Well, its been just over a month now and with time to reflect Id have to say that the trip was a great experience and has provided to us far more in return in terms of experience than we ever put in.
Suncorp were fantastic. They donated an additional $5,000 taking our total up to about $11,500 for the Cancer Care Center at St George Hospital. Through various media we also managed to get the story in front of over 150,000 people.
We are thinking about our next venture but in the meantime have developed a short video of the trip. For those interested, please call me on 0409 620 419.
Thank you again to everyone for all your support.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
HOME
Another long ride (560km) and to top it off, we even got rain from Lithgow all the way home.
At Dubbo we bumped into a petrol tanker driver (Paul) who we'd also met at Bourke on the way to Tibooburra. At Bourke he mentioned that his dad had died the week earlier of prostate cancer so to bump into him again at Dubbo was weird. A quick chat and some encouragement from the petrol station owner to ‘keep going’ got us back on the bikes again to Mudgee for lunch.
From here it was an interesting ride home, mostly because we had some corners.
Home at 6.00 pm. It was good to see family. Everyone had missed everyone!
Now I can say that with everyone back safely, donations well exceeding our target, with the message about prostate cancer placed in front of over 100,000 people and the 3 of us having had a fantastic experience of the outback that we have well and truly achieved out goals.
We rode just over 3800 km of which about 1800 was on dirt. We slept out either on the side of the road or at a creek beds for 6 nights. We saw billions of stars, lots of emus, kangaroos, lizards and goats. We met some funny people (the publican at Corner store who told us he was the topless dancer but only after coming out of the chiller room for that extra effect – Rob, who fixed our trailer at Tibooburra who told us that to avoid punctures, he keeps all his tyre pressures at 40psi – even the wheelbarrow – the two Italian blokes we met somewhere just before the Strzelecki Track who told us they caught fish at Coopers Creek in their esky.
Importantly, we did what we said we’d do.
At Dubbo we bumped into a petrol tanker driver (Paul) who we'd also met at Bourke on the way to Tibooburra. At Bourke he mentioned that his dad had died the week earlier of prostate cancer so to bump into him again at Dubbo was weird. A quick chat and some encouragement from the petrol station owner to ‘keep going’ got us back on the bikes again to Mudgee for lunch.
From here it was an interesting ride home, mostly because we had some corners.
Home at 6.00 pm. It was good to see family. Everyone had missed everyone!
Now I can say that with everyone back safely, donations well exceeding our target, with the message about prostate cancer placed in front of over 100,000 people and the 3 of us having had a fantastic experience of the outback that we have well and truly achieved out goals.
We rode just over 3800 km of which about 1800 was on dirt. We slept out either on the side of the road or at a creek beds for 6 nights. We saw billions of stars, lots of emus, kangaroos, lizards and goats. We met some funny people (the publican at Corner store who told us he was the topless dancer but only after coming out of the chiller room for that extra effect – Rob, who fixed our trailer at Tibooburra who told us that to avoid punctures, he keeps all his tyre pressures at 40psi – even the wheelbarrow – the two Italian blokes we met somewhere just before the Strzelecki Track who told us they caught fish at Coopers Creek in their esky.
Importantly, we did what we said we’d do.
From here, we’ll post more blogs summing up things and including a few more photos so please keep re-visiting and send any comments – we really appreciate them. Soon, we’ll compile all the vision & photos into a DVD which we’ll sent to all the people who have donated as a way of saying thanks.
The trip was made easier because of help from
- GIO
- Twynam Agricultural Group
- VA.Hire.com.au
- BMW Adelaide
- Nigel Morrell Motorcycles
- Bills Motorcycles
- Panavision
- The Prostate Cancer Institute (Thanks Phill)
- Cross Road Tyres (Bourke)
and of course the over 70 people who donated to help us get to our current balance
This was all done for a few simple reasons
1) If your over 50 talk to your GP about prostate cancer at your annual check up
2) If you have a history of cancer in the family - do it earlier
3) Research will develop solutions to solve prostate cancer. Your donations go to support the fantastic work at the Prostate Cancer Institute and the Cancer Care Centre at St George Hospital
Thanks
Monday, April 20, 2009
DAY 10 Broken Hill to Nyngan
It was nice to sleep in a motel room but I think we all would have prefered a fire and the stars
.
. Up and out early for a long straight ride to Nyngan. I think there were two curves to navigate in the 550km.
