Passing Pandora- Home stretch

David Stephens leads Andy Bayliss up to the top of Pandora Pass.

Brian Birchall, Shane Paul and Tim Coates before descending from Pandora Pass.

Pandora's Pass

STAGE 17

Jack Gillard

Nardeen Hayden

Dunedoo to Coolah – Wednesday, March 24, 201051kms





A demanding day starting at 7.30am from the Dunedoo Hotel. While short the dirt roads had some heavy sand which claimed a number of riders.The four hour trek into Coolah was also over a panoramic mountain range, climbing some 400m in elevation from Dunedoo and then collapsing back to the valley floor with an invigorating 3km descent.Dave Stephens reached 73.3kmph in the descent.


“Good fun,” David Stephens said at the Coolah Central School where Nardeen Hayden gave another impressive safety talk on bike riding and the necessity to wear approved helmets.“He got me,” a laughing Mal Nash said.“I was almost 73kmph.”The big downhill was a rewarding end to a testing day where some of the dirt roads through local properties were capped in heavy sand.


Those sand parts claimed plenty of victims.


“I came down before the heavy sand,” Phil Stewart said at one of the drink breaks.


“Like a turtle on my back flapping around. Luckily I had Shane’o the medical man there just in case.”


John Mercer was another to come down in the sand while big Ken West said he fell twice.


At that stop Jack Gillard let loose his box of bocce balls for a quick game in the sand.From that break a number of riders walked their bikes for a few hundred metres until they reached more firm going.


“And you chose this route,” bus driver Brian Birchall radioed to ride organizer Barry Walton, who was struggling with the sand at one stage.“Baz’ arm came out in a one-fingered salute before a lilting voice replied over the CB “Always look on the right side of life”.


Then Bob Freeman’s voice arrowed out: “Westie’s down again.”


Luckily it wasn’t serious. A little further on and Baz warns Birch of a “water jump”.


“You need a snorkel,” asked a resting Tim Coates over the radio.


“A big one,” replied the metrognome.


Tim Coates was having a rest day to ensure his back and body would complete the final two legs, tomorrow’s 133km leg to Quirindi and Friday’s final 74km leg to Tamworth.


Coates has ridden the majority of the 1500km or so already covered on a Merida mountain bike given to him specially to ride.Tim, who is the president of the Tamworth Chamber of Commerce, Tamworth District Football Association and Tamworth Development Corporation, also runs Australian Training and Consulting (ATAC).He’s a busy man but delighted to be on the Mountain Bike Challenge.The Merida bike was given to him by one of his employees at ATAC, Geoff Tall.Tall’s stepson, Steve James, died tragically a few years ago.“He never got to ride it,” Tim said.“His mum said it would be fantastic if his bike could make the journey in support of such a great cause.”That bike has now travelled more than 1400km and will ride into Tamworth.One of the highlights for the riders has been the two school visits at Dunedoo and Coolah.Nardeen Hayden gave two interesting talks at both schools to some attentive and bright-eyed students.Her egg demonstrations were egcellent.At Dunedoo the principal was Peter Campbell, a former Pirate rugby union player from the early ‘80s in Tamworth.He has been there for about three years and loves his job in control of around 220 students.“The kids are great,” Peter Campbell said.“They love this type of thing.“We’ve had two other bike rides come through the last couple of years and the kids love talking to people about their bikes.”The school has a mufti day and gold coin donation and raises $231.They also, with the help of the local P&A, put on an afternoon tea.That night the local Lions Club hosts us for tea at the local Golf Club where another $680 is raised for the bike ride.

Nearing the end, almost

THE Barossa Valley to Tamworth Mountain Bike Challenge welcomed two new riders, Tracey Evans and Julie Lonergan to its 2010 epic yesterday.Team Rylstone, as they are known, joined in for a 90km leg along the Golden Highway. As of Dubbo, the riders had clocked up just over 91 hours since leaving Lyndoch (in the Barossa Valley) on Saturday, March 6.More than 1400 kms have been traversed with Tracey and Julie eager to join in.Tracey is a registered nurse in Rylstone and riding her third charity ride."Been on the last two September rides," she said of the regular seven day rides."Wanted to do these for personal reasons and the fitness", she said."They've been great, fantastic."Julie Lonergan runs a vineyard and guesthouse in Rylstone."I like cycling", she said in answer to why she is on the charity ride."And Mrs Evans invited me. I was a road cyclist though".Her previous racing experience stood her in good stead for yesterday's first leg.It's fun," she said."I did the September one last year. We've got three days now on this, gives you something to aim for".Yesterday's leg was a short for stage this writer. I completed just 6kms after riding 70kms the previous day. Arriving in Dubbo had never felt so good on Monday, after Rick Lavers, Bob Freeman and Mick McLoughlin ensured I climbed most hills.At one stage I had to walk one monster undulation with Bob Freeman carrying my bike the last 50 metres.Today is a short leg of about 60km through some dirt roads and over some big hills to Coolah from Dunedoo.I've ridden 592km so far. Another 8km would be nice.

