Sunday 3 March 2013
2013 NSW SMIDDY CHALLENGE - DAY 4
GOSFORD TO NORTH RYDE - Day 4
Statistics for the day
Distance: 170 km's
Average speed 25.2 kmph
Maximum speed: 77.1 kmph
Elevation climbed: 2800 metres
Riding time: 7:00:33
Min Temp: 14 degrees
Max Temp: 19 degrees
Journal reading each night
In any Smiddy event we try to make everyone feel as if they are an important part of the ride. Regardless of if you are a rider, a road crew member, a supporter or a donor, we are all equal. Without any of us none of this could happen. With the journals, while I might be the one writing them for this ride I feel more comfortable if another person gets to read them out to the group. The journal reading has been an important part of the Smiddy journey since that first year when just the three of us rode to Townsville unassisted with our backpacks for support. Each night I would pen an article and the next night I would read it out to Ron and Ollie, who were two of the original three for that first year' journey. That tradition has carried over to each and every Smiddy event that we run, only now we invite other riders to contribute in the way of either writing a journal, or to have the honour of reading one out. Last night Timmy Dalton and Michelle Franks read out day's two and three journals. My heart went out to both of them as Tim said he was honoured to read it out and Michelle welled up when reading out Maria and David Smiddy's email.
More rain and chattering teeth stories!
Once again the crew awoke to the sight and sounds of more rain, and with a rollout time scheduled for 6:15am it was still dark thanks to an interesting concept here in this wonderful state called Daylight Savings... Apparently it somehow saves daylight, but as it was pitch black on roll out, and the raindrops were tumbling hard on our heads, I could not quite wrap my head around the idea. Anyway it was interesting to note that within five minutes, that even in a state that has this wonderful concept, we still got a good soaking! By day's end we would have ridden a total of two days in rain that refused to stop until a brief respite for lunch today for 30 minutes. Once back on the bikes, within five minutes, we were drenched again. But how good was that lunch break!
Another day of climbing and plenty of help at hand
Today's 170 kilometre route involved plenty of long and tough climbs. About ten kilometres out of Gosford, with just 20 minutes of cold and wet riding in our legs, it was up, instead of down, the infamous Dogtrap Road. Dangerous to descend in the wet and an absolute bitch of a dog to climb with gradients up to 18% throughout parts of the seven-kilometre climb. On the steepest part of the climb I was sitting at the very back of the peloton. It was there that I had a birds eye view of the machinations of the group. On the steepest section I witnessed Gavin as per usual do more than his fair share of pushing, but also Lee "Lethal" Heslehurst had hung back to help out. Let me assure you I was struggling just to climb that Mother of a climb out of the saddle, and here was Gavin and Lee remaining seated and taking turns to push a very grateful Mark Bayfield. I was in awe of their strength! Great work boys.
That wonderful team spirit
Team spirit shone through for the entire day as the stronger riders in the group were always on hand to help out anyone that was struggling on any of the four massive climbs at Wiseman's Ferry Crossing, Galston Gorge, Bobbin Head and Ku-ringai National Park. I mention the stronger riders a lot but please know that it is not that the other riders are weaker; if left to ride any of the four days at their own pace they would surely make each day without a doubt. The pushing and helping allows the peloton to arrive as close to our scheduled time as possible each day. Without this we would be out there a bit too long. The riders that get pushed also deserve a pat on the back; they put their pride aside, thinking of the interest of the peloton which is admired and appreciated by the group in whole.
Don't pay the Ferry Man or Women until you get to the other side!
