Hi all
I am back from the Conference Ride in one piece. It want a great event although no Exchange Students unfortunately. I say unfortunately for two reasons.
1. They would have enjoyed the experience maybe!
2. That may have slowed us down a bit so it would not only be me that was dragging the field.
I was overwhelmed by the quality of the riders, most of whom had performed the ride many times and are super fit. But the social aspect was worth the sore backside. Each rider was provided with a specially designed ride top and a ride Polo Shirt.
This polo shirt was for wearing in the evening when we went to dinner at the Pub so that the locals could see what were about.
The accommodation provided BIG4 Bendigo Ascot Holiday Park, was a comfortable two bedroom cabin with fridge stove bathroom two TV’s and air conditioning.
Each day started from the place and a different route 50 Km out and back so there was plenty of variety; sometimes with wind in your face and sometimes with it on your back; lots of hills, some up some down. The down ones are much more pleasant!
The daily routine for me was get up a 6.00 am yes really!!
Put my riding gear on make my breakfast fill my water bottles and check my bike, start the bike computer and go off the join the rest of the riders - about 40 of us in all, including the support team.
We were then given a briefing about what was is store for us by the ever truthful Barry Irving (Rosebud Rye Club).
Then poor old Col Byatt had to hop in his car and lead us to morning tea stop whereupon the guys and girls in the support team had provided a great spread of fruit, cakes, tea and coffee and water for refilling our drink bottles, to re-energise us for the next 25 KM leg.
So “On yer bike” to the lunch stop.
Lunch was all laid out with a range of rolls or flat bread a great choice of freshly made salads ,and meats, cakes and sliced fruit, tea and coffee and water bottle refills.
Back on our bikes and after a further 25 KM struggle afternoon tea stop appears from over the horizon.
After recovering slightly its back on the bike for the final 25 KM of the day.
So finally we get back to our cabin for a shower, change of clothes lie down, and catch up on emails.
About 6.15 PM we walk about a 1 km to the pub for a meal and the occasional drink and chat for an hour or so before walking back to camp and collapsing before going to bed and having nightmares about the next day’s test of endurance.
So thanks to all of you that sponsored me. You jointly contributed just over $1000. So I imagine the total amount raised when accounting for the other riders would be well in excess of $30000
I will be sending you an invoice to allow you to EFT the money into the Rotary Club of Dromana’s project account and from there it will be transferred to the appropriate District Account.
Since since annual ride commenced in 2002 over $1,000,000 as been raised for various Rotary humanitarian causes.
Below is a record of a typical day’s ride. This is an actual record from my bike computer.
Thank you again for your support.
Rick Hayllar