STAGE 15 Peak Hill to Dubbo

90kms Left 7am arrived 1.30pm

Steve Warden going into Peak Hill

Nardeen Hayden

FOUR new riders – Nardeen Hayden Peter Rohr, David Stephens and Tony Farnham – joined the Barossa Valley to Tamworth Mountain Bike Challenge Sunday night.
Their first stage was a 90km trek that took in some country roads along the Newell Highway.
It also included plenty of dirt.
For Manilla’s Nardeen Hayden the charity ride is nothing new.
She’s been riding the charity and other long distance rides for a number of years.
“This is my eighth charity ride for the helicopter,’ she said early yesterday.
“I’ve also done a few other rides with friends, did a Manly to Manilla.”
Nardeen runs the Westpac Instore at Manilla as well as teaching (maths/science) and relishes the chance to ride in the charity events.
“It’s a personal challenge,” she said.
“Challenges you in a away you haven’t been challenged before.”
She said conquering the physical and mental aspects of distance rides makes obstacles and problems at home seem minimal when she returns.
Born and bred in Manilla she is a stones’s throw from the Royal Hotel, or as she puts it a “waterbomb” or two.
She laughs about lobbing waterbombs at the Royal, which is run by Tom and Vicki Cocking.
They have been good friends to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service in the past and accommodated riders on their Manilla legs of the September rides.

They have been good friends to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service in the past and accommodated riders on their Manilla legs of the September rides.
Vicki Cocking didn’t know Nardeen was on this current trek but was delighted to learn of it yesterday.
“It would be a fabulous experience,” she said.
‘We’ll have to throw a bit of sponsorship your way. And we’ll get a few of the patrons to throw in during the week and see what we can do.”
Yesterday’s 90km leg started at 7am with a quick run down from ride captain, Rick Lavers.
“We have to be in Dubbo by 3pm because Carly Gillard (one of the Newcastle riders has to be there to have her nails done,” Rick said.
“I might get mine done too,” replies Bruce Jeffrey from the shadows.
Carly is a bridesmaid at a wedding this weekend.

DAY 17 Forbes to Parkes

Mal Nash (left) and Peter Watson on the dirt

Challenge day riders (from left) Allan Moyle, Jack Gillard, Klaus Novac, Mal Nash and Bob Freeman. Big Ken West was absent, diving in the pool like a two-year-old dolphin.

56km

A late start at 9am has a wait for new boy John Barber to kick into gear.
Barber and Bernie Caffrey are from St George and Dalby and missed the first two weeks of the Barossa Valley to Tamworth Mountain Bike Challenge because of the Queensland floods.
John, a cotton consultant, and Bernie, a crop management consultant are mates of Tamworth's Steve Warden.
They are riding the rest of the trip and on their first Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service charity ride although both rode the Brisbane to Townsville leg of Rotary's Great Australian Bike Ride last year.
"Haven't been on a ride since then," John Barber said.
He also played rugby at Narrabri with Steve Warden and also played top level soccer in Sydney for 20 years.
"I love team sports," he said.
"On this you meet people and go places. It's also good on your knees.
"Steve invited me to come. It's for a good cause."
Bernie Caffrey, 59, is looking forward to final six stages after completing today's quick run from Forbes to Parkes via a few dirt roads.
"I have been looking forward to this," he said.
"But I haven't done much on the mountain bike."
The recent floods have seen to that.
Windsor's Craig Norman, a mate of Inverell teacher Bob Freeman, also joined the bike ride today.
Craig was intending to ride the full 20 days but work commitments have cut that back to just this weekend.
"And unfortunately they are the two shortest days of the ride," Craig said at the Parkview Motor Inn, Parkes.
It was a unique day though with half a dozen of the riders electing to ride in singlets as part of teh Newlo Challenge.
Kurri's Mongrel Bastards had challenged NDL sports editor Geoff Newling to ride a full leg without taking a rest in Brian Birchall's "sad bus".
German Olympian Klaus Novac also made a reappearance after debuting on a recent Mongrel Bastards trek from Western Australia to Newcastle.
Klaus Novac, alias Morton Porker, alias Martin Parker, went the whole hog to.
He rode in budgie smugglers, singlet and thongs and was up the front all day.
Jack Gillard, Mal Nash and Nick McLoughlin go to extreme lengths to make sure Newlo rides the full distance.
Bruce Jeffrey also tells Newlo if he rides the full distance he'll have an alcohol free day.
The whole group is delighted when Newlo coasts into Parkes after some "hand of god" assistance from Jack, Chum and Nick.
Although Bruce admits he had a couple of stubbies after a exacting little run with some steep undualtions towards the end.

