Month: July 2017

Last night we were welcomed into the home of another of my work colleagues, Cath on the Gold Coast. We enjoyed a delicious home cooked roast and great company. Thanks Cath. Setting off later than we had hoped, we made our way back to yesterday’s destination at the Queensland/New South Wales border where we would start today’s ride from. Sitting atop my trusty stead ‘Blackadder’ at Point Danger, it was immediately confirmed that I would have a terrific tailwind and I would hopefully have a quick ride through to Ballina.

Our first concern was whether I could ride the M1 (Pacific Motorway) or would I need to weave my way through the South Tweed, Chinderah, Kingscliff and Pottsville before being able to return to the Pacific Highway further down the coast. As it happened, I made an early turn and found myself entering the M1 and to my great relief saw the good old cyclist motif painted on the road shoulder and none of those big prohibited signs. Relief turned to joy when I entered the motorway proper as the north westerly winds, which were driving down the coast, were being channelled along the motorway. Immediately, I was achieving great speeds of between 30 to 45 kilometres per hour and covering a great distance in a short time. Grant had gone ahead and located a rest stop and no sooner had he contacted me, I was arriving at the said spot for our one and only stop approximately 30km south of Tweed.

After our standard morning tea of a toasted sandwich, we were off again. We decided it would be worthwhile to send Grant off to check out the coastal towns including Byron Bay and to meet up in Ballina. This has not been our normal way of doing things; however, with clear shoulders along the M1 and further down the Pacific Highway, we decided that an opportunity had presented for Grant to check out this section of the Northern NSW coast and it would be silly to lose that opportunity. My route was now very clear, continue down the M1/Highway and roll into Ballina where we would stay tonight.

After such a good tailwind, I rolled into Ballina at 12:10pm and made my way to the Ramada Hotel and Suites Ballina. Emma from Amputees NSW had discussed our objective in supporting youth connected to the Amp Camp program with Ben the manager of Ramada and our accommodation was kindly donated for tonight. What a wonderful location the Ramada sits on.

As I sit here writing, we are looking down over the mouth of the Richmond River watching the dolphins breach and dive as they chase fish along the river bank. The sun is setting and there is a beautiful golden glow across the upper Richmond River as it disappears into the distance. Tonight, we are catching up with Emma from Amputees NSW for dinner. Emma has come to Ballina to welcome us and it just so happens that she can catch up with her family whilst here.

As our journey has now brought us into NSW, we shift our attention to the Amputee Association of NSW who are now our hosts for the final 800km to Sydney. Again, thank you to the team from Amputees and Family Support Group Queensland for all their assistance as we travelled through their state. Please continue to support their objective in raising funds for twenty young people to attend Amp Camp in 2018 and you can donate to them via the links on our home page.

We now put out the call for people to back the Amputees NSW team as they also try to raise funds in support of Amp Camp. Donations to Amputees NSW can be made via the following address, http://ozcrowd.com/campaign/3959 or through visiting their website http://www.amputeesnsw.org.au/

Tomorrow we will be heading to Grafton and hoping for another day of great weather and supportive winds. Sydney here we come!!

Until tomorrow,
Mike and Grant

What an incredible day, hanging out with some amazing men as we rode from Brisbane to Tweed Heads. Today started with a great breakfast of fruit and cereal with our hosts Kym and Deb. We were soon joined by Martin and Keith, two mates of Kym’s who are also keen cyclists. After a little more fuel for the day, we were soon on our way after the customary photos and farewells. A neighbour in the street Kym lives in, made her way to our gathered little group to enquire about our ride as she is also a keen cyclist and enjoys long distance adventures. We asked if she wished to join us but, unfortunately, she had other commitments that would stop her this time.

