Mike's Blog

Leaving Raymond Terrace at 7:00am, we had to make our way to Newcastle University where we met Darrel Sparke, President of Amputees NSW and Ayelet Muhra an Amp Camp leader. There was an organised Park Run at Newcastle Uni and they had offered Darrel a few minutes before it began to talk about the ride but more importantly to speak about Amp Camp. Ayelet and I conducted one of my impromptu interviews which we will send through to Darrel, Emma and Holly tomorrow.

At the university, we met by the building for Indigenous Studies and it was great to see some of the sculptures, especially the eagle behind us in the photo. You see, I have a love for eagles and throughout this trip I have been privileged to have them close by on most days. They are just beautiful to watch and observe. I had a brief chat with Ayelet about our final day of riding and planning where we will meet as she is to ride with us into the Opera House, which will be very cool.

After saying our farewells, we were soon travelling with good speed down the M1 from Newcastle toward Kariong (Gosford) where we would have to leave it and join the Old Pacific Highway. Thankfully the wind was, at times, behind me and provided that little assistance needed after yesterday’s brutal headwind. Looking back over recorded data on Weatherzone, it made sense that the legs were tired last night as there were wind gusts more than 70km/h. I was glad for some respite today.

Having made Kariong by 12:00pm and having notched up 100km, I left the M1 and made my way to the Old Pacific Highway. Grant had taken the opportunity to catch up with friends from WA who are now residing on the Central Coast. Meeting them close to the M1, Grant was only a phone call away. A big thank you to Margaret and Reuben for their support of Amp Camp through a donation.

Once on the Old Pacific Highway, I began my days efforts of climbing. It is a beautiful ride through this part of the country with lush bush of straight ghost gums, wattle and a thick vegetation of ferns and moss covered rocks. In places, it was semi rain-forest as the rock walls closed in on the road’s verge leaving no more than half a foot of shoulder. Long climbs followed by descending then climbing again was the order of the next 45km. The tranquility and peacefulness of the National Park were not lost on me. It was the Harley Davidson Goldwing blaring Van Halen that cracked through the serenity and stole the moment. However, the beauty of this road is that it switches back and forth and the music was lost in seconds – back to the rhythm of the bike and trying to maintain a steady cadence. Eventually, we descended down to the Hawkesbury River and prepared for the steady climb out of the valley to Cowan.

Now I remember this road as being a favourite for motorcyclists but today was just madness. Every 20 seconds I was now being passed by motor-bikes either going up or coming down the valley. Each of them turning around and returning from where they had started before having another run. The Police were ever present trying to maintain some sort of regulation and limit the loss of life. There were a great number of learner and provisional riders which was somewhat concerning. Having said all that, I understand the draw card as the road has excellent flowing corners and a great road surface. I know as a cyclist it was nice to ride on. If you ride in only one place, I’d recommend the Old Pacific Highway as it is very enriching.

Finally finishing the major climbs out of the National Park, we stopped at the café, Pie in the Sky, and took a snap of the superb Hawkesbury River catchment below. Having a really healthy lunch of sausage roll, chips and chocolate thick shake we set off to complete the final 25kms. Feeling the build up of fatigue in the legs, I reconciled there would be no sprinting to the finish today, rather, a steady pace to knock over the final kilometres.

With 10km of my ride to go, I waved to a cyclist coming the other way only to recognise it was my great friend, Phil Newman, coming the other way to greet me and ride with me into Hornsby. What a legend! Phil and I met last year when we both crossed Australia by bike and we came upon each other not dissimilar to today’s interaction. Last year, I was three days from finishing and Phil was four days into his epic crossing. Today, Phil’s arrival lifted my spirits and it was as these kids from Amp Camp all say, “Like catching up with family” – that sense of belonging and being supported. Arriving in Hornsby, Phil ensured my safe arrival at the Blue Gum Hotel, our accommodation for tonight. Phil is to join me tomorrow in our final ride into Sydney, across the Harbour Bridge and onto the concourse at the Sydney Opera House.