DAY 16 West Wyalong to Forbes

133km - leave 7am.

A gruelling day in 32 degree heat with an unscheduled stop where the brain's trust had to work out which way to Forbes.
The long stage started with a warning from ride organiser Barry Walton that some of the dirt road on the trek was "washed out" from recent rains.
There is about 40km of dirt but it wasn't soft or rain afected.
"It was pretty good, only a couple of soft patches," said Mal Nash at the lunch break.
The first main break of the day, for breakfast, is at the entrance to teh property, Baaloo Park. It's owned by the Staniforth's, who are the parents of Australian Wallaby and Western Force winger, Scott Staniforth.
Maurice Doughan, one of our seven support crew, has taken a detour over night to visit his sister who lives nearby.
Turns out his sister and the Staniforths are good friends.
Later in the day Maurie asks a local farmer for some directions only to find he played cricket with his son.
The farmer Peter Hammond, 92, also remembers one of Maurie's great mates, Allan Donnelly, a police detective who helped Peter and the local abbattoir find meat thieves many years previous.
Maurie and Allan Donnelly are great mates from their days in the police force with Allan now retired in Tamworth and one of the leading lights in the local Tamworth Harness Racing Club.
Back to breakfast though and Mal Nash and Kurri's infamous son, Morton Porker, are talking about the ride.
"Today is a preserve, reserve and conserve day," Morton tells Nashie.
"Yeah but I will go silly somewhere," Mal said.
"Do it late," Morton says.
At lunch Morton also reminds us of some of his riding credos.
"Make a friend of pain and you will have a friend for life," he reminds us.
His best though is: "It's a battle between the mind and the body and the body never gives up."
The final leg into Forbes is along the Newell Highway.
Jack Gillard excels with two or three flats.
One more flat, the boys reckon, and he'll be a block of units. He estimates he's had 22 so far.
After changing one tube he and Inverell's Nick McLoughlin time trial to catch up to the main peloton and clock between 30 and 40kmph before Jack has another flat.
This time he grabs one of Alan Moyle's slick spares.
They catch the waiting main bunch about 8km out of Forbes.
Jack's arm goes up in thanks to tap Nick on the shoulder as they glide in.
On arriving at the Plainsman Motel the pool is an immediate hit although Carly Gillard forgets she has her mobile phone in her ride shirt pocket.
It is currently drying out while the riders and support crew will be damping down at tonight's Rotary Club dinner in our honour at the nearby Vandenburgh Hotel.
Tomorrow is a relatively short stage to Parkes, 33km by highway but between 40 and 60kmph by the dirt road route Barry Walton has devised.

Giving along the way

THE SPONTANEOUS generosity of people along the Barossa Valley to Tamworth Mountain Bike Challenge has been one of the endearing qualities.
Watching a retired couple dig out all the "shrapnel" they had in their camper van on the Hay Plain or a farmer near Carrathool dive through his ute at 6.30am to deliver more coins are special moments.
That spontaneous generosity reappeared again on Thursday after the 23 riders and seven support crew reached West Wyalong.
After arriving in town Geoff Newling borrowed one of the support vehicles and drove out to nearby Ungarie to check out where his grandfather had lived many years ago.
He had not been back to Ungarie in more than 40 years and had a vague recollection of a house, big dam and bamboo patch.
The bamboo patch was still partly there but the dam had been filled in.
Jake Thomas had also hopped in for the ride because he had an old friend who he had met working on the railways who had told him numerous stories of Ungarie.
They stopped in at the Central Hotel for a quick refreshment after having a look around. There were two Johns in the pub, John the owner and John Wells.
They had a quick chat with them about Jake's mate and Newlo's relatives.
As they were leaving the two Johns handed over $20 each for the rescue helicopter.
Newlo and Jake walked out of there feeling like kings with $40.
Earlier that day Newlo had also received a telephone call from John Sloane in Tamworth.
He owns The Equine Inn Motel in Tamworth.
Turns out John's home town is West Wyalong.
All teh riders stayed at the Tattersalls Hotel, which is on the corner of Monash Street and the main road.
"I grew up in Monash Street," John, a builder by trade, recalled.
"I used to work at the pub too, did a lot of renovations on the old pub. It was the first brick building in West Wyalong."
Then the knockout.
"When you reach Tamworth we (at the motel) will have a cheque for $200 for you," he said.
Left Newlo delighted and made Barry Walton's day.
It reminded us of a few other heartwarming moments along the way.
Like sitting in the Balranald Ex-Servicemens Club having a punt with Barry and ride captain Rick Lavers.
A lady and her husband, on their way around a Australia, dropped $50 on the table after a win.
Or racecaller Steve Hawkins, a mate of Newlo's, who was working at Albion Park dogs that day.
He not only tips us a good winner at the dogs but then puts over a plug for the ride on SKY Racing.
Then there was the bowls night at Hay Bowling and Golf Club, where club secretary manager Bob Weston, handed over a cheque for $1200.
Or one the first day out in Coolah when Steve Billett charges close to cost price for a new tyre to go on the breakfast van trailer.
He is waiting for the riders us to return next week (Wednesday) to celebrate with us across the road. Should be a good night.

