The aus-by-cycle was completed on the 2nd of December 2008 in Lenox Gardens Canberra. It was a wonderful way to finish the epic journey with family, friends and work colleagues all gathered together to welcome us home. To see video footage of Pete and john’s welcome home please click on the title above (Arrival home)
When we arrived in Perth we were invited to The Centre for Cerebral Palsy, we were hoping to meet Paris and her family and a few of the staff at the centre. Instead we were treated to an almost overwhelming reception which gave us a very warm feeling indeed. To see video footage of our arrival please click on the title above (Arrival in Perth)
It is with a degree of sadness that I begin to write the aus-by-cycle wrap up, however all great adventures must come to an end, and for me this certainly was a great adventure.
My life has always seemed like a giant jigsaw puzzle , but without any picture or box to show me what it was meant to look like. So off I went living my life hoping that all the pieces would somehow fit together and make a beautiful picture, I worked pretty hard at it at times and occasionally the odd piece would fit into place but many pieces just wouldn’t fit so they were stock piled with other similar pieces. It was very early on that I worked out that trying to force the pieces into place just made the picture look horrible.
I was a fair way into my life when I took up cycling and I did so to involve my son in some good physical exercise. The first cycle event we entered was the Pedal Power Big Canberra Bike Ride. We both loved the atmosphere and the basic act of simply pedalling the bike to get somewhere. The feeling of achievement when we coasted across the finish line having ridden the whole 25km’s was fantastic. This bike ride became a regular event for the pair of us. However, for me one bike ride a year just wasn’t enough and I found myself enrolling in longer rides. The first being the Great Victorian Bike Ride (GVBR) followed very soon after by the NSW Big Bike Ride. I was very sad when both of these rides finished, as on both occasions I was feeling physically and mentally the best I have ever felt in my entire life. For a while I thought a lot about what it would be like to just continue on cycling day after day. On a business trip to Perth I was lucky enough to have a free weekend and I cycled around Rottness Island, this for me was an extraordinary feeling and I think where the first seeds for the around Australia aus-by-cycle were sown.
It was a strange time for me as now I was picking up jigsaw pieces and they all seemed to have a place, even some of the stockpiled pieces seemed to snugly fit into place without any force what-so-ever and there was this beautiful picture emerging. So it was decided, I was going to ride my bike around Australia.
For quite some time I had a feeling that I owed the wonderful community and social system that I was part of, something in return for the way it looked after me and my family. I had recently taken up donating blood and this gave me the feeling that I was putting something back into the system but always felt I should do more. I really had no idea how difficult it would be to ride around Australia or whether many other people had done such a thing, so I started reading material on the internet and discovered that it really wasn’t that uncommon. I also discovered that many of those who had done the epic trip had also chosen charities close to their hearts to raise awareness and funds for. So here was another piece of the puzzle just sliding into place. So I started thinking about what organisation I had the deepest feelings for and many came to mind, but in the end the thoughts I had for my niece who suffered from Cerebral Palsy and my sister who cared for her, seemed to outweigh all the other very worthy causes for me.
So the aus-by-cycle frame work was in place, I would self fund a bicycle ride around Australia as an adventure for myself but at the same time try to raise awareness and funds for those who live with Cerebral Palsy (particularly children). An adventure like this could never take place without the support of many people.
I would like to thank all those who helped those jigsaw pieces simply slide into place.
My Family immediate and extended for their faith, support, patience, help with fund raising and donations.
My employer Fuji Xerox, for allowing me to take leave outside their normal guidelines and also for their generous contribution to CP Australia.
My friend John Dow, who signed up to accompany me for the whole trip for his support, ideas, help,advice and for just plain putting up with me.
CP Australia and their daughter organisations for their support, kindness and understanding.
The Donald family ( Paris’s family) for sharing some of their life with me and everyone else in the hope that they could help others.
All those who have written books and maintained fantastic web sites on cycle touring in Australia. The help these provide is unbelievable.
The truck drivers who were essentially at work while we were enjoying our chosen holiday, for their skill, patience and ability to control some of those massive vehicles. It really is amazing how safe we both felt with these blokes on the road.
All those who made donations to my chosen charity, Cerebral Palsy Australia. Including the corporations who put quite large sums of money on the table when they really had no way of being sure of my integrity.
All those who sent encouraging text messages, pep phone calls, emails, those motorists who waved or tooted, the lady who provided iced water and two ice creams when we were almost down and out for the day in the heat of the Kimberly afternoon. The other touring cyclists who it was always such a pleasure to catch up with.
All those who prepared food and helped organise our send off and welcome home get-togethers
The Road Houses around Australia who provided very wholesome meals, neat camp sites and clean amenities. Without these Cycle touring in a country as vast as Australia would be very difficult indeed.
The total funds raised for CP Australia and their daughter organisations through the aus-by-cycle trip was added up yesterday and amounts to $16,191.75 this is the sum of funds that were deposited by myself, Fiona and Bev Harrington. All those who contributed to this total are listed under my fantastic supporters on this web site. There may have been other donations made by aus-by-cycle supporters who donated directly to CP Australia web site. I have no way of recording this, but thank anyone who made an anonymous donation like this from the bottom of my heart.
I love this country and the people who live here Thanks everyone
My Favorite tips for cycle touring
Here is an infinitely variable bungee strap, it is made from a length of shock cord and a cleat button, and both these items are available from sailing shops and are fully UV stable and available in a range of sizes. The uses to a cycle tourist are limitless. I carried a few and use them for tying on luggage, locking the front wheel to the bike frame to lock the steering (this can be useful when parking the bike)
Another way of locking the front wheel is to make up a figure of eight shaped piece of shock cord, attach one loop to the right side of the handlebar and use the other loop to slide over the front handbrake lever thus holding it on. This is almost essential when parking a heavily laden bike particularly on a slope. Thanks to my mate Daniel for this one.
A good quality mirror is an absolute must for a cycle tourist and I even reccomend that a spare is carried at all times.
MORE TO COME
This photo that belongs in day 200 was added a week after we returned home as the graffiti on the sign had to be photo shopped out, thanks to John for this.
ACT Minister for Disability and Housing John Hargreaves, welcomed the aus-by-cycle team home.
Branch Manager for Fuji Xerox Canberra Scott Jackson Presenting the Fuji Xerox Sponsorship Cheque. The actual bank cheque was then presented to Greg Box CP AUSTRAIA.
Many thanks also to Ramsay Moodie,Garry Harvey and Denzil Ray for their support of the aus-by-cycle trip.
Many thanks to Andrew Donaldson (IDEAL COFFEE) who reorganise his schedule to provide yummy coffee for family and friends at our welcome home get together. All takings were donated to CP Australia. Thanks Andrew.
This was the question that my friend Steve Carle ask of our colleagues at work, however they had to buy a ticket in the sweep and take a guess to find out. Steve raised $106.00 to help children with Cerebral palsy through this fun game.
The answer is Pete 18 and John 8
I am not sure who won the prize at this stage. They may need to do a bit of number crunching to find out.
News just came through that Scott Jackson came in just ahead of Mathew Dunstone (13 & 13) with his guess of Pete 15 and John 12 well done all.
I Just emptied the last aus-by-cycle coin tin, this one was near the coffee machine in the Fuji Xerox office in canberra I counted $83.15 so many thanks to those who contributed.
Capital Trophies and Sportsware ACT