On the eve of our final day there is an excitement that we have successfully ridden from Cairns to Sydney. No punctures or mechanical issues with my Polygon Bend RV (Blackadder) and the ever trustworthy Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres. Tomorrow, we have a late start and only a short ride to the Opera House where we officially finish this epic ride from Cairns in Far North Queensland to Sydney. We will arrive at the Opera House at 3:00pm where we will be met by Darrel, my mate Russel Hodge and other members of the Amputee family, including the youth we have been riding for. My daughter, mother, other family and friends are all due to be there to welcome us in. I am looking forward to finishing tomorrow, although please remember this is not the end for Amp Camp, rather it is the beginning. Please provide your support to Amp Camp through donating to Amputees NSW via the following address, http://ozcrowd.com/campaign/3959 or through visiting their website http://www.amputeesnsw.org.au/

Until tomorrow,
Mike and Grant

Last night was a great evening of watching the Eels play the Bulldogs and just chatting around the fire pit. The opportunity to sit, relax and talk with old friends was what was needed. John cooked a very nice meal for dinner and when we arose this morning, he was busily preparing breakfast. We were treated to a beautiful cooked breakfast and, added to this, we were privileged to have freshly squeezed orange juice from John and Paula’s tree out the back. There’s nothing better than real juice that hasn’t been watered down.

Since it had rained overnight, the morning temperature was up a few degrees from the previous few days. Turning the cranks, we were off again with high hopes as the weather forecast indicated I would be assisted with a strong 30km/h North Westerly tailwind. It didn’t take long to work out that the north and westerly didn’t come to the party together today as it was a straight westerly. Unfortunately, our main projector was in a south westerly direction so it was a hard day riding into the winds. We were recording winds between 35 and 50km/h. One blessing was that the roads through here have been upgraded over recent years and they have used hot-mix so Blackadder rolled superbly.

There were a few hairy moments today with the wind bringing in a whole new dynamic to riding. With the M1 cutting a more direct pathway than the old Pacific Highway, it has seen numerous large expansive bridges installed to carry the traffic. Unfortunately, with the wind blowing so strongly, this resulted in me being blown around like a rag doll on these bridges where there was no protection from the wind. Electing to sit on the white line and leaving the 2.5 metre shoulder as my safety zone was the right decision. On numerous occasions I used nearly all that space after being hit by strong gusts. The bridges are between 50 to 100 feet above the surface of the water and, given I wasn’t wearing a floatation vest and didn’t really like the idea of a swim, it seemed clear that the white line was my friend. Thankfully, other drivers recognised the issue and gave me the lane on every bridge.

I was not the only one receiving a grilling from the wind. Later in the day, as we made our final approach from Karuah to Raymond Terrace, I noticed a caravan passing me without a door. It had clearly been blown off and was now lying somewhere back up the highway. A second van went past and the door was only being held in place by the hook latch and the wind was playing havoc with this one as well.

Despite the wind and the increased climbing today, I arrived in Raymond Terrace at 3:30pm and sought out a shower to try and warm up and refresh the body after fighting with the elements. Grant had gone ahead and secured our accommodation which made it a quick transition from bike to shower.

Tomorrow we have another big day as we head from Raymond Terrace to Hornsby via Newcastle. Our first stop will be at Newcastle University where we are catching up with Darrel Sparke (President of Amputees NSW) and some of the Amp Camp family who are travelling from Sydney and throughout the area to meet us. We are planning to arrive at the University at 7.45am. Again, there is a predicted north westerly wind for tomorrow, but we will just have to wait and see.

Please donate to Amputees NSW via the following address, http://ozcrowd.com/campaign/3959 or through visiting their website http://www.amputeesnsw.org.au/

Until tomorrow,
Mike and Grant

Our accommodation last night was at The Bellevue Riverside Motel which was a great step back in time. The business had previously sat directly on the thoroughfare of the Pacific Highway which was redirected back in the 70s. It is soon to undergo another redirection which will see traffic bypass Macksville. The evidence of the changes coming are everywhere with homes and businesses displaying For Sale signs. We were directed to the Star Hotel for dinner which was a very good decision, it was a hive of activity and clearly the centre of Macksville.

