Swan Reach to Loxton

Photos from Day 2

Bob Freeman and Nick McLoughlin

Stopping for lunch

TODAY the 2010 Westpac Rescue Helcopter Charity Bike Ride sets out for Mildura from Loxton. It's a 97.9km run, the fourth day of the massive ride.
Heavy rain after a six-hour ride into Loxton kept Sunday afternoon a lazy day and made yesterday's 84km run to Meringur along pipelines and sandy, wet lanes.
It's been a real contrast so far, the big climb out of the Barossa Valley, the gravel lanes before Sedan and Swan Reach, the bitumen run from Swan Reach to Loxton (on the Murray) and yesterday's off-road highlights.
The tiny village of Meringur turned out in force to welcome the riders and host us in their Community Hall.
Tomorrow we head off to Mildura and the might Murray again where we have a rest day.
Some might take a leisurely cruise up and down the Murray while my eager roommate, Tamworth Chamber of Commerce chairman, Tim Coates, reckons we should hijack Barry Walton and one of the support vehicles and head to Melbourne for a midweek race meeting.
However the Murray River cruise sounds a little bit more appealing to my body.
Luckily we have two massage therapists on tour - John Mercer and Tamworth's Rick Lavers.
Rick a remedial massage therapist with his own business in Tamworth is also the ride captain.
A diesel mechanic by trade he issued simple orders to the riders before we left Lyndoch on the first day, advising the riders to stay in single file when there is traffic around and to beware of the traffic.
Both the lead vehicle (Greg Davis) and the rear vehicle with bike trailer (Brian Birchall) are fitted with UHF while there are seven hand held UHF handsets distributed amongst the more senior rders.
Lavers and Mercer are kept busy over the first few days masaging some tired legs.
At one stage Mercer gives Peter Watson some help on the way from Swan Reach to Loxton.
John is originally from Blackville, near Quirindi,a farmer who left the land to sell real estate in Tamworth.
Then he moved to Melbourne where he "went back to school" to retain in massage therapy.
After finishing that course he spent a while "chasing shooters all over Australia, completing the community service part of his new job.
That included Tamworth Olympians Clive and George Barton.
"George actuially did work experience with me," John Mercer said.
These days John resides at Port Fairy on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria and about an hour from the 12 Apostles.
"There's about five now," he said of that famous landmark.
John also has a massage clinic at Binnaway once a month and it was there he met ride veteran Greg Davis, who convionced him to begin riding the various charity rides.
"My first ride was Dubbo to Tamworth," he said.
"Can't remember when that was. Missed last year but come on this."
Why?
"The challenge," he said.
"It's been good, hard but good."
Tim Coates reckons his magic thumbs brought "great relief after a hard day".
"I'm sure we will become very good friends over the rest of the trip. I'd rather John as a friend than pain."