With all the rain over the past six weeks and again over these past two days, there was serious concern that the ferry crossing would be closed prior to the peloton arriving. Basically if that happened it was game over. Once the decision was made to attempt to get to the ferry we were playing Russian roulette with the ferry man. You see we were in touch with them and they could not guarantee it would be open when we arrived due to the river swelling by the hour. The problem was once committed to that route, it was 50 kilometres in and along a road that dead-ended. Miss that ferry and it was a 50km back-track and a 270km day in the saddle! So four strong boys were put on the front, four on the back, and four in the middle of the peloton. We then rode like a peloton possessed and the pace was on for the remaining 31 kilometres to the Wiseman's Ferry Crossing. Morning tea was reduced to ten minutes and the team rode like a well oiled machine that had been driving through the gears reliably for years on end. Man I have to tell you it was the most exciting part of the entire four days for me. I love seeing what a group of individuals are capable of when working towards a common goal. The group was abuzz when finally we got to the ferry and it was still running. Hey and the funny thing was that the Ferry Man was actually a Ferry Women! And she donated $20! How good is that!
Dedication to Dechlan
Throughout the last few days all the riders and road crew have been signing a Smiddy jersey for a young boy named Dechlan Hegarty. Who is a fellow Smiddy rider's Son; Marty Hegarty has completed the Smiddy Brisbane to Townsville ride and his brother Tony is on this year's NSW Challenge. Young Dechlan is just nine years of age and suffering from a cancer that gets into the spine. The operation to remove the cancer also lost him the use of his legs. As Dechlan and his family battle this hideous life threatening disease, we at Smiddy are dedicated to supporting the boys as much as possible. So for today's final ride and this journal entry, on behalf of the entire team, we would like to dedicate this to you Dechlan. Your Uncle Tony will get the jersey to you real soon, and we hope that you get to wear it and that all the good positive energy flows from it and into your indomitable spirit.
An email from Dechlan's Father Marty Hegarty
"Traffic jams or trudging up a lump in the road. I know where I would rather be. Editors note: (Marty was relating being stuck in traffic on his way to work on a rainy Brisbane day last Thursday)What you are doing is truly inspirational. A whole bunch of people trying to make life outcomes better for people you may not even know. Be proud of yourselves. By doing what you are doing today you may have just saved someones life. We call people who save another persons life a hero in Australia. That is what you all are. And you do it silently. A whole bunch of us out here truly know that you are. Take care, stay safe and a hand on the back in true Smiddy fashion."
Bring on that finish
The group rolled into the head office of LMG at North Ryde, lead in by our two inspirational ladies in Lee and Emma, who incidentally completed the entire ride with no van time and never requiring any assistance. Beside them were our two oldest riders in Bob Turner at 66 and Brian Roberts at 77. I am pleased to report they did a fine job of leading the peloton into the finish. Although a misread final traffic light just 400 metres from home gave us all a fright...
Emotions were at an all time high with all road crew and riders sharing in the celebratory handshakes, hugs and kisses. We then formed our last and largest Smiddy huddle -run by our mechanic Gavin Leahy- which had swelled in numbers due to the riders family and friends joining in.
That Smiddy Spirit
I believe now that the riders and road crew may understand when I mention the Smiddy spirit. What the crew went through these past four days helped to build a camaraderie within the group that fosters so many good things that it is hard to put a name to it. Hence why I call it the Smiddy spirit, as all that is good was my mate Adam, and all the good things that come out of a Smiddy event -I believe- is a result of a direct link to Adam. You got to love his sense of humour though, always sending the rain and the tough conditions. Thanks old mate!
Anyway enough with the deep stuff, I just needed to get across that every rider and member of the road crew exemplified exactly what the Smiddy spirit entails; sacrifice, determination, toughness and most importantly a caring attitude towards their fellow riders and road crew. The crew should all be extremely proud of their efforts, and I have great joy in saying that they are now part of the amazing phenomena and ever growing bubble of Smiddy positive energy, that is the Smiddy family. Welcome on board and I truly hope to ride with you all again one day soon.
One million dollarrrrrrrrrrs!
Well the third annual Smiddy Bottlemart NSW Challenge has come to a close and what a most successful event it was. The funds raised from this event are staggering when you consider just 42 riders were involved. I am pleased to be able to say that a quarter of a million dollars was raised! What a sensational amount to raise in our first event of the year. That million dollar target for 2013 is definitely possible with a head-start like this. This would not be possible without all those generous donations that have poured in from all the riders donors. So a huge thank you to all reading this that have donated generously.