Rolling off, we set a great pace as we headed south through the back-roads of the southern suburbs of Brisbane. It wasn’t long before we reached the old Pacific Highway which runs alongside the M1. Great smooth roads with a decent shoulder allowed for fast flowing cycling. With Martin at the front, it was like having our very own Fabian Cancellara ‘Spartacus’ setting the pace. Charging down the road we made great time and it wasn’t long before we arrived at Paradise Point, our first destination where we stopped for a snack and coffee. All of us were feeling very buoyed from our mornings ride. Having Grant meet us there, allowed for reapplication of sunscreen, removing of vests and the opportunity to drop off any other unwanted items.

Once back on the road again, we could talk as we rode, which is a massive change from the first three weeks of isolated cycling. Sharing in the locations and history of the Gold Coast was an enjoyable experience. We had elected to take the coast roads so we could enjoy the sea breeze, which was increasing at the same time as the heat of the day. It was the perfect mix of sun beating down and breeze to refresh you making it such a glorious day and the company topped it all off.

On reaching Surfers Paradise, we stopped for a quick break and photos of the 2018 Commonwealth Games countdown at the beach before moving on again. Importantly, we made a brief detour to take a quick snap at Currumbin Sanctuary as a memento for my wife, Merrilynne, who worked there in 1992. Utilising the cycle ways and cycle lanes, we thread our way toward Coolangatta and our ultimate destination – Tweed Heads and the border between Queensland and New South Wales.

Arriving early, we met Darrel Sparke (Vice President of Amputees NSW) and Holly Franklin (AFSG) who had caught up with Grant at a local coffee shop. We decided to push up the final climb on Boundary Street and reached Point Danger in great time, coming to a stop at 2.30pm. A short time later, we were met at the top by Grant, Holly, Darrel and Lynda Foulis (AFSG) for the official handover of Riding 4 Amp Camp from Queensland to New South Wales. Today brought an end to our ride through Queensland and now we begin the next chapter in New South Wales for the final 800+km of this exciting adventure.

I wish to thank Lynda and Holly, from AFSG, for all their support as we have been riding through Queensland and we thank all the families and teens from Amp Camp who have really made our trip a pleasure. Having been handed over to the NSW team, after completing two thirds of our Riding4AmpCamp, we will now continue along the NSW coast for the next phase.

Please lend your support to Amp Camp through providing donations to www.afsg.org.au or via the links on our home page.

Until tomorrow,
Mike and Grant

Our last rest day was a real treat. The day started with a very lovely breakfast and conversation over the table with our hosts Kym, Deb and their son Sam. We have been shown incredible hospitality whilst here.

Following breakfast, we made our way into Brisbane for a planned event with the kids from Amp Camp, along with Lynda and Holly from Amputees and Family Support Group Queensland (AFSG). The first venue was Jimmy’s On The Mall which was a great meeting point for coffee and a chance to meet the parents of these amazing young people. Next was a Lazer Tag party. The privilege for Grant and myself was to be included in this Amp Camp family event and to have an opportunity to share in their stories and lives. I have often thought, it is one thing to read or hear about another person’s life and experiences, but it is another to meet the person and hear the story from their own lips. It is a very humbling and challenging experience. I have been continually left in awe of these incredible young people who have such resilience and strength and have so much to offer. I have learnt so much already from the simplest act of being accepted and included in their community and have enjoyed the relationships built.

Lazer tag was an absolute ball! As I have plenty of kilometres still to travel, I was reserved in my actions in the game and found nice corners to conceal myself and avoid the chance of injury. There was a real connection between all the young people and a great time was had by all. After two games, we had a quick bite to eat and there was a short session of Karaoke before re-entering the battle zone for one last game of Lazer Tag.

After a group photo, we said our goodbyes and everyone went their own way. A massive thanks to these amazing kids and to their incredible parents for allowing us to join in on their day. Holly, Grant and I finished the day with coffee and cold drinks while discussing tomorrow’s final ride in Queensland. Leaving the outskirts of South Brisbane in the morning, we will meet up with Lynda Foulis and Holly Franklin from AFSG, and Darrel Sparke from Amputees NSW at the border to do our hand over from Queensland to New South Wales. Our planned meeting will take place at Point Danger (Tweed Heads), which is on the border between both States. I will be joined on my ride to Danger Point by Kym and two of his cycling mates as we take in the beautiful Gold Coast beach strip.

