeach doesn't offer a lot so after a few stouts we are back in camp by 9.30. Another epic day over

Day 22 Kynuna to Winton 167 ks Cum 3377 Ks

Everyone has their own routine in the mornings. Today we all do the same thing today, look outside and see what the wind is doing. Its out there again, not as strong as yesterday but neady to tst us. We'll see.

We have had some beautiful clear weather and today is just another great day, but the chilliest day to date. Most are in a jacket, arm warmers , some in leg warmers. Mick has it all and Tony is all rugged up, out of his saldals for the first time, soft.

But we are off again on the big adventure, the best way to see Australia. Through cattle country, just ever so slightly up on a fast road. Its all good. A day treated ads a recovery day, tip toeing across ther country at an average speed of 23.4 ks for thee day, Maximum a sad 30, you make you mind up about those numbers.

Some tour the pubs of Winton before a camp dinner of curried sausages, great ride food. Thanks girls for another great meal.

Theres nothing new about our evening routine, wash up, a smootth red and into bed by 7.30.

 

Day 21 Cloncurry to Kynuna 184 ks Cum 3210

We simply take a beating today. Uphill for 184 ks into a beast of a headwind. Once again we are in a fight that you just need to survive. With over 3000 ks behind us we are a bit jaded so today you just grind away for 9 and 3/4 hours.

We are in cattle country, some scrub early then big sky country, a massive blue sky and sraw coloured grasses to all horisons. At 60 ks we hoped the wind would easeas we sipped on hot soup. At 110 ks at the Walkabout Hotel in McKinlay it was clear what we were in for. Just stick at it with teeth clenched. The numbers tell the story, 184 ks, average 23, Max 35, 8 hours ride time, thats just hard work.

But enough of the gore. This is still a team event and the team is relaxed at the Blue Healer Hotel, Kynuna. The mood is as good as it gets after a long day. The locals are easy to chat with, the publoican a good bloke. THe smiles that were just a little less intense change when the BBQ ids on, steaks, sausages, salad, beautiful. The $13 a head charge is exraordinary.

We are fed, watered and in bed by 8 PM

Day 20 Mt Isa to Cloncurry 122 ks Cum 3026

We ride again at dawn. Off into range country, real bumpy stuff with a tough headwind, a real blustery thing that hurts a bit. The road is also patchy, grabbing at your wheels and making the first 60 ks hard work. The cycle gods pay us back for having a rest day. But the laughs continue, every time we stop its a ball. Phil in his new bib knicks gets panced, Starkers on the Barkers, heading for Clonkers to go bonkers.

Morning tea is soup and lamingtons. Then sombody pushed the play button and a 15 k race commences. Real hills to climb, lots of them and all at speed. We settle back down and take water at 100 before gently pedaling into Cloncurry. Ross Craig and Mick were strong and just edged Jack in the sprints. 

The numbers were OK for such a strong headwind, 122 ks, Average 26.5, Max 53, Ride time 4.36, Road time 5.45 

We are still riding in short sleeves and nicks, Tony and me in our sandals so the temperature is still hot. A swim when we get in is still on the agenda so as yet we have had no cold stuff. Cloncurry is a quiet rural place, dusty and a bit lost.

Day 19 Rest Day Mt Isa

You cant get out of the routine, so by 6.30 most are up, have a cup of tea, do the washing, tidy up your bag. Ross is on the job servicing all the bikes, what a man. Dennise and Craig are off for a massage, Jack and Maurie are cooking bacon and eggs, corn fritters and fried tomatoes, Kurri style, with a beer.

More depart for the massage thing, the Chinaman says its for sissies. The Angels need to shop, some need bike spares, others need the pharmacy. Craig buys $220 worth of supplements, could have bought a lot of beer with that.

Mt Isa is a sprawling place and we all enjoy the freedom of just strolling around, having a coffee, real easy stuff.

Most get a haircut but Mick stays solid to the 60s, good on you mate.

Tony Farnham is all grit and determination, with a bit of mongrel thrown in. His ultra marathon achievements are remarkable and second to none in Australia. On the bike he is equally impressive, Perth/Newcastle, Cape York/ Newcastle, Africa, 11 West Cycle Classics, 9 Tamworth Mountain Bike Bashes, 2 Hell on Wheels, 2 Royal Flying Doctor Service Rides. He is a tough competitor, loves to start a chase and will stick while the pressure is on. Mad as a hatter in the camp and dangerous on the drink. There is some doubt about his drug free status.