We croissed the Darling River (which looked about as sad as Wilcannia) and the Bowen River (which looked a bit more healthy).
Here are some random photos.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
DAY #9 - Fence to Broken Hill
150 km of dirt road with lots of roos and emus so we needed to keep the speeds down.
At Yunta we found bitumen. Both Greg and I spoke about turning around and doing it all again but Chook had gone through both his iPods music so it was time to head east.
We did a quick diversion to Silverton to see the pub where they filmed Mad Max (and many other movies).
Given we've been out of contact for 3 days, we all rang home to cacth up with the news.
Staying in a motel room tonight which is luxury.
(Remember to look back at old posts - we have inlcuded some new photos and video clips)
DAY #8 - Terrapinna Springs to Vermon Proof Fence
We needed to focus on fuel at Arkaroola otherwise we'd be in trouble.
On the way, we stopped at Balcanoona which is the headquarters of the National Parks for the Gamman Ranges. Here we met Corrections Officers who were supervising a group of prisoners who were working in the parks as part of their release program. A nice cup of tea and we made our way to Arkaroola. which was very dry. The rocks here looked exactly the same as the last time I was here.
After about 350 km riding we found a spot on the side of the road, made a big fire and watched shooting stars.
Tomorrow Broken Hill for a shower
DAY #7 - Innamincka to somewhere near Mount Hopeless
Greg cooked a fantastic stew for dinner. I'm pleased to say that I had the foresight to go away with two mates who are both great cooks. Of course, I'm good at dishes and light entertainment so together it all seems to work.
We fuelled up the jerry cans with 60 litres of fuel which, together with the bike tanks gives a range of about 650 km . We'd need every bit of this to cover us safely to the next fuel at Arkaroola. The roads are wide and safe so we sat on about 90km till we got to the Moomba gas plant and took some photo's.
Another long ride to Montacollena Bore which is an artisan bore in the middle of nothing. (The flies helped us eat lunch). Here, Greg's Dad decided he'd make his way slowly back to Adelaide before we peeled off onto more remote roads taking us through the southern part of the Strezlecki Desert and the very dry Lake Frome. The photo shows how arid it is.
We find that at about 4.30pm we've all had enough so we find a spot on the side of the track, get the camp chairs out and have a quick beer before erecting the tent. We slept in a creek bed near Terrapinia Springs which is about 60klm off the Strezlecki Track. (if you double click on the photo below you'll see the camping spot)
Chook cooked up a storm with a risotto.
We smell; we're dusty, and exhausted as we watched the sun go down.
Geez - we miss work!
(Remember to keep giving us comments - its good to know someone is watching!)
We fuelled up the jerry cans with 60 litres of fuel which, together with the bike tanks gives a range of about 650 km . We'd need every bit of this to cover us safely to the next fuel at Arkaroola. The roads are wide and safe so we sat on about 90km till we got to the Moomba gas plant and took some photo's.
Another long ride to Montacollena Bore which is an artisan bore in the middle of nothing. (The flies helped us eat lunch). Here, Greg's Dad decided he'd make his way slowly back to Adelaide before we peeled off onto more remote roads taking us through the southern part of the Strezlecki Desert and the very dry Lake Frome. The photo shows how arid it is.
We find that at about 4.30pm we've all had enough so we find a spot on the side of the track, get the camp chairs out and have a quick beer before erecting the tent. We slept in a creek bed near Terrapinia Springs which is about 60klm off the Strezlecki Track. (if you double click on the photo below you'll see the camping spot)
Chook cooked up a storm with a risotto.
We smell; we're dusty, and exhausted as we watched the sun go down.
Geez - we miss work!
(Remember to keep giving us comments - its good to know someone is watching!)
Thursday, April 16, 2009
DAY #6 - Innamincka
Today we decided to stay here and go fishing.
We took the basket from the Engle fridge and a colander to the weir and scooped up yellow belly fish. How Amazing!!!!!!
We also went for a long drift (about 2 km) down Coopers Creek. The bird life was incredible. Imagine, this creek only floods once a year from rains in northern QLD and all the water goes to Lake Eyre and we were here for it.
We took the basket from the Engle fridge and a colander to the weir and scooped up yellow belly fish. How Amazing!!!!!!
We also went for a long drift (about 2 km) down Coopers Creek. The bird life was incredible. Imagine, this creek only floods once a year from rains in northern QLD and all the water goes to Lake Eyre and we were here for it.
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