We have covered over 1800km so far, which means we have completed two thirds of the ride – only 900km to go. Please lend your support to Amp Camp through providing donations to www.afsg.org.au or via the links on our home page.

Until tomorrow,
Mike and Grant

Leaving the Sunshine Coast this morning, we made our way to Landsborough while avoiding the motorways and ever-increasing traffic. Landsborough is situated due west of Caloundra and close to the Glass House Mountains. On arrival, we made our way to the Steaming Cup Café for some breakfast while waiting for my riding companion, Kym Ayling, to arrive from Brisbane.

I was put in touch with Kym through a close friend who has known Kym and his family from when they lived in the Blue Mountains. Kym is an avid cyclist who also has experience in the long-distance cycling arena, having completed the Brisbane to Cairns ride a few years ago among many of his expeditions. Kym offered to guide me through to Brisbane as there are numerous motorways which, unfortunately, we cannot utilise. Leaving Landsborough, we travelled along Steve Irwin Way for approximately 2km before we made our first stop at Australia Zoo – home of the Crocodile Hunter. A few photos later and we were on our way again. Our first few kilometres were very comfortable with a reasonable edge to the road; however, it wasn’t long before the white line merged into the roadside grass. We stayed on Steve’s road (Steve Irwin Way) for the next 20 odd kilometres before heading west and onto the country roads enabling us to eventually make our assault on Brisbane.

On entering the north side of Brisbane, we now had to contend with reasonably thick traffic and no cycle-ways. Traversing through the suburbs, Kym guided us through roads and byways I would never have considered. Before long, we had passed through Strathpine as we headed south along Gympie Road toward the city. We had the company of that lovely lady’s voice from the Maps app on the phone who kept trying to direct us onto motorways to make our trip the most direct. Hmmm…I’m not sure that using the directions guide from Maps on the phone would be a good defence if picked up riding on the motorways. So we elected to ignore her and continued through the outer roads of Brisbane.

As we rode through the north-western side of Brisbane, Kym identified the key locations: The Gabba; Ekka (where Brisbane’s annual show is held); the specialist, medical and health precinct; and, some of the older schools of Brisbane. Eventually we dived under a bridge where five lanes of traffic swung around a corner, and the next thing we were heading across the Brisbane River toward our stopping destination – South Bank. Under Kym’s masterful guidance, we arrived safely at South Bank and met up again with Grant under the Ferris wheel which holds pride of place.

Now Kym had been telling me all along that the south side is better riding as there are cycle-ways right through. I just thought this was a north versus south Brisbane rivalry thing. I had figured out from our northerly approach that, as we had not been on any cycle ways, it wouldn’t take a lot to have more on the south side. However, on leaving South Bank, we were immediately following cycle-ways throughout the city and then eventually through to Springwood, being approximately 20km from the city. Throughout that 20km, we were only on the road for about 5km at the very end of our journey.

During the last 10km we were joined by Col, a local cyclist on his afternoon commute who also happened to be riding to Springwood. Col explained that he too enjoys long-distance riding and often heads off on journeys to far away places, including a ride through the Pyrenes in France. Conversations began and another opportunity presented for me to explain the reason for our ride – to raise further awareness of the amputation, limb loss and limb difference community. Only 500m from Kym’s home, we pulled to the side of the road to say our farewells to Col when he dug into his bike pannier and kindly donated $50 toward Amp Camp. A massive thank you to Col and, also, to all of you who have shown your financial support. Every dollar draws us closer to ensuring these incredible teens can engage together in the community that is Amp Camp.

Swinging into the final streets before arriving at our destination we were presented with one final climb. A nice little rise to test the tired bodies.

