Date Published: 20 Nov 2010 10:07pm
Author:Steve Moore
Breakfast hosted by Al and Rick in the camp kitchen at the park in Norseman, started the day. Gear packed into cars and trailers and we headed down the road towards Balladonia. Arrived at the Roadhouse to find the blue boys having lunch, great to have a chat and catch up. The roadhouse chef was a little stressed at having so many people to feed in the “off season”.
A change in the order saw Sam and Andy take off for the first leg. Shortly we came across a Flying Doctor airstrip. A section of the road where there are wider verges and white markings at each end of the runway area of the road. A quick stop for tourist pictures and on to the next photo opp, the start of the 90 mile straight, the longest straight piece of road in Australia. We have been joined over the last couple of days by Gossy the Caribou photographer. He has been capturing images of the red team on the road.
As part of the planning for this event the weather charts for the last 50 years were consulted to determine when the most favourable wind patterns were. After all this planning and consulting we rode into a blustery head wind as we headed east, just under 3000 k’s to Melbourne.
Temperatures were a little warmer than the previous few days but not as hot as the top end. Once we left Norseman phone reception ceased and didn’t return for the rest of the day, makes it difficult to plan and co-ordinate things but we managed through it. Another evening of night riding saw the wind die down for a while but then return again after the tea break at Caiguna, eastern end of the 90 mile straight.
A new system of Kangaroo Warning was tested tonight. The black Territory and Yellow trailer have been reunited and return to their position in front of the riders. The White Maggot drives 100-150 metres in front of the Yellow Bird and spots for kangaroos. On seeing one they hit the sirens scaring the roos away from the road. The system worked well last night with no interference to the riders just some very confused kangaroos wondering what the sound was.
The riders continued across the undulating plains towards Madura. Just before Madura the road descends off the plains down to another flat area along the coast. We turn off ¾ down the hill into the Madura Roadhouse and a bed for the night. A quick check of rooms for linen and towels and another day concludes. To help with the planning for tomorrow we skip the Central West time zone and set our watches for South Aus time as that is where tomorrows riding commences.
Thanks again to Shane Goss for the great images. www.licoricegallery.com
I can see for miles: Red team riders have the road all to themselves nearing the border of Western and South Australia.
‘Breaka, breaka we got ourselves a Pedal 4 Prostate Ride Around Australia convoy’.
Time for a break boys: Red team rider Conan ‘The Barbarian’ Daley approaches a change-over point on day 21.
Teddy the koala sits at the rear of the yellow peril trailer on the red team.
Red team captain Mark O’Connor has recovered from a fall and is looking forward to reaching Melbourne.
Rick Martin (right) and Alan Harwood have been driving the tail-car all the way around the country for the red team – good job boys.
Sam ‘Bach to the future’ Bach has been a strongman for the red team throughout the ride.
Sam Bach pulls a hand-stand as red teammate Andrew Luedecke checks out the road sign on day 21.
Straight ahead boys, no turns for 146.6 kilometres.
Red team crew members Paul Manning (left) and Lisa Blake have been working overtime and take some time out to rest on another hard-working member big Billy Weir.