Final thank you
Without the foresight and fortitude shown by Doug, David and his team at LMG Bottlemart we would not have raised another $200,000 for cancer research. The team at Smiddy recognise how lucky we are to have such a great sponsor as Bottlemart on board. How many companies do you know where not only the staff actually throw themselves in to volunteer to make a fundraising ride happen, but the CEO gets so intimately involved as well? It is a rarity let me assure you. We at Smiling for Smiddy know this and will never take this for granted. We will continue to work with Bottlemart and LMG and will always hold you guys and this company in awe of what you do to help us in our fight against cancer.
Once again please feel free to share these blogs with your family and friends and help Smiddy and the Mater Foundation fund medical research into our most common forms of cancers; Melanoma, Prostrate, Ovarian and breast cancer.
Thank you for following our journey and I look forward to sending out another blog tomorrow.
If anyone wishes to send any messages to the riders please feel free to send them to me at sharky@smiddy.org.au and I will read them out at each nights function.
You can make a donation to support the team at www.smiddy.org.au
Take care.
Sharky.
Friday 1 March 2013
2013 NSW SMIDDY CHALLENGE DAY 3
HUNTER VALLEY TO GOSFORD - Day 3
Statistics for the day
Distance: 137 km's
Average speed 24.6 kmph
Maximum speed: 55.6 kmph
Elevation climbed: 1581metres
Riding time: 5:36:00
Min Temp: 14 degrees
Max Temp: 18.5 degrees
Road Kill by Rocket Rod
1 X Blue Tongue
1 X Cat
1 X Snake
1 X Frog
1 X Squishy thing
1 X Something blue and Blonde (Referring to Emma's slow speed fall at lunch)
Rain drops keep falling on our heads - All day!
UNBELIEVABLE! I cannot believe the diversity of weather conditions these past three days. Last night the rain started at six-pm and once it started it just did not stop. I mean as in I am now in the comfort of my motel room in Gosford at five-pm the next day and it is still raining! We started in the rain, had morning tea and lunch in the rain, and just for something different we finished the day into Gosford in the rain. Yesterday we got hit with a 37 degree day and quite a few of us suffered from mild heatstroke, while today we started out with the temperature sitting pretty on a mild 14 degrees and not getting any higher than about 19 degrees. Last year Doug Misener had mapped this traffic free route from the Hunter Valley region to Gosford, which included finishing with the decent down the dangerous Dog Trap Road, which we did safely on our first day on the road on Wednesday. Well descending Dog Trap in the wet is a whole another story, with quite a few of the riders -myself included- soiling their bike pants not just from the road grime! One of the riders renamed this stretch to 'Bog Crap' Road due to the potholes, loose gravel and sheets of running water that covered the road in places. Thankfully all of us put our ego's away and got down this beast successfully and safely. Doug has always said that the day three course is stunningly beautiful; only problem is that for two years running, due to the rain and misty conditions, not to mention fogged up sunglasses, we actual saw very little at all. but Doug assured me it was beautiful the year that he drove it in his air-conditioned car on a beautiful sunny day and who are we not to believe him!
The Smiddy riders are legends!
I know this statement will sound strange to some but conditions like today bring out the life in me. It is like the stupider the elements become the more I see life through rose coloured glasses. I know I was not alone in this feeling as a few riders commented that they really enjoyed the day. Anyway throughout today's ride I had plenty of time to watch what was going on around me and within the peloton, and let me tell you what I witnessed made me proud to be associated with this present pack of Smiddy riders. I so wish you could have seen these guys and girls in action. Under the most miserable and dangerous conditions to face a peloton of riders at this given time, they all just knuckled down and without as much as a whimper or a complaint, just got on with the job of knocking off day three with as little fuss as possible. The calls and signals for debris on the roads were loud and concise, the encouragement was forthcoming from many of the riders, but the pacing today definitely favoured the stronger riders, who were keen to move a little quicker in the wet in order to stay warm. Apologies to the few riders today who were struggling but thank you for accepting it and getting on with the job.