DAY 15 Stage 11

Ardlethan to West Wyalong

Steve Warden leads out up one of yesterday's testing undulations on the way to West Wyalong.

Geoff Battle and John Mercer on the road to West Wyalong

The riders completed a demanding 79kg leg yesterday, leaving tiny Ardlethan, home of the kelpie, at 7am.
For Steve Warden it is the seventh charity ride he's undertaken but by far the most challenging.
"I'd never ridden 160km in a day before," the 65-year-old cotton consultant said in the pre-dawn light at Ardlethan.
"And we've still got a few long days to go too.
"The highlight though has been the Hay Plain."
Riding the flat, almost desolate Hay Plain was another marathon day of 130-plus kilometres into a headwind.
Steve hails from Milton on the NSW South Coast.
He went to school at Hawkesbury Agricultural College and played first grade rugby union for Gordon, starting in the centres but then moving to breakaway.He played for Central North and Country as well as becoming a Country selector after retiring.
He played much of his Central North rugby career with the Narrabri Blue Boars, winning "two or three premierships"
"I also had a season with Quirindi," he recalled.
He's been involved in the cotton industry since 1964 but is a relative newcomer to cycling.
"Didn't start riding until my late 50's," he said.
How did he become involved in the charity rides?
"We had a friend who was one of the first people airlifted by the helicopter," he said.
"I don't kow how I really got involved in it but it's a fantastic service."
He's also thankful to his sponsors - Caltex (Sue and Glen Mihell), Central Caltex (West and East Tamworth), Forsyths, Cotton Seed Distributors, Freemans Insurances, New Farm, Sygenta, Ramsay Health Agriculture.
After this 20-day 1700-1800km ride finishes in Tamworth next Friday he'll "finish the cotton season off" and then enjoy winter.After this 20-day 1700-1800km ride finishes in Tamworth next Friday he'll "finish the cotton season off" and then enjoy winter.
"I'll see what happens next year," he said as far as another charity ride goes.
Yesterday's ride was tough, he said, especially the last 30km or so into West Wyalong.
Fellow riders agreed.
Peter Watson, the 72-year-old marvel, who has ridden every kilometre so far, thought it a demanding day after dismounting at the Tattersalls Hotel.
"That was a tough leg," he said.
"Those long rolling hills."
Bruce Jeffrey reckoned it was "beautiful, undulating country".
"We sat on a fairly good pace all day although the boys had a rush of blood this morning," Bruce Jeffrey said.
Geoff Battle thought it a "good, hard hit out"
"The hills are good after the flat country. There were a couple of good quick hitouts and we got into West Wyalong nice and early."
Ken West relished the hills.
"I'd rather them than the flat country," Westie said.
"You have to push all the way on the flat. At least you can get a run down the other side of hills. There were some good rolling hills today. I don't like the steep ones though."
It was also a big day for Geoff Newling.
While he blew up in the hills the novice rider managed to ride the 30.4km first leg without a pitstop, thanks to some great help from Mal Nash.
Mal, better known as Chum, pushed Newlo up two rather large undulations and kept him going from the 6km mark to the first stop.
The welcome in was bright and cheery.
Tomorrow the 23 riders have another big day.
Should be extremely tough," ride organiser Barry Walton said of a 133km stage, on both bitumen and dirt, to Forbes.
A Rotary dinner will round off tomorow's activities.

DAY 14 Stage 10 Griffith to Adlethan

Mal Nash, Jake Thomas, Kevin Garrett and Andy Bayliss pose undrneath Evonne Goolagong's giant tennis racquet for Nick McLoughlin's picture at Barellan today.