Tomorrow is our rest day here in Brisbane and we have been kindly offered accommodation with Kym and his wife Deb. At Queens Street Mall on Saturday morning, we will be meeting up with Holly and Lynda from the Amputees and Family Support Group who have coordinated a Lazer Tag Party for the teens we are riding for. We are looking forward to this catch-up with the teens and their parents.

On Sunday, we again hit the road for the last day of riding here in Queensland and we would love to see the support for Amputees and Family Support Group Inc Quensland (AFSG) grow through your financial support. Please support us as every $500.00 raised through this ride, provides the necessary finances for another teenager to attend Amp Camp. Donations can be made via www.afsg.org.au or via the links on our home page.

Arrangements are being made for an official handover at the border between Amputees and Family Support Group Qld and Amputees NSW. The next chapter will begin shortly as we head from Queensland to New South Wales.

Until tomorrow,
Mike and Grant

Setting off early, we made for Cooroy where we had an interview at the Noosa District High School with Amp Camper Rhys Lloyd. The riding was easier this morning with cooler conditions, less traffic and what I can only say were the most heavenly roads I think I have ever ridden. Super smooth asphalt and wide breakdown areas provided the near perfect situation of every cyclist’s dream. We arrived in Cooroy an hour earlier than expected which allowed time to find a café to fuel up on coffee and a ham, cheese and tomato sandwich.

Now Cooroy is a quant little town and one I have never had the good pleasure of visiting. So it was an incredible surprise when a voice behind me called out my name. The voice was familiar but as I scanned quickly into my memory I could not place it. Turning, I saw before me one of my good mates, Paul Underwood, from the Blue Mountains in NSW. I was standing right outside his jewellery shop, Bold as Love Jewellery, in the middle of Cooroy. We sat with coffees on a bench out the front of his store and caught up on the last twenty odd years since we had last seen each other. Paul and I were in a band together all those years ago and as life takes us to different corners we had lost touch. What an amazing opportunity to renew friendships.

Arriving at Noosa District High School, we were introduced to Rhys who had arranged for an interview to be filmed by the media team at the school. The team, made up of students from Year 11, briefed me on their objectives, how the interview would be conducted and positioned Rhys and myself. We were able to conduct two separate interviews with Rhys interviewing me and then me interviewing Rhys. I haven’t seen the finished product but am sure these will appear shortly on the Riding4AmpCamp Facebook page. A massive thank you must be given to the Staff, Administration and Principal of Noosa District High School for accommodating and supporting Rhys and ourselves. Thanks also to Rhys’s mum for supporting and helping to arrange this catch up.

Leaving the school, we attempted to re-enter the Bruce Highway for a quick run to Maroochydore and then on to our stopping point near Mooloolaba. However, as I turned to ride back onto the highway, there standing some twenty feet in the air, was the white sign of exclusion – No Pedestrians, No Horses, No Bicycles! The sign was pretty clear. The only problem was that the sign was fifty metres up the ‘On’ ramp which I had just committed to ride up. Stopping and having to now safely exit the ‘On’ ramp, I navigated to another route where I now had to ride the hills of the Sunshine Coast across to Noosa before navigating down to the coast. Instead of the super smooth asphalt roads, the next 15 – 20 kilometres were up and down every hill and valley that seemed to be available. We eventually reached our goal at 3:50pm.

Grabbing a quick shower at my cousin’s home, we were bundled into the car before heading to Sunshine FM (104.9 FM) for a radio interview which would air on their Drive Time Program. We detoured slightly to pick up another of the incredible Amp Campers, Robey and her mum Lisa. The opportunity for an interview with Robey and myself was something we did not want to miss. You can listen to this interview on 28/07/17 via podcast available at www.sunshinefm.com.au
Robey has been to Amp Camp four times and spoken of the difference it makes for her in her life. She spoke of it being another family where she feels unconditional love and acceptance. On returning to Robey and Lisa’s home, we also recorded a quick interview which we are trying to have uploaded to the Riding4AmpCamp Facebook page.