Our road crew are not bad also!
A huge thanks to the crew for looking after us so well today. They knew we were wet, they knew -at times- we felt miserable. In a time lapse camera shutter reading of today's events, this is what I took in from what I saw: Your good cheer and humour at each stop, Greg your portable rain shelters for us to hide under, the sandwich girls, Gavin the constant repairs to bikes breaking down, the pacing riders back onto the bunch after an unofficial call of nature stop by any one of the lads with poor bladders, to the girls who helped us find items needed to keep warm, the girls making those beautiful steamy cups of coffee and tea, the crew for always smiling and words of encouragement when needed most, the girls making us feel like movie stars by taking our photos with their high tech million dollar camera's, or was that an iPhone I spotted? But seriously thanks guys for being such legends and please can you come back next year?
Sharky's Highlights package to finish off day three
1. Arriving at the start this morning and seeing that each and every rider was there ready to take on the wet day ahead of them. Not one rider took the easy -and actually- quite sensible option, to sit the day out in the support cars. I could not have been prouder! We are out to raising money for cancer sufferer's and for research. They don't get to take a day off from having cancer, so neither do our Smiddy riders!
2. Last night every single solitary Smiddy rider and road crew member turned up in their team polo shirt for the fundraiser evening. All but one! Me. Guilty as charged! I wore a black t-shirt. In my defense I thought the night was casual dress and every other night we were meant to wear the polo shirt. Clearly I did not read my own briefing notes that were sent out to the crew two weeks ago. I promised Rowan I would pay out on myself so there it is!
3. Mike Stubber, Captain Kev, Marianne Grace and Richard Honey, today these four amazing individuals took care of the riders out on the road, in conditions that were dangerous and at times confronting. I know it gives us peace of mind that our safety is paramount and that you take your jobs seriously. On behalf of all the riders a heartfelt thank you for every day, but especially today in the wet and treacherous conditions.
4. During the huddle this afternoon, which was done in the rain, just for something different, Doug Misener did us the honour by taking on the huddle duties and wrapped it up quickly due to the shivering and chattering teeth of the riders, when Mark Bayfield asked to speak. He thanked all the riders who helped -and these were his words- 'The Smiddy Snails'. Mark was referring to a number of riders that were doing it tough and the band of stronger riders that helped to push them up many a hill. I won't mention all the riders that helped, as there were many, and they know who they are!
5. The three Amigo's from Western Australia in Lynton, Brian and Ross, for their team effort at raising a stack of money to help with the Smiddy cause of funding cancer research. To date these amazing men have raised in excess of $17,000 between them and we at Smiling for Smiddy and the Mater foundation are extremely grateful.
6. And to all the other riders who have really got on board this year with your fund raising; Danny McCarthy at over $6000, Greg Dring with $3150, Paul Dury at $3000, and the surprise package in our one day rider James Rudder at $2880. James was not sure if he could raise any money for riding just one day. Well James a one day ride of 170km's is still a huge day in the saddle and isn't it great that your donors recognise this? Again a sincere thanks to all the riders who have made the effort to fundraise, regardless of the amount. As you know it all adds up!
7. This one is for our supporters, family members, work colleagues, friends and donors. Without you guys I would not be writing this blog, there would be no Smiddy experience to write about. A sincere thank you for your contributions; whether it be supporting your rider, making a donation, sending us a message of support. You are an important piece of the puzzle and we thank you for completing our picture.
8. Have to get this one in; not just in the hope of continued support, but because the friendship Rowan and I have with Doug and the team at LMG are so important to us. Again without our shared vision of raising funds for cancer research through Smiddy events we would still be riding bikes but not doing it for all the right reasons. Thank you and bring on 2014 but please Doug can we see the beauty of the day three course without the rain?