With Sydney in our sights, we set off early knowing we had a 145km ride ahead of us and the need to navigate road works regularly until just before the Port Macquarie interchange. Road works aside, the roads have become reasonably good with a generally smooth surfaces as it is mostly motorway these days. The bridges and works being completed are on a level of construction that I have never seen before. We travelled over the Kempsey bypass bridge which seemed to continue on and on for numerous kilometres. It was around this time that a very nice tailwind seemed to clip in behind me. The combination of smooth roads, a nice tailwind and the bulk of the ride completed helped me cover territory quickly.

The terrain that I rode today has been heavily modified by the significant road works being completed. With engineers clearly trying to find the flattest route through, it has reduced the climbing that I was expecting to face. Flora through this area is nicely wooded and the forests appear to be thriving due to the State Forest Management. Great greenery surrounds the roadside with gums, wattles and a sweet scent in the air. The Manning Valley area is brilliantly alive with bird life and a vibrancy in the bush that draws you in. A very enjoyable place to ride through with a very wide shoulder for riding.

Arriving in Moorland earlier than expected, allowed us to consider our options for tomorrow and venture down the road a little in the car to restock on essentials at Taree. We have ‘upped the ante’ a little with our sights set on trying to reach either Raymond Terrace or Newcastle’s outer suburbs by tomorrow evening. Weatherzone indicates there is a nice front coming through overnight with a potential tailwind of around 25+km/h. This will be an incredible assistance for covering greater kilometres and giving us a greater sense of control over our approach to Sydney. We will see how we go. As we move into the last three days of riding there is a building of anticipation.

Tonight, we are staying with a work colleague and his family who have kindly opened their home to us and who have offered us support in trying to market the cause of Amp Camp. A big thanks to John and Paula for their hospitality.

Please donate to Amputees NSW via the following address, http://ozcrowd.com/campaign/3959 or through visiting their website http://www.amputeesnsw.org.au/
If you are a business owner or involved in a large corporation, please consider Amp Camp as your ongoing charity to support.

Until tomorrow,
Mike and Grant

We had fine weather and very low temperatures to greet us as we left the motel room in Grafton. In hoping for a good run to Macksville, we were met first with a three degree chill which only rose above 5 degrees after an hour on the road.

Soon after leaving Grafton, I was climbing amongst beautiful, natural bush-lands of gums, small grasses and the occasional wattle tree in bloom. The filtered light of the sun cast interesting shadows across the road and the occasional break in the trees provided a burst of warmth from the sun, only to be stolen away with the next section of bush-land. It makes a difference when you are riding through bush-lands of eucalyptus, as it tends to open your airways and breathing always seems easier. For Grant, on the other hand, the change of flora has led to hay-fever. I think the wattle looks superb, Grant couldn’t get rid of it quickly enough today.

There were fences about two metres high running for nearly the entire distance of our ride. Dotted along the road side are small ramps with a cut in the fence about one metre high and a drop into the bush on the other side. My first thoughts were of the animated movie Over the Hedge where the animals dare not venture beyond the hedge. In Australia, we just put up ring lock fencing. The animals can see the road but can’t get to it. Seriously though, the ramps have been installed to assist Koalas, Possums and other animals to get back to their side of the fence and away from road trains, caravans and cars. Further along, there came a sign to look out for wild horses for the next 25km. Nope, I don’t want to hit one of them!

Banana plantations on the hills were an imposing sight and they seemed to crawl all over the mountains and hills throughout this area. Previously, in North Queensland and Northern NSW, it was cane fields across the flats. Now every hill seems covered in bananas.

Arriving on the outskirts of Coffs Harbour, we made the customary stop at the Big Banana. Having completed 80km, it was time for lunch. I figured given that I was wearing a fluro yellow long sleeve and yellow shoes that I would be B1 and the iconic Big Banana could be B2. Whilst having lunch here, we were approached by a gentleman, Simon Hay, from Ability Links NSW. He was advised by Darrel, from Amputees NSW, that we’d be rolling through at around 11.30am. Jason stopped and chatted about the purpose of the ride and we gained a brief insight into his work here in Coffs Harbour and the Mid North Coast. It has been these interactions that have made this trip worthwhile.