Today, Grant and I have been truly blessed. First, to meet with an old mate; then, catching up with my family; and finally, to be incredibly humbled and inspired by some amazing teenagers who can and hopefully will Make A Difference in the lives of others. It is for these young people that I ride and I am very impressed with their love and acceptance for each other and their inner resilience and fortitude. Another thanks to Noosa District High School for accommodating us and a big thanks to Sunshine FM’s Greg and Bruce for making the radio interviews happen and for supporting Amp Camp.

We have only two days of riding to go in Queensland and we would love to see the support for Amputees and Family Support Group Inc Queensland (AFSG) grow through your financial support. Today, we identified another young person who, in twelve months time, may be eligible to attend Amp Camp – so this doesn’t end here. Please support us as every $500.00 raised through this ride, provides the necessary finances for another teenager to attend Amp Camp.

Again and again it is being reinforced to Grant and I that the stories of these young people and their parents highlight the importance of Amp Camp and how it provides community, relationships and a connection for youth at such a crucial time in their development. We value your support. Donations can be made via www.afsg.org.au or via the links on our home page.

Until tomorrow,
Mike and Grant

It was a later than expected departure today but we had a late night with our hosts (Kelli and Michael) at the Blue Shades Motel – had a great time. We discussed: the world’s woes; politics; the concept that everyone belongs to a tribe; rugby union and rugby league; the importance of Western Force remaining in the National Rugby Union comp and how great it is that Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest has backed them. We then talked of the significance of Making A Difference in other people’s lives. Michael spoke of his ongoing and previous involvement in a cancer ride for a mate and the importance of supporting his mate’s wife and kids. We also talked of the need for youth to be encouraged, given confidence and, equally vital, developing their competence whether in a trade or other employment skills. Michael noted his involvement in developing a national youth program and spoke of the positive outcomes of the youth involved. This resonated with both Grant and myself as we set out to build into the lives of the youth in the amputee, limb loss and limb difference community. This morning we had another short chat before Michael wished us well and we were on our way. Thanks Kelli and Michael, it was a remarkable time!!

With roadworks being done on the major exit road from Maryborough, we found ourselves on the old country roads heading south. There’s something refreshing about not being on the highway and cruising through farmlands. Soon, we were re-joining the Bruce Highway and heading through more roadworks before coming to a relaxed stop at Tiaro. This small town has a real sense of character and is deeply entrenched in history. Sitting at the Retro Espresso was a nice step back in time. They have set up their shop with items of the past including some beautiful old treasures out the front. The vintage touring bike was a winner and many of you there will remember the old banana seat dragster.

Beautiful bushland lines the sides of the road and we made very good time today with an occasional tailwind assisting. There was a bit of climbing today accompanied with some very nice downhill runs. It was spectacular scenery.

We arrived early in Gympie and this has allowed us time to plan the next few days. We are hoping this will help us lift the profile of Amp Camp and the amputee, limb loss and limb difference community. Over the next 24 hours, we are looking forward to meeting with some of the young people and their families as part of our stop on the Sunshine Coast. We have an appointment with Sunshine FM and we are hoping these young people will join us for the planned interview. I am encouraged daily, through my contact with Aussies met on this journey, who show a genuine interest in our cause of Riding4AmpCamp.

If you are a Queenslander please get behind Amputees and Family Support Group Inc Queensland (AFSG) with your donations. Every $500.00 raised through this ride, provides the necessary finances for another teenager to attend Amp Camp. What is evident to us, by hearing the stories of these young people and their parents, is that Amp Camp provides community, relationships and a connection for youth at such a crucial time in their development. We value your support. Donations can be made via www.afsg.org.au or via the links on our home page.

Until tomorrow,
Mike and Grant

A very brisk morning, with the temperature gauge sitting between 3 degrees and 10 degrees for the first hour, made for very nice riding. There was no wind to contend with which provided a good platform to launch into the day. The first 50km of riding was characterised by climbing the longest individual hill climb – being more than 2km. They weren’t high climbs, but sufficient enough to make you work for the crest. The cold weather aided this section of the ride and I was soon removing the cold weather layers as the heat of the day kicked in.