Leave 7am 82km

BRUCE Jeffrey might be on his last charity bike ride and intends to make the most of the epic 20-day 2010 Barossa Valley to Tamworth Mountain Bike Challenge.
The 52-year-old Tamworth Regional Council employee has ridden every kilometre of the 1024km so far in what will be between 1700km to 1800km.
It hasn't sapped any of his good humour either, he's one of the more buoyant personalities amongst the 23 riders and seven support crew.
"I told Baz (Barry Walton) this would probably be my last," Bruce said this week.
"I've done five or six so far and you can only go around asking the same people for so much sponsorship. I tried to get a few new young people involved but it is hard for them to do something like this too."
Bruce is a water operator for the TRC and ensures the drinking water is treated for the city's population.
Married to Jennifer he has two daughters, Carly, 22, and Rachel, 20.
Born and bred in Tamworth he joined the charity bike ride a few years back while working for Bath Stewart and Associates (surveyors).
"One of the other employees, Mike Barwick, said he wanted to do some bike riding," Bruce recalled.
"Then we saw the ad in the NDL for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service charity ride. So we decided to do that but unfortunately Mike passed away. But I went on the ride doing it on his bike."
He's still riding Mike's bike, making it even more important for him to complete the full 1700-1800km.
He also "enjoys the social part of the trip"
"The competitiveness in the riding is good too," he said.
"Originally it was even more competitive.
"One of the original riders, Tony Keogh, used to always say, let's make the last 3km into a sprint. You also never know what to expect with each ride and there are so many different personalities."
Today's 82km stage had something of an abbreviated start after Inverell schoolteacher Bob Freeman snapped a bolt on his seat.
It followed a quick word of warning from ride captain Rick Lavers,who said the road from Griffith to Yenda was narrow, unmarked in places and with plenty of traffic.
Keith Lockhart also warned the riders about tiger snakes.
"We're coming into tiger snake country now, especially from West Wyalong," Keith said.
"They're an aggressive snake too. I've seen them stand up and bite a car. So watch out for those little legs Baz," he said nodding to Barry Walton's metrognome appendages.
Out on the road and Bob Freeman's day went downhill, puncturing after passing through Yenda.
"I was riding beside Jack (Gillard)," Bob said of the "puncture king".
"He looked down and said"it'sa puncture - and it's not me."
After replacing the tube bob goes a few hundred metres before the replacement goes flat.
Another replacement tube won't pump up and then another bursts with a howitzer bang just as it reaches 60psi, sending some green slime over an attending Brian Birchall.
"I'm not having a good day am I," he said.
He then rides at 25 to 30kmph alone to catch the rest of the riders up in Barellan, home of former tennis star Evonne Gollagong, and then completing the 34km to Ardlethan.
Sign-posted as a population of 500 Ardlethan it is known as the Home of the Kelpie but is hot and quiet with not a kelpie in sight.
Some quick re-organisation by Barry Walton and he has the whole 31 staying together at the London Hotel Motel.
A hot shower never felt so good.
Today we head to West Wyalong.

Tuesday, March 16

Jake Thomas and Rick Lavers. Jake's trying out riding with no feet.

From the rear of the ride

Andy Bayliss

Carly and Jack Gillard and Barry Walton

Peter Watson, Ken West and Nick McLoughlin on the road.

Andy Bayliss, Mal Nash and Peter Watson on the gravel before today's welcome rest day.

Today is a rest day for the 23 riders and seven support crew.
After arriving in Griffith around noon Monday a welcome day off greeted the 2010 Barossa Valley to Tamworth Mountain Bike Challenge crew.
Ride captain Rick Lavers has a "lazy day" planned.
"Go into town for a late run," he said after a continental breakfast at the Kidman Wayside Inn.
"We'll check out a few things and come back and do a few massages."
Some are off on a wine tour in the bus with Annette and Peter Watson, Brian Birchall and Bill Warburton.
Bill is a "retired" accountant.
He moved to Tamworth in 1971 to work for Ted Carter which became Carter Warburton in time and then had a few changes over the years as Bill's practice merged into various entities.
A few years ago he retired but remains as a consultant "doing a few projects" for some old clients.
"I've still got plenty of things to get involved with," he said while driving the "skippy van" on a photgraphic foray on this tour.
"There are a lot of worthwhile causes out there. This is one."
Brian Birchall "got me involved" he said of this particular event.
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service also has a poignant memory for him.
"We lost a son in a motor car accident in 1996 out at Warialda," he said.
"They (helicopter) flew him back to Tamworth but couldn't save him."
While the vineyard tour was taking in three local wineries and a look around the town the Kurri Mongrel Bastards crew were off on a "cultural and historical" tour.
Bobby Fishlock junior, aka Phil Stewart, reckoned they might try and solve the Donald McKay mystery on their "hysterical tour" .
Carly "Charlie" Gillard was off on a session of retail therapy with her mother, Julie.
Bobby Freeman was "kicking back" with the latest Dan Brown book, a late and a look around the town centre.
Jake Thomas and his Werris Creek mate, Kevin Garrett, were doing a little morning washing to try and wash away Kev's woes after watching his mighty Sea Eagles waste a 20-4 lead to be beaten 26-22.
Ride organiser Barry Walton was driving down town to meet the Westpac Bank manager do some community relations work after a 9am media session with the local WIN TV and "laze around town".

