^{Date Published: 31 Oct 2010 12:35pm
Author:Steve Moore}

The day started early for half the riders with an appearance on the Sunday Today Show. Mark and the boys spoke to Cam and then a quick coffee and off to Smith ST tp pack gear and ready the trailers and vehicles. The rain was not looking good with constant rain all morning.

The riders and support headed to Birrarung Marr to join the Caribou Crew and the rain became showers. A few brave souls came along to see us leave (make sure we leave) Very quickly the official speeches were over the rain cleared and the riders along with a few brave guest riders headed off at 1.00 pm. About 3½ k’s along St Kilda Rd and the first puncture befell Nick Beagley of Blue Team. The riders worked their way towards Dandenong behind a Police Motorcycle and a pumper from 38. Thanks to the 2 HOSTPLUS riders who waited with Nick while his puncture was attended to and then dragged him back to the Peleton. A second puncture in the group to Craig from Bicycles Inc (Major Sponsor) was the only other mishap on the parade section.

Dandenong saw the parade finish and Blue team pack up their bikes and head off for Gippsland and eventually Bega. There were last goodbyes to loved ones and all of a sudden we were on our own. The first pair of riders for Red Team Slim and the Duck set a cracking pace and made back some of the time lost in the Dandenong changeover. Out through Narre Warren and Pakenham the boys cruised along and very quickly we were at the changeover point. Louey and the Axe man were next up and after a good start they headed into a bit of rain. They kept up a good pace finishing their stage in Wet Warragul. The older gentlemen of the team Captain Mark Hollywood and Smiley left Warragul behind a CFA pumper (Thanks Guys) in pouring rain, apparently normal weather for the area. Bill driving the Bike Trailer car spent the day looks at the rear of the riders, perhaps he deserves a different job tomorrow! The tail wind helped the boys maintain a good pace and shortly they arrived at the changeover just out of Morwell and out of the rain.

Sammy and Conan fronted up for their second stint and maintained their previous cracking pace averaging around 40 kph. Steve and Lisa headed off in the roaming car to Traralgon to pick up meals from the Grand Junction Hotel. The pace was so hot that the riders passed the pub before the meals were ready. Meals were delivered to the changeover point as Andy and Steve Ax headed off towards Rosedale and Sale and more rain. How come Sammy & Conan didn’t get wet on their stage? Andy and Axe copped some of the worst weather for the day and arrived in Sale a little damp and bedraggled in the twilight but still well ahead of schedule. Mark and Steve M fronted up for their stage two and the first bit of night riding of the journey. Again in the rain left over from Louey and Axe they headed out across the paddocks towards Stratford taking in the various aromas of chicken, pig and dairy farms. Soon they arrived at the changeover in the middle of nowhere, somewhere near Munro apparently. Conan and Sam up for ride another ride and the two older Gentlemen retired their gear for the night. The boys sat on 40 k’s for the whole stage regardless of terrain and for the first time they wore a bit of water, about time. Paul was happy the 40 K average allowed him to use the cruise control to maintain the speed. Shortly we were in Bairnsdale, nearly 2 hours ahead of schedule and looking forward to the extra sleep time. Axe and Louey fronted up again and were lucky enough to ride the rolling hills between Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance.

Into Lakes Entrance at around 1140 one hour and 50 minutes ahead of schedule, the first day under our belt and everyone pretty happy with the day.

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