We left at 7.30am this morning and arrived at our first major rest stop in Childers by 10.30am. Grant had gone ahead to secure a table at Childers hot bread shop, “Hot Bread Fred”. Breaking from tradition, Grant had a Curried Chicken pie and coffee and I had a sausage roll and Coke. Both pastries were of a great quality. Grant was originally wanting to have sauce with his pie, but the lovely lady behind the counter convinced him otherwise. He raved about the curry sauce offered in his pie and was glad he hadn’t spoiled it with tomato sauce.

 

Childers is one of those old country towns with a certain charm and warmth. All the locals were friendly amidst the busyness of their day. It has those wide country streets and character buildings which must tell some amazing stories of the past. On my way out of town I noticed the council shire office and had to take a photo. Given the bad rap the word Isis has received in recent times, I was fascinated to see that the shire office is the ‘Isis Shire Council’. A glance at the maps and we were surround by Central Isis, North Isis and South Isis. I’m still intrigued as to the background of the name for these parts of Queensland.

When passing a wood mill today, the aroma of the burning timbers took me back to my memories of sitting with my mate Doug and his son Matthew in the remote Papua New Guinean village of Naduri on the Kokoda track. My senses were very alive this morning due to the coolness of the air and the wood burning lifted me from this track (road) and took me to another. Many of the young men who fought on the Kokoda Track were from Queensland, so it was fitting to be thinking of their sacrifice as I rode through this beautiful country side. We have still been seeing numerous Australian service men and women traversing these roads, highlighting a new generation committed to the protection of this nation and its people.

The roads here are lined with gum trees and Grant and I both reflected that it was very similar looking to the South West of WA, specifically through the Donnelly River milling region near Manjimup. The air was filled with a sweet and refreshing smell of eucalypt and wattle since they have begun to blossom throughout these parts. The road has become smoother since moving further south and the resistance on Blackadder’s tyres has lessened.

Travelling the road between Childers and Maryborough today has been a dream run with a beautiful surface of asphalt with a good one and half metre edge between the grass and the white line. Having a wide edge allowed for easy passing with the ongoing stream of trucks. We eventually came upon the Torbanlea Roadhouse and grabbed ourselves a quick snack before being blessed with the smoothest roads to date. The verge was nice and the surface smooth. It made for very pleasurable riding despite the headwind having kicked in.

On entering Maryborough, I turned at the first entry into town which led me to the city centre before having to navigate my way to our accommodation for the night. We are staying at the Blue Shades Motel and the proprietors, Michael and Kelli have offered to share and cover dinner for Grant and I tonight. Michael has previously completed a charity support ride for a friend who had cancer, so we have some common talking points. We have, throughout this ride, brought to your attention the service providers who have supported the ride and, again, we want to acknowledge and thank Michael and Kelli for their generosity and welcoming spirit. The Blue Shades is a fine establishment and the rooms are turned out very nicely. Access to the washing machine and dryer has meant we have clean clothes for the assault on the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane. When you travel up through this part of Queensland, either on your way north or south, be sure to book a night at the Blue Shade Motel.

I have decided to call an end to the Find a Roadside Clothing Outfit. I found some items today; however, decided that I really would need to be kitted out with a Hazchem suit before touching them. So we will endeavour to bring other interesting items we may find along the way.

Tomorrow, we are off to Gympie and then the following day the Sunshine Coast. We are hoping to catch up with a number of the teens from Amp Camp on Thursday and then again on Saturday in Brisbane.

Please continue to support us @Riding4AmpCamp Facebook page. For those reading the blog who would like to donate to the Amp Camp program for teens living with amputation, limb loss and limb difference, please go to our donation links on the home page of www.go-mad.net or via @Riding4AmpCamp Facebook page.