STAGE 9 Carrathool to Griffith 82km

We leave the Carrathool Community Hall at 7am, farewelled by swarming mosquitoes in their thousands, bound for Griffith.
The previous afternoon was a relaxing one at the Family Hotel Carrathool where licensees Donna and Gino Scutti looked after us graciously.
They also waived accommodation costs and charged just $16 (chicken) or $20 (steak) for dinner!
Their pub was built in the 1880's with a classic hardwood bar.
Jack Gillard and the boys depleted their red wine supplies, Geoff Battle drinks them out of lime and Steve Warden has to find a substitute for tomato juice in his drink.
On the road Shane Paul organises a peloton so the riders can work together to push up the speed.
It reaches around 25kmph.
"We were moving," said peloton-novice Tim Coates.
The Tamworth Chamber of Commerce president and the peloton blow apart when we hit 12km of gravel.
Tim jumps in the support bus to have a chat with Brian Birchall.
"Discretion, valour," is all he says to Birchall.
After the flyers have created a 4km gap between the strongest and the slowest we regroup for what is an easy ride into Griffith and the Kidman Inn Motel.
At one break Jack Gillard has a laugh about his fellow riders.
"I've been called Barry, Ross and now Allan," he said.
While he is called Jack or John by his fellow Kurri Mongrel Bastards his real name is Edward John Gillard.
His tall mate Phil Stewart laughs about it on arrival in Griffith.
"He doesn't mind going by Edward either," big Phil alias Bobby Fishlock junior, alias Phyllis, said
"His wife (Julie) calls him Edward."
Jack/John/Barry/Ross/Allan is also king of the punctures stopping to fix another flat just outside Griffith.
Quote of the day goes to Goog Davis.
"I don't have corner graphics," he said in reply to a question from Brian Birchall in the tailing bus as to what was up ahead.

STAGE 8 Hay to Carrathool

Jake Thomas, Martin "Morton Porker" Parker and Phil "Bobby Fishlock junior" Stewart at the Family Hotel bar in Carrathool.

Leave 9am arrive 12.50pm

A short 60km stage today. A coffee late run and arrive in Carrathool just before 1pm after a leisurely run for most. The exception is Inverell teacher Nick McLoughlin who drops back to help a struggling Geoff Newling try and stay in touch with the group. After a painful 6km ride Newlo retires to Brian Birchall's bus leaving Nick to make up a 2.5km deficit to the rest.
He carves 1km off that distance before, firstly, Shane Paul and then Mal Nash and Andy Bayliss drop back to help him catch the group.
They do it impressively relinking with the group about 12kms from Carrathool.
"I thought it might take me an hour to catch them," Nick said later.
"Then when Shane, Mal and Andy joined me we were doing about 25km/h."
He was quite happy to see the Carrathool sign.
Andy Bayliss said the "Hay Train" of the day before had developed into the "wide load" with the riders able to form a large group spread across the quiet Murrumbidgee River Road.
The small town has a sign-posted population of 99 but "that's cats and dogs", said Andy Bayliss.
One local told us it was more like 23.
Some are staying at the Family Hotel and the rest are roughing it at the local hall.
Anna Bay miner Jack Gillard said it "was good to be finished."
"Good to be home," he said.
"Carrathool is home for the night. Any shelter in any storm."
Tamworth's Keith Lockhart, the chief cook and bottlewasher, is enjoying another charity ride in the support crew.
"It's all going well," the retiree said.
"Everyone's been cooperating and helping out."
He is rising some two hours before the riders depart each morning to prepare breakfast.

"We go and have a capuccino after they all leave and then go out the road and prepare lunch," he said.
Port Fairy massage therapist John Mercer continues to enjoy the 2010 Mountain Bike Challenge.
He also passed on best wishes to his children, Brandon and Amber Evans, who are following the ride on the blog.
Also Annette and Peter Watson pass on their best wishes to one of their grandchildren, Sam, who was ill late last week and taking a day off school.

STAGE 7 BALRANALD TO HAY

Jack Gillard and Phil Stewart lead the "Hay Train".

Barry Walton receives some help from the Red Baron (Ross Dobson) and Tim Coates after his second fall.

Alan Moyle at Hell's Gate on Hay Plain.

