Sunday 24 January 2010

Today was 135kms making it the longest day of the tour and of no surprise it was hotter than yesterday.   We were on the road by 7.30am and sweating five minutes later. 

The day was full of long straight stretches of road with little shade with many finding the hills of previous days preferable over today’s conditions.  

Dave Muscumeci started the day in fine form with a flat tyre which proved to be the one and only for the day.  Go Dave!!

Bobby Cox, Gavin Flannery and James Fitzgerald took it easy today as they are suffering from six days in the saddle and are quite sore down stairs.  Unfortunately there is no relief to be found, other than riding through the pain.

Nadine and Ron Smith were in high spirits early on, but they too succumbed to the high temperature and strong head winds.

Even our gun cyclists Ed Jackson, Darren Spencer and Michael Doyle found today the hardest day and headed straight for the massage table once we arrived at the hotel.

Tony Love Linay questioned the wisdom of doing the ride for the second time, but in true Tony spirit he was quickly over that.

As last year Nic Perry is getting faster each day and Willie Moulden who entered into a wager with her over who would be first up the 4km hill on the final day has thought better of it after seeing her constantly at the front and withdrawn from the bet.  

Yong who is our 15 year old rider from the orphanage was giving Nellie a helping hand by pushing her up one of the hills.  

Tomorrow is our last full day and its hard to believe the end is within a day and a half now.

Want to read other riders' blogs:

Trish Freeman's facebook page 

Daniel Murray's blog