Until tomorrow,
Mike and Grant

Another day, another 100 road trains, 200 caravans and no other cyclists! We had a good night at the Hilltop Motor Inn, Benaraby, and an equally appetising dinner at the Tannum Sands Surf Club. The plan had been to leave at 6:30am; however, tiredness got the better of me and we didn’t hit the road until 7:50am. This late start resulted in a late finish of 4:50pm.

The ride today was dominated by ongoing stints of climbing, which saw me rise over 1000 metres and encounter the ever-changing road surfaces of the Queensland roads. As always, the truck drivers have been very accommodating and they have been superb on the narrowing and winding roads.

Throughout today’s ride, we have travelled through very similar terrain as yesterday with good tree cover on the sides of the road. Large gum trees re-enforced the change of flora as there have been less bridges and creeks which had become familiar further up north. The rivers here have widened with a good flow of water in them, and the banks are flourishing with flowers and strong native grasses.

We covered the first 50km in good time as there was a very light tailwind and the roads were quiet due to little traffic. We rode through our first planned stop in Bororen and continued to Miriam Vale where we stopped for morning tea. After a break, we re-entered the road and the conditions had changed against us. The wind had picked up, the traffic increased and the temperature had risen from the cool of the morning.

My hopes of building my roadside cycling outfit were given a start when I came upon a lonely, but previously loved and nurtured, gum-boot. Unfortunately, it was only the one and no other items could be located. I’m starting to think that this may be a case of ‘tourists up north don’t value their clothing’. Maybe they just throw them out the window; or, they are left to dry on the roof racks and away they go in the wind. We will keep trying as it appears people south of Rockhampton treasure their clothes.

We stopped for a roadside lunch consisting of Ryvita and milk before completing a phone interview with the ABC Radio station in Rockhampton. Although these interviews are not in my comfort zone, they are necessary if we are to continue to raise awareness of youth living with amputation, limb loss and limb difference. The wider Australian community needs to be made aware of the challenges this group of Australian teens and their families face and to work at including them in the community.

The day was long and we arrived in Gin Gin shortly before 5:00pm. I ordered my standard dinner of Salmon, Garlic Prawns and Veges, while Grant enjoyed the T-Bone Steak and veges combos on offer here. Then we chatted about where we will stay tomorrow night and discussed the logistics of the next few days of riding.

Please continue to support us @Riding4AmpCamp Facebook page. For those reading the blog who would like to donate to the Amp Camp program for teens living with amputation, limb loss and limb difference, please go to our donation links on the home page of www.go-mad.net or via @Riding4AmpCamp Facebook page.

Until tomorrow,
Mike and Grant

Rolling out of Rockhampton early on a Sunday morning was a very good idea. Traffic was low and the conditions were conducive to cycling. The temperature was hovering around 15 degrees for the first hour and there was a very light wind which was also favourable. Last night we stayed on the northern side of Rockhampton and it was approximately 10km across town before we began to leave the city limits.

The rest day has served me well and energy levels are up, along with a sense of excitement, as we are only a few days from reaching Brisbane. As I mentioned in yesterday’s blog, we have a few catch ups being planned and it is meeting the young men and women we are riding for that gives us the greatest sense of achievement.

As a cyclist and someone who loves the culture and genuineness of Australia, it is very relaxing riding through rural Australia, exploring new countryside and meeting people along the way. Many of the little hamlets we passed through would have been hustling centres in years gone by. Today was no different as we travelled through areas like Bajool and eventually stopped for morning tea at Marmor having knocked over 50km. The day has been different to most in that we are encountering rolling hills which remind me of the terrain around Mudgee in NSW or Arthur River in WA. These consistent rollers have resulted in over 600 metres of climbing today (For full riding statistics, see STRAVA data to the left). Eventually we passed the little village of Raglan and I thought of my wife and daughters discussing that old fashion genius, the raglan sleeves and where it was devised. As I rode away from the entry to Raglan I thought that maybe this was a town of seamstresses in the past or maybe it still is!