Mongrel Bastards day (from left) Phil "Bobby Fislock junior" Stewart, Carly "Charlie" Gillard, Alan Moyle, Bobby Freeman, Shane Paul, Martin Parker, Jack Gillard, Rick Lavers, Steve Warden, Maurice Doughan, Barry Walton (front)

Saturday March 13 – 131km

It was a red letter day for Mongrel Bastards Day to Hay.
That was how Barossa Valley to Tamworth Mountain Bike Challenge race organizer Barry Walton described the 131km trek from Balranald to Hay.
Ride captain Rick Lavers had called for the day to honour the hard-charging efforts of the Kurri Kurri Mongrel Bastards Cycle Club Inc over a number of years.
Martin Parker, Jack Gillard, Phil Stewart, Maurice Doughan and Alan Moyle are five of the Mongrel Bastards who have toured the country and Africa raising funds via their uniquely named groups.
At various stages the likes of Rick Lavers, Shane Paul, Barry Walton, Steve Warden and Bob Freeman have ridden with the Mongrels, Lavers, Walton and Warden forming their own chapter based at Tamworth’s Calala Inn.
Jack’s 27-year-old daughter Carly, re-named Charlie by the raffle runner at Hay Bowling and Golf Club Saturday night, has also ridden with the Mongrel Bastards.
A tough headwind for the big day made it an apt “mongrel bastard” of a day, Walton said, especially after he had his second fall of the 20-day marathon.
The day had started at 6am at the Balranald Caravan Park after the Balranald Pony Club women had provided us with another feast on Friday night.
Inverell school teacher, Bob Freeman, changed his usual pre-race routine to cater for another big day.
Usually he takes a berocca and some multi vitamins but ate more and stretched “for half an hour”
“On top of the 250km over the last two days another 130-odd makes it a tough three days,” he said in the pre-dawn light.
“Having a good solid dinner last night helps too.”
Tamworth handyman, Andy Bayliss, was looking forward to the 131km stage.
The 160km two days previous had been his biggest ever day on the bike.
He’s been riding four years, started riding mountain bikes to take part in a previous charity ride that was based “around Armidale”.
“Then I rode one out in the Pilliga and another ride (starting) at Glen Innes,” he said.
His pre-race routine is simple.
“I just try and make sure I’m right and the bike is right,” he said.
“Make sure I have a bit of food because this going to be a hard day, one of those days where you have to grin and bear it.”
He’s right as a North North East headwind makes it a testing time, forcing the riders to form the “Hay Train” across the flat plain.
It’s a day where bus driver, Brian Birchall, makes his ride debut.

Stage 6 Robinvale to Balranald 83km -7am start 12.30pm finish

Brian Birchall wins his criterium at Balranald although it appears Carly Gillard may be the only interested spectator. Bad luck Birch!

The 23 riders and seven support crew left Robinvale Caravan Park crossing the Euston- Balranald Bridge across the Murray River at 7am. Back into NSW they now headed to Balranald where a special treat awaited them. After arriving at 12.30pm the riders settled back for a picnic lunch and were entertained by support bus driver Brian Birchall. Brain raced his own criterium and followed the Berri criterium earlier in the tour when John Mercer shone.

Birch was unchallenged on Geoff Newling's "super quick" bike. Mt Mongrel Bastard Alan Moyle reckoned he might teach it bad habbits.

"He's going too fast on it," Alan Moyle said.

Birch jumped off after what he estimated as a 10km ride and reckoned he and Newlo could perform a tag team operation over the next couple of weeks. Newlo suggested he stick to driving the bus and picking up the dead bodies.

Brichall has had slim pickings so far and on a day where heads winds made it tougher than normal he only had two occupants. TYomorrow the mountain bike challenge leaves at 6am for Hay, a 130km burst down the Sturt Highway efore taking on the local Hay Bowling Club members in a lawn bowls tournament. One interested person in the mountain bike challenge is Peter's "Fat Cat" Malcolm. He rang to offer his best wishes to ride organiser Barry Walton. The former Newcastle and Inverell Hawks Rugby League star now runs Rafters of Guyra a popular restaurant, and is one of the organisers of tomorrow's Top of the Range Mountain Bike Challenge which is also a fundraiser for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service. He helped to establish the mountain bike event last year with 60 riders.

"We have 100 to 120 riders this year," Fat Cat said.

"And we have some pretty good riders too."

He is also a handy rider as well, Barry Walton said.

More of the Robinvale to Mildura leg

Top: Bob Freeman, Shane Paul and Ross Dobson
Middle: John Mercer, Nick McLoughlin, Barry Walton, Martin Parker (obscured), Jack Gillard. Bottom: Ken West goes it alone.

Stage 5 Mildura to Robinvale, 160km - 6am start 5pm finish.

Steve Warden









Jack and Carly Gillard

Above: Geoff Battle. Left: Jake Thomas, Jack Gillard and Ken West in action.

Bruce Jeffrey






Goof finds the right lane.