Back on the road and having navigated through Coffs Harbour, we were out on the open highway again. Thankfully we have been able to remain on the M1 which has greatly assisted our travelling times but, equally, has provided us with smoother and wider roads. Well…not all the time. The old Pacific Highway is still used in sections and these runs are a little tight and scary at times. Once the M1 is finished, it will be a fantastic drive. The loss will be for the small towns throughout this area who rely on the passing trade, much like America’s Route 66. Time will tell if they will survive or reinvent themselves.

Now a great donation has been received for the Queensland guys and we are excited that this has come through to support more youth being able to attend Amp Camp next year. If you’re a NSW supporter, now is the time to dig deep. The boys lost the State of Origin, the girls won! Lets see what we can do in regard to raising the funds for Amp Camp. Can’t let those Queenslanders get the upper hand.

Please donate to Amputees NSW via the following address, http://ozcrowd.com/campaign/3959 or through visiting their website http://www.amputeesnsw.org.au/
If you are a business owner or involved in a large corporation, please consider Amp Camp as your ongoing charity to support.

Tomorrow we will be heading to a work colleague’s home in Mooreland as we have now reconfigured our run into Sydney. As we make our way down the coast, we have been afforded great weather and pray it remains that way into Sydney.

Until tomorrow,
Mike and Grant

We had an excellent night at the Ramada Hotel and Suites Ballina. We decided to have dinner at one of the onsite restaurants as we were meeting with Emma from Amputees NSW to discuss how the ride has been so far and plan some of the logistics for the remaining six days.

Getting up this morning was a challenge given the comfort of our beds and accommodation. Whilst downing a coffee and fruit and watching the sun rise, we witnessed more dolphins frolicking in the river. The Ramada has been an impressive place to stay.

The weather this morning was cool and the wind was blowing from the south west. As we rolled out of Ballina, there was one last important stop I had to make before re-entering the Pacific Highway. But first, a little history. Back in 1992 there was a young guy, who lived in the little town of Young in South Western NSW, and there was a girl living in Tweed Heads. Their relationship had been growing and the young man travelled to Tweed Heads to see his girlfriend. It took 12-14 hours on buses and numerous stops at road houses until, eventually, he arrived tired and knew that within 24 hours he’d be back on a bus returning to Young. After a special time together, he was on his way on the returning bus. The bus made its first stop in Ballina, at the old roadhouse. Already annoyed at having to leave the love of his life, he walked to the payphone (remember this is pre-mobile phone days) and rang his girlfriend with one message and request, “Will You Marry me?” Her answer? “Yes!” Now that call was made beneath an icon on our trip down the coast – The Big Prawn. So, for any of you out there who are wondering if you have to spend thousands on getting the proposal right with activities and events, let me tell you that event took place nearly twenty-five years ago to the day and Merrilynne and I have been happily married for 24 years. Long live the Ballina Prawn! At this point my wife will raise the issue of an Eternity Ring…hmmm that’s why I didn’t ring her from beneath the Big Prawn this morning!

Back on the road and we were making good headway. I think the few days of riding with Kym, Martin and Keith has spurred me on. Despite a headwind I was still able to lift the average speed to 27km/h over the 130km of today’s ride. The Pacific Highway has lived up to its reputation with some very wide shoulders along the way, although, there have been some hairy moments where the edge is less than a foot wide with trucks and other vehicles passing at 100km/h. There were no close calls and I praise the truck drivers again for their professionalism and patience.

Travelling down the Pacific Highway is always a nice journey for me and one which reminds me that my father rode his bicycle from Sydney to Brisbane. He was in his late teens when he made the journey to visit his Aunt and Uncle and pursue work. In some sections, I don’t think the road has ever been upgraded from when he rode this route. There are major road works occurring between Grafton and Ballina due to an investment and upgrade expected to be finished by 2020.

Making our way into Grafton in good time, has given us the opportunity to rest up and complete some of the administrative things we need to do each night which delay us getting to bed early. Signage to the support vehicle’s doors has now changed to Amputees NSW, reflecting the change from Queensland to New South Wales. Please support the Amputees NSW team as they 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 Macksville as we try to rearrange our run into Sydney. We will be riding through Coffs Harbour tomorrow and hoping for another day of great weather and supportive winds. Sydney here we come!!

Until tomorrow,
Mike and Grant

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