Continuing on down the Bruce Highway, we rolled into Mount Larcum for a brief lunch stop. From here the road seemed to rise and fall with gums and high native grasses lining the road side. The traffic had built up over the day and what was ever present were the convoys of Australian, New Zealand and American soldiers who have recently finished their joint international war games (Talisman Sabre) in the Rockhampton area. When we say convoys, we are meaning in excess of 200 vehicles. Pretty impressive and the Australian Army are a tight looking outfit I must say.

Earlier in the day, there were multiple points on the highway where road works led to reduced edges and on one occasion I was forced from the road, down a small embankment and onto a service road below – you guessed it, by my favourite vehicle…a caravan (sarcasm intended) . As I steadied Blackadder, a young Australian soldier called out to check on my welfare. All was good and I re-joined the road when it was safe to do so. I ended up riding the last kilometre of that particular stretch of roadworks with three New Zealand vehicles providing me a rear-guard action. A thumbs-up from the passenger and a little further up the road they had pulled over and the driver lent out the window to cheer me on.

Not a lot of wildlife today and even less in the way of clothing to put together our first roadside outfit. Hopefully tomorrow!

Initially we had planned to stop in Calliope (pronounced, KAL…I…OH…PEA) but, as we had made good time and I was feeling good, we continued up a number of hills and we are resting tonight at the Hilltop Motor Inn, Benaraby. The proprietor offered us a discounted rate to support our venture. We are very thankful and our digs tonight are very comfortable. We would both recommend this Motor Inn if you are ever passing through this part of the country. They have ensured attention to cleanliness and there is that old-family-run-business atmosphere that makes you feel very welcome. Tomorrow we are hoping to reach Gin Gin which is around 150km.

Please continue to support us @Riding4AmpCamp Facebook page. For those reading the blog who would like to donate to the Amp Camp program for teens living with amputation, limb loss and limb difference, please go to our donation links on the home page of www.go-mad.net or via @Riding4AmpCamp Facebook page.

Until tomorrow,
Mike and Grant

Last night we spent the night in Yeppoon with good friends and today was one of those days of catching up and enjoying a good yarn over breakfast before heading back to Rockhampton.

We were advised to drop in to Emu Park on our way back to Rockhampton which had a pretty spectacular view of the Great Keppel islands. Whilst in Yeppoon we noticed the old railway line had been removed and we were told there are plans for a rail trail. I only hope the Mountain Bike and Touring Cycling Clubs can get on board and turn this into another venture that supports tourism here on the Central Queensland Coast. The old train line runs through some beautiful countryside not dissimilar to areas in Western Australia – like down near Ravensthorpe and towards Albany. I guess we will see what the future holds for reclaiming this old railway line.

On returning to Rockhampton, we set to getting all our domestic requirements completed. This included the washing of clothes and doing a food shop for the next few days. All done by 3:00pm, we made the executive decision to go to the movies. The film of choice was Dunkirk which allowed us to sit back and enjoy the chance to relax.

Tomorrow, we return to the road with the objective of reaching Benaraby, south of Gladstone. A quick view of the forecast for the next few days seems favourable and we are hopeful of a good ride. It’s only six days and approximately 600km until we reach Brisbane. It is hoped that, as we pass through the Sunshine Coast, we may have opportunity to catch up with more of the young people who make up the reason for this ride. Next Saturday, another rest day is planned in Brisbane and there is an event organised through the Amputees and Family Support Group (AFSG) which we will explain more later in the week. Both Grant and I are looking forward to these two opportunities.

I encourage you all to raise the awareness of teen amputees where ever you may be. As a community we need to make a difference in these young peoples lives and we would welcome your support. Please link in to @Riding4AmpCamp Facebook page. For those reading the blog who would like to donate to the Amp Camp program for teens living with amputation, limb loss and limb difference, please go to our donation links on the home page of www.go-mad.net or via @Riding4AmpCamp Facebook page.

Until tomorrow,
Mike and Grant