9. Now this highlight has not happened as I write this but will happen tonight. Last year I asked road crew member Michelle Franks to read out the day three blog. She said no as she was scared of not being able to deliver a fine enough performance. Well tonight she has agreed and is now speaking these words out of her own mouth and how good is she doing guys? I bet real good! Thanks Michelle, means a lot to me.
10. And finally a very important highlight: Maria and David Smiddy are always thinking of each and every rider who go that extra mile to join any one of our many Smiddy events throughout the year. I would like to share with you this email that Maria and David sent through to us today.
Hello Smiddy riders and road crew,
Mark, thanks again for a another great journal. What a high you would have definitely been on after that amazing day and night. We were not surprised at all to read about the Smiddy stalwarts and how their leadership, physical assistance to others and strength is getting the team to their destination each day. We are in awe of those who are new to
this charity cycling events and are finding new realms of pain meeting them, but they persevere. We are so proud of you all and wish you all the very best for the rest of the ride.
How exciting it was to read of the fantastic total achieved last night. Another amazing night by all accounts. Thank you Doug and your team at Bottlemart/LMG for your dedication to this cause. The difference you are making to the lives of patients and their families cannot be measured as easily as kilometres or dollars, because if it means that there are more
survivors of cancer, that is immeasurable. We know Adam is with you in spirit, but oh, how we wish he was with you in body too. He would be loving it, just like all of you are.
CONGRATULATIONS and WELL DONE to all. Love and huge hugs,
David and Maria.
Sharky's last words:
Another bottler of a day and I can't wait for our remaining day on the road. It is a strange world when you are on the road riding a bike every day. It actually begins to feel normal to ride a bike as it is the most natural thing that you do when you get up each day. The weird thing is going back to getting up and not riding. As work and family and other commitments step back into our lives starting this Sunday, it somehow does not feel right but is right at the same time to complete that balance we all need in our lives. I will leave you with this final email from the Turner boys Mum and Wife Barbara.
I am just so proud of my two boys....my amazing husband Bob, who has been so determined to do this ride despite many setbacks and my equally amazing son, Matt, who has encouraged him all the way.
Congratulations to you both, I am so proud of you for your “awesomeness” and to all of you riders and support crew for being so selfless in the quest of helping others.
We are with you in spirit and hope your blistered butts are not too painful!
All my love
Barb / Mum
Once again please feel free to share these blogs with your family and friends and help Smiddy and the Mater Foundation fund medical research into our most common forms of cancers; Melanoma, Prostrate, Ovarian and breast cancer.
Thank you for following our journey and I look forward to sending out the final blog tomorrow.
If anyone wishes to send any messages to the riders please feel free to send them to me at sharky@smiddy.org.au and I will read them out at each nights function.
You can make a donation to support the team at www.smiddy.org.au
Take care.
Sharky.
Statistics for the day
Distance: 137 km's
Average speed 24.6 kmph
Maximum speed: 55.6 kmph
Elevation climbed: 1581metres
Riding time: 5:36:00
Min Temp: 14 degrees
Max Temp: 18.5 degrees
Road Kill by Rocket Rod
1 X Blue Tongue
1 X Cat
1 X Snake
1 X Frog
1 X Squishy thing
1 X Something blue and Blonde (Referring to Emma's slow speed fall at lunch)
Rain drops keep falling on our heads - All day!
UNBELIEVABLE! I cannot believe the diversity of weather conditions these past three days. Last night the rain started at six-pm and once it started it just did not stop. I mean as in I am now in the comfort of my motel room in Gosford at five-pm the next day and it is still raining! We started in the rain, had morning tea and lunch in the rain, and just for something different we finished the day into Gosford in the rain. Yesterday we got hit with a 37 degree day and quite a few of us suffered from mild heatstroke, while today we started out with the temperature sitting pretty on a mild 14 degrees and not getting any higher than about 19 degrees. Last year Doug Misener had mapped this traffic free route from the Hunter Valley region to Gosford, which included finishing with the decent down the dangerous Dog Trap Road, which we did safely on our first day on the road on Wednesday. Well descending Dog Trap in the wet is a whole another story, with quite a few of the riders -myself included- soiling their bike pants not just from the road grime! One of the riders renamed this stretch to 'Bog Crap' Road due to the potholes, loose gravel and sheets of running water that covered the road in places. Thankfully all of us put our ego's away and got down this beast successfully and safely. Doug has always said that the day three course is stunningly beautiful; only problem is that for two years running, due to the rain and misty conditions, not to mention fogged up sunglasses, we actual saw very little at all. but Doug assured me it was beautiful the year that he drove it in his air-conditioned car on a beautiful sunny day and who are we not to believe him!
