Moruya

After another great downpour my happy tent survived. Everything was a little damp, but that was just the air.

An extremely slow start this morning, we rode 15km to this beautiful beach out of Malua Bay for lunch where Frank and company met us. From there a pleasant meander to Moruya where we found a comfy campsite for the night. The next two days will be big days for us: 75kms each day. I got some extra BSL needles as I hadn't packed enough. The pharmacy gave me what I needed for free without me having to buy a whole box of them to carry with me! People along the way are very friendly.

Batemans Bay

We are on schedule and arrived in Batemans Bay today. We had some good and mostly safe highway cycling on the shoulder of the Pacific Highway. The crickets in the forest were noisier than the traffic at times now that we are leaving Sydney behind.

The Batemans Bay Big4 campsite supported us by not charging us for camping and brother Frank and family came from Canberra to cook us a BBQ for dinner!

Have you made a donation yet??

Jervis Bay

We had a very rainy night and the staff at the Big4 campsite at Seven Mile Beach gave us all a complimentary hot coffee! We headed off full of beans to Nowra and off towered Hervey Bay. Traffic is relentless on the Pacific Highway! We were well treated at the www.whitesandstouristpark.com.au where they even provided a complimentary bag of ice to keep my medicine cool overnight.

Three happy campers...

Cindy, Hans and myself each carry our own little home. Gives me space to nebulise and sort out my drugs. Warm thanks to good gear. Eating well thanks to lovingly home cooked dehydrated food that we brought along.

Not making that much progress, but we are heading in the right direction! And did you register as an organ donor AND tell your family?

Road Rescue

Michael from Wollongong Bikehub came to the rescue at the campground! Took the bike to the Bikehub's 'Service Zone' and is now busy recoiling the crankarm. I so appreciate service with a smile! Reminds me of the Tasmanian Adult CF team.

Gear Failure

Happy campers at Corrimal Beach where my pedal broke off... The NRMA even came to look! A mechanic is coming past tomorrow morning. The thread is actually stripped.

We are now officially one day behind schedule, but the friendly lady at the campground has a husband who has a new heart and the same donor also donated lungs to a person with Cystic Fibrosis!

If you are not a donor already go into your local Medicare office and become one pronto!

Day ONE

Day one was a good adventure. My first flat tyre and lots of rain! Physio Jim brought me to Sydney and there I met Cindy and Hans. Jim cycled with us till the town of Waterfall where he caught the train back to his car and three of us continued on to TopStay B&B in Stanwell Tops, 50kms from where we started that day.

Jim carried my panniers and Hans my tent. They both changed my tyre and all I had to do was cough and paddle. When Cindy spotted a great place to stay next to a MacDonalds and a bottleshop 10kms from Waterfall I was insistent on continuing to Waterfall. In Waterfall there was nothing at all and we were told to continue another 10kms in the rain to Helensburgh. There the man in the only hotel could not tell us if he had a room or whether the town had a taxi service or where there was any other accommodation. We found a wonderful B&B using the iPhone at 6pm. Luxury tonight at www.topstayaccommodation.com.au and Shelley there drove us to and from town for dinner with a smile!

Last bit of comfort

The last bit of comfort at mum's home. I better enjoy these last few pain-free days. I bought some ibuprofen today as I know my knees will ache a lot the first week at least. Still looking for some small items for the trip, will ride the bike 15km into town and back and see how it goes.

In the beginning

Leaving Devonport on the Bombardier Dash-8 is always a pleasant experience. When I got to Canberra I discovered my pocket-knife was in my hand luggage... Lucky again.


On a travelling day it is hard to get good exercise, but after landing in Canberra it is always a pleasure to go for my regular walk/jog up Isaacs Ridge behind mum's house.


Found the bicycle in the garage looking good. Took it to TLC in Phillip and got it pimped out by Ken who was very supportive of my mission and took great care of me!

Partner Hans on his way

Here is Hans my partner in crime for the journey. For me my planned ride is an incredible once in a life time bicycle ride from Sydney to Melbourne, but for Hans my great bicycle ride is more akin to a leisurely escort for his last leg home. Hans has been cycling for months and months: He cycled from Melbourne to Adelaide, than into the desert, and via the remote Birdsville Track to Brisbane. Currently cycling Brisbane to Sydney and will meet me next sunday to do the final leg of his grand circle tour to Melbourne. Onya Hans, see you soon!

Certified Achiever!

Wow, can you believe this, another award! I am so proud to get all this recognition! As far as I can see I have as much fun as my budget and health allow for, and am apparently spreading inspiration as I do so. Wonderful to see I do not go unnoticed and that people appreciate what I do for organ donation and CF Awarenes.

Unfortunately I could not afford to go to Hobart for the presentation of this certificate (would have cost me at least $300 to go to Hobart and stay somewhere and attend the function). I can go to Hobart for functions if I can combine it with a CF clinic, but that was not possible. Besides, we do not have a CF specialist in the Tasmanian CF clinic right now!

Other good news, I completed my third Burnie Ten! I did it in 1 hour and 24 minutes. Almost 15 minutes slower than last year, but I am still very happy to have done it again.



Back to packing the bicycle as I only have two more sleeps before I leave for Canberra to preparre the Dutch Sparta Bicycle and start my ride from Sydney to Melbourne!

120 Inspirational Coasters

That is me! I got in the top 120 somehow!

Ride preparations

http://www.carryfreedom.com/info.html

Gosh, golly, miss Molly,... where do I stow all my gear! I have loads of gear lying on the floor of the study, ranging from medicine and portable nebuliser to cooking gear and clothing, tent and sleeping bag and everything in between. Thank you Creative Hum for helping me with some of these purchases!  It is all coming together, but how will it fit on the bike? Hans is towing a modest bicycle trailer (see pic) so he can maybe take a little of mine...

Maybe I need to get some front panniers of sorts. Still need to get a bicycle computer to log my all important distance. We want to avoid the highway as much as possible, which will be a challenge on my city bike. I presume at least half of the journey will be on dirt roads, and almost all days will be hilly.

Been on the Wii, been running, cycling and kayaking too as of yesterday! Legs are pretty tired, had cramp in thighs last night. Remind me to drink more water and take salt tablets. Next weekend is Burnie Ten! My aim is to run it in 1 hour, which is very wishful thinking. Miraculously did it in 1:10hr last year.

Hopefully I will not look like this!!

Remember to register online as an organ donor now!

Lamington Drive

Just over two weeks to go to departure! Found a great little tent to carry, dusted off my sleeping bag, got the beginnings of a stove (need some parts), panniers are recovered from the shed,... Friends are arranging a Lamington Drive to collect some more funds for the trip, others on the mainland are arranging for some press coverage en-route,...

And best of all people are again donating to CF! The goal of $4095 has almost been reached, with only under $1000 to go! Thank you to everyone who has donated so far. Remember the next thing you need to do is become an organ donor. It is not tax deductible, nor is it scary to be an organ donor. It doesn't mean your body will be ripped open the instant you die, it merely means that if all the circumstances are right for the possibility of an organ donation you will save human lives and suffering.

Lamingtons will be for sale in the North West Coast of Tasmania and will be baked next Saturday, to be sold primarily on Sunday at the Don Market. (10 October 2010).