My Trip the story...

OK, so I have been back in Bendigo for about 3 weeks, so I thought that I had better finish off this Blog so that everyone who reads this will know what it is about. This will be in one large post and will go into the journey that I experienced from the start (driving across to Perth) of the trip to the last day (Arriving in Melbourne).

This ride was to raise funds and awarness for SecondBite. www.secondbite.org

Before I begin I have to thank a whole heap of people for their support throughout the ride. The team at SecondBite have been wonderful. My support crew, mum and two of my little sisters, who waited in the truck while I was riding, put up with me when I was tired and were great company. Col and Bron, without who we would not have had a vehicle to drive in nor to sleep in. All the sponsors who donated gear, and also everyone who donated money to SecondBite. Lastly to everyone who sent messages online and via SMS their encouragement kept me going.

I left Melbourne on the 13th of June 2008 and drove to Adelaide (My home city) where I met up with my family. I waited in Adelaide until the 17th of June when we began the long drive to Perth. Driving across to Perth enabled us to check out the landscape that I would be riding across and find suitable sites to sleep and visit. Also this was the time when I truly understood the hugeness of this bike ride I was going to attempt.

We arrived in Midland (Perth) on the 20th of June and had a good night sleep. The bike ride would begin on the 21st of June.

DAY 1
After waking up on the 21st and realising that today would be the day that I would begin this ride, we drove to the carpark of Midland shopping centre where the trip was to depart. I met with another rider from Perth who would ride this first day with me. This first section was torture the hills were long and steep. I had real doubts about my preparedness for this ride. I made it though and was exhausted by the time we reached camp. We stopped in Meckering which is where, in 1968 an earthquake hit the town.

DAY 2
After my efforts yesterday of the hilly start, I was unable to sit for to long on my bicycle seat. I had a couple of falls off my bike from dodging road trains, the suction from these big rigs is incredible. Tonight we stayed in a council caravan park in Kellerberrin. It was a lovely place and it was nice to have a shower.

DAY 3
After the falls from yesterday I had a day off riding. It was good to have a rest and relax. The drive over to Perth had caught up with me and my backup crew. Tonight we stayed out bush.

DAY 4
Back on the bike today, had a good ride. Apart from the number of trucks to be dodged, but all the more adventure. Today we finished at the Goldfields National Park, which was a lovely place we had a camp fire and watched stars. The sky is amazing out here, there is noone else out here so you can see so much.

DAY 5
We headed towards Kalgoorlie for the start of the day. We checked out the mining town and I got some extra parts for my bike (pedals that weren't clip-ins). From Kalgoorlie we went to a little place called Widgiemooltha and found a bush camp to stay for the night.

DAY 6
Strong winds today, gusty side winds. Found a great bush track that I walked my bike along as I had the wrong tyres on. The landscape has changed from quite bushy to flat nothingness to my left although there is still a little bit of bush to my right. I finished up in Norseman tonight. We stayed in a caravan park tonight, ahhh feeling fresh and clean after a nice shower, and the sweet smell of clean clothes from the washing machines.

DAY 7
The first day of doubtful weather. The bike stayed on the back of the truck today, as we were faced with the prospect of wet weather. We did a bit of sight seeing in Norseman and then drove to Fraser Range Sheep Station. A lovely place with great people. We stayed the night here.

DAY 8
The 90 Mile Straight. Today was great we had a solid tail wind and no ups or downs. Sitting on a steady 45kph It was great. The worst thing with the straight was the smell of rotting roo corpses.

DAY 9
Rode to Eucla, 12kms West of the SA border. Checked out sand dunes and saw the first glimpses of the coastline.

DAY 10
Crossed the border today change the clocks. We are a bit ahead of schedule due to being unable to camp at originally planned destinations. So we will be going nice and slow alng this section of the Nullarbor. Bush camped tonight.

Day 11
Arrived at Nullarbor Roadhouse today, we camped in the treeless plain. Hoping to see some whales tomorrow.

