Tuesday March 9 Meringur to Mildura 97.4km

Rolled out of quaint little Meringur before dawn for Mildura in some light misty rain.
Spent a great night at the local hall where most of the 10 residents fed and watered us. Jack and Julie Gillard starred in the fines after Jack wore his wife's name tag. Barry Walton, re-nicknamed the Metrognome after his head bobbing effort in the back of Brian Birchall's bus (ambulance), also copped some heavy penalties.
The Meringur people also donated $50 back to the charity ride.
The run to Mildura was uneventful and quick.
"They were very quick," said Maurice Doughan, one of the seven support crew.
"They were scheduled to arrive here (Plantation Hotel, Mildura) at 1pm but were here by quarter to 12."
Ride captain, Rick Lavers, was impressed.
"It was a very quick ride, everyone worked in well together," Lavers said.
"It was also the first time this ride we didn't lose anybody."
One of the Mt Mongrel Bastards, Martin Parker, was impressed.
"One of the boys (Alan Moyle) averaged 30km and hour to the 70km mark," he said.
"That's up there, especially on a mountain bike.
Inverell schoolteacher Bob Freeman, who spent some of the time up the back marshalling some slow coaches, thought it a "good ride in good conditions"
Rick Lavers said the riders on this 20 day 1700km trek are making it happen.
"The crew we've got are starting to ride well together," he said.
"They probably wanted an early day to have a half a day rest before our first rest day tomorrow. Then we have a big day down through the national forest to Robinvale, before the next stage to Balranald and then a huge day on the highway to Hay."
Ride organiser, Barry Walton, said the ride through the national park is along the Murray River.
"If it rains though we have to go around," he said.
"That makes it a huge 140km day."
Today's ride also had some stars with John Mercer attacking and aggressive while Armidale ambulanceman, Shane Paul, also flew.
"When he rides he flies," Rick Lavers said.
Greg "Goog" Davis, said he had trouble working out who the rider was who was taking ground off him in the lead support vehicle.