The Smiddy riders are legends!
I know this statement will sound strange to some but conditions like today bring out the life in me. It is like the stupider the elements become the more I see life through rose coloured glasses. I know I was not alone in this feeling as a few riders commented that they really enjoyed the day. Anyway throughout today's ride I had plenty of time to watch what was going on around me and within the peloton, and let me tell you what I witnessed made me proud to be associated with this present pack of Smiddy riders. I so wish you could have seen these guys and girls in action. Under the most miserable and dangerous conditions to face a peloton of riders at this given time, they all just knuckled down and without as much as a whimper or a complaint, just got on with the job of knocking off day three with as little fuss as possible. The calls and signals for debris on the roads were loud and concise, the encouragement was forthcoming from many of the riders, but the pacing today definitely favoured the stronger riders, who were keen to move a little quicker in the wet in order to stay warm. Apologies to the few riders today who were struggling but thank you for accepting it and getting on with the job.
Our road crew are not bad also!
A huge thanks to the crew for looking after us so well today. They knew we were wet, they knew -at times- we felt miserable. In a time lapse camera shutter reading of today's events, this is what I took in from what I saw: Your good cheer and humour at each stop, Greg your portable rain shelters for us to hide under, the sandwich girls, Gavin the constant repairs to bikes breaking down, the pacing riders back onto the bunch after an unofficial call of nature stop by any one of the lads with poor bladders, to the girls who helped us find items needed to keep warm, the girls making those beautiful steamy cups of coffee and tea, the crew for always smiling and words of encouragement when needed most, the girls making us feel like movie stars by taking our photos with their high tech million dollar camera's, or was that an iPhone I spotted? But seriously thanks guys for being such legends and please can you come back next year?
Sharky's Highlights package to finish off day three
1. Arriving at the start this morning and seeing that each and every rider was there ready to take on the wet day ahead of them. Not one rider took the easy -and actually- quite sensible option, to sit the day out in the support cars. I could not have been prouder! We are out to raising money for cancer sufferer's and for research. They don't get to take a day off from having cancer, so neither do our Smiddy riders!
2. Last night every single solitary Smiddy rider and road crew member turned up in their team polo shirt for the fundraiser evening. All but one! Me. Guilty as charged! I wore a black t-shirt. In my defense I thought the night was casual dress and every other night we were meant to wear the polo shirt. Clearly I did not read my own briefing notes that were sent out to the crew two weeks ago. I promised Rowan I would pay out on myself so there it is!
3. Mike Stubber, Captain Kev, Marianne Grace and Richard Honey, today these four amazing individuals took care of the riders out on the road, in conditions that were dangerous and at times confronting. I know it gives us peace of mind that our safety is paramount and that you take your jobs seriously. On behalf of all the riders a heartfelt thank you for every day, but especially today in the wet and treacherous conditions.
4. During the huddle this afternoon, which was done in the rain, just for something different, Doug Misener did us the honour by taking on the huddle duties and wrapped it up quickly due to the shivering and chattering teeth of the riders, when Mark Bayfield asked to speak. He thanked all the riders who helped -and these were his words- 'The Smiddy Snails'. Mark was referring to a number of riders that were doing it tough and the band of stronger riders that helped to push them up many a hill. I won't mention all the riders that helped, as there were many, and they know who they are!
5. The three Amigo's from Western Australia in Lynton, Brian and Ross, for their team effort at raising a stack of money to help with the Smiddy cause of funding cancer research. To date these amazing men have raised in excess of $17,000 between them and we at Smiling for Smiddy and the Mater foundation are extremely grateful.
6. And to all the other riders who have really got on board this year with your fund raising; Danny McCarthy at over $6000, Greg Dring with $3150, Paul Dury at $3000, and the surprise package in our one day rider James Rudder at $2880. James was not sure if he could raise any money for riding just one day. Well James a one day ride of 170km's is still a huge day in the saddle and isn't it great that your donors recognise this? Again a sincere thanks to all the riders who have made the effort to fundraise, regardless of the amount. As you know it all adds up!
7. This one is for our supporters, family members, work colleagues, friends and donors. Without you guys I would not be writing this blog, there would be no Smiddy experience to write about. A sincere thank you for your contributions; whether it be supporting your rider, making a donation, sending us a message of support. You are an important piece of the puzzle and we thank you for completing our picture.
8. Have to get this one in; not just in the hope of continued support, but because the friendship Rowan and I have with Doug and the team at LMG are so important to us. Again without our shared vision of raising funds for cancer research through Smiddy events we would still be riding bikes but not doing it for all the right reasons. Thank you and bring on 2014 but please Doug can we see the beauty of the day three course without the rain?
9. Now this highlight has not happened as I write this but will happen tonight. Last year I asked road crew member Michelle Franks to read out the day three blog. She said no as she was scared of not being able to deliver a fine enough performance. Well tonight she has agreed and is now speaking these words out of her own mouth and how good is she doing guys? I bet real good! Thanks Michelle, means a lot to me.
10. And finally a very important highlight: Maria and David Smiddy are always thinking of each and every rider who go that extra mile to join any one of our many Smiddy events throughout the year. I would like to share with you this email that Maria and David sent through to us today.
Hello Smiddy riders and road crew,
Mark, thanks again for a another great journal. What a high you would have definitely been on after that amazing day and night. We were not surprised at all to read about the Smiddy stalwarts and how their leadership, physical assistance to others and strength is getting the team to their destination each day. We are in awe of those who are new to
this charity cycling events and are finding new realms of pain meeting them, but they persevere. We are so proud of you all and wish you all the very best for the rest of the ride.
How exciting it was to read of the fantastic total achieved last night. Another amazing night by all accounts. Thank you Doug and your team at Bottlemart/LMG for your dedication to this cause. The difference you are making to the lives of patients and their families cannot be measured as easily as kilometres or dollars, because if it means that there are more
survivors of cancer, that is immeasurable. We know Adam is with you in spirit, but oh, how we wish he was with you in body too. He would be loving it, just like all of you are.
CONGRATULATIONS and WELL DONE to all. Love and huge hugs,
David and Maria.
Sharky's last words:
Another bottler of a day and I can't wait for our remaining day on the road. It is a strange world when you are on the road riding a bike every day. It actually begins to feel normal to ride a bike as it is the most natural thing that you do when you get up each day. The weird thing is going back to getting up and not riding. As work and family and other commitments step back into our lives starting this Sunday, it somehow does not feel right but is right at the same time to complete that balance we all need in our lives. I will leave you with this final email from the Turner boys Mum and Wife Barbara.
I am just so proud of my two boys....my amazing husband Bob, who has been so determined to do this ride despite many setbacks and my equally amazing son, Matt, who has encouraged him all the way.
Congratulations to you both, I am so proud of you for your “awesomeness” and to all of you riders and support crew for being so selfless in the quest of helping others.
We are with you in spirit and hope your blistered butts are not too painful!
All my love
Barb / Mum
Once again please feel free to share these blogs with your family and friends and help Smiddy and the Mater Foundation fund medical research into our most common forms of cancers; Melanoma, Prostrate, Ovarian and breast cancer.
Thank you for following our journey and I look forward to sending out the final blog tomorrow.
If anyone wishes to send any messages to the riders please feel free to send them to me at sharky@smiddy.org.au and I will read them out at each nights function.
You can make a donation to support the team at www.smiddy.