It might not be the toughest day in the history of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service Charity Bike Rides but it was certainly the longest.
Thursday's stage from Mildura to Robinvale was originally a 135km stage through some gravel roads in the Hattah Kulkyne Natonal Park.
However rain had closed the scouted tracks and what followed was a war of attrition, a 160km leg, comprising some 38km of sandy, corrugated and undulating road along the Mourpoul Track.
The rest was bitumen and into a headwind.
The 24 riders left Mildura in the darkness, rolling out of the Plantation Hotel at 6am.
About 60km out we turned onto the gravel Mournpoul Track but only after Goog Davis and his lead vehicle had passed the scheduled turn.
That caused a mini mutiny amongst the riders before heading back to what was a testing dirt stage.
It almost claimed ride captain Rick Lavers, who was suffering from a leg injury suffered in Mildura dodging trucks while crossing the highway to reach the local Irish bar.
Lavers actually walked his bike up two of the sandy inclines.
"The shaking is stirring it up," he said at the time.
"I'll just keep rolling along. I'm not getting in Birch's bus."
A little further along the Mourpoul Track and Ken West has stopped for a brief moment to take off a jacket he'd donned to combat the cool 8 degree air at the Mildura start.
"Pretty hard," the big fella said in response to how is it going.
"That wind is coming up a bit too, blowing the wrong way."
The corrugated gravel has also claimed a victim.
Tamworth Chamber of Commerce president Tim Coates has taken a rest and is perched up beside Birchall.
"I had tears in my eyes," he admits at the next break.
"My back was killing me."
He may be headed for another session with massage therapists John Mercer and/or Rick Lavers.
He resumes again at lunch after the riders move back onto bitumen for what was a final 90km into Robinvale.
It's a day ride organiser Barry Walton admits is a "long amazing" day.
He's not popular either when the riders see a final road sign: Robinvale 1km Mildura 87km.
"PB's for everyone," Werris Creeks Kevin Garrett said.
"Huge day," his training mate Jake Thomas agrees.
"We did 138km from Narrabri to Baradine one day, that was the biggest.
"Yeah but the the conditions were a lot worse," Tamworth's Steve Warden said of a ride where mud badly affected the riders on that particular seven-day ride.
"There was no rain in Narrabri and we rang Baradine and there was no rain there," Jake said.
"But in the Pilliga they had three inches."
"That was a tougher day I think," Steve Warden said.
However 160km was more than exacting.
Carly Gillard was just one of the cyclists thankful to reach the Robivale Caravan Park on the banks of the mighty and majestic Murray River.
"That's the biggest thing I've done in my life," she said while nursing a knee injury.
"Maybe the biggest thing I will ever do."

Rest Day

Left: Steve Warden, we're not really sure what he was up to!

Below: The group having some down time.

Left: Ken West plays master chef.

Kevin Garrett and Jake Thomas of Werris Creek

Jake and Kevin again!

It's a rest day here in Mildura. Some of the riders are going for look around town, some are heading out to the Mungo National Park, some were paddle steaming up and down the Murray River and three or four were on a day trip to Wentworth for a look around in a hire car.
Some of us needed it too before we head off to Robinvale tomorrow.
That route has now changed. We were to ride through the National Park but the recent rain has made it too wet. Now it's a 140km trek around on bitumen.
For Werris Creek pair Jake Thomas and Kevin Garrett it's just part of the fun of the marathon 20-day ride.
Jake is on his fifth ride and Kevin his first.
Jake, 62, started on the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service charity bike rides in 2006.
He's been a source of one-line amusements ever since.
At breakfast this morning he had us crying with his assertion about Greg Davis' medication.
As Goog popped some of his tablets Jake said: "It's light viagra - no fat".
He and Kevin Garrett are retired railwaymen who were completing between 150-200 kilometres a week in preparation for this ride.
While it is Jake's fifth charity ride it is Kevin's first.
He was told by his family he was mad and if he was going to ride one why didn't he pick an easy one.
"In for a penny in for a pound," was Kevin's laughing reply.
There might not be much laughing when they begin tomorrow's 140km day at 6am.
PS "Hi Helen and the children," Jake said.

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.

Day 6 Monday March 8 Loxton to Meringur

We have a change of route because of heavy afternoon and overnight rain. The day now becomes 112km trip down the Sturt Highway unfortunately, we miss the right turn and head into Berri which creates a little bit of confusion making matters worse the street names in Berri are not sign posted, but written in the gutters so we do a little round-about Berri before heading back along a nice little scenic route to Lyrup and past the GurraGurra Wetland. We manage to make it back onto Sturt Highway and then a quick little 13km run into Meringur.
The quote of the day comes from Kurri Kurri's Martin Parker who said "Goog Davis told us 'when when we get to Berri I know my way from there'."

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."