Day12
Drove to the Head of the Bight, to see the whales. There were so many of them!!! There were calves and mums, and whales by themselves. In total there were 17 whales that were in the Bight today. It was awesome!!! Took the day off we spent a lot of time watching the whales. So we drove to Ceduna and stayed in a motel. It was good to have a break from the tight living conditions of the truck.

Day13
Spent the day in Ceduna, fixed my pedals. Spent the day being tourists.

Day14
My 24th birthday. Went to Streaky Bay to sight see, we got caught in a bit of rain. Stopped just outside of Minnipa.

Day15
The bad weather began to settle in today, this proved riding to be impossible. We drove to Kimba and settled down for the night. Not much could be done today.

Day16-Day19
The weather has settled, through much consultation with weather maps and discussion we decided to drive straight through to Adelaide where we could, hopefully, sit out the weather and get back on the road once the weather cleared.

Day20
The weather won't be clearing for a few weeks, so we decided to get back on the road and hopefully get to ride a few more days. I rode a small amount today but put my bike back on the truck after getting rather wet. We stayed at the Coorong tonight.

Day21
Woke up to the truck swaying side to side. The winds picked up quite strong today. Didn't attempt to ride. Found out later that there was a gale warning in this area. Hail started up by 10am and the rains and wind stayed around for a couple of days. Camped in Kingston SE.

Day22
Once again the weather prevented my bike coming off the back of the truck. Drove to Mt. Gambier and stayed at Mt. Schank.

Day 23
Did the tourist thing in Mt. Gambier. Climbed Mt. Schank and stayed in a caravan park.

Day 24
Yay, the weather has cleared for the moment, rode a bit today. Visited the Princess Margaret Rose cave, it was beautiful!!! Stayed in Mt. Crawford National Park, what an adventure, a bit of off road driving to get to the camp site, but deffinately worth the drive.

Day25
On the bike again today lovely day, a bit of a head wind, but not to bad. Checked out the 'Crags' on the coastline and stayed in Port Fairy. Another Caravan Park night.

Day 26
No riding today, the weather has deffinately caught me off guard, I know its winter and all that but I didn't expect it to be this wet, hopefully all this rain will help to end the drought. Stopped in at Warrnambool and took the girls to Flagstaff Hill (Pioneer Village), it was good for them to get out of the truck adn stretch their legs.

Day 27
More bad weather for riding, drove through the Otways and camped at Dandos Camp, it was lovely.

Day 28
YAY back on the bike, I found a rail trail , which was great. It was so good to get off the bitumen. Arrived in Colac, just as the rains began. By the time I got to the Visitor Information Centre I was drenched and cold. Even with a waterproof on. Nice place though.

Day 29
The rain stayed around drove to Geelong and stayed at a caraven park.

Day 30
Once again no riding, drove to Werribee and spent the day at the open range zoo. Which was good for the girls. Dad, my other sister and my dog met us in the Caravan park in Werribee.

Day 31 the last day.
Arrived in Melbourne at SecondBite at 11. I am so glad that the ride is finished. It was a great experience but was tough. Especially the days that were unridable. In total I rode 1657 kms the actual journey was 3467kms.

Thankyou for taking the time to read through this.

14th July- Dartmore- Gorgeous weather!

Sat 12th July- Mt Gambia

Setting off again...

After deciding that the weather is set I am taking off again. Headed for Meningie tonight.

Waiting for the weather to pass in Adelaide

Pushed through to Adelaide to get out of the weather, staying for a few days to let the weather calm down, which will be around for several days.

New photos are up from the Nullabor check them out

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9611432@N04

Enjoy,

Sunday 6th July- Port Augusta

Terrible weather mean't only a total of 7 km's were possible.

Saturday 5th July

Bec was on ABC Perth Breakfast Radio bright and early this morning! . Has cycled 62km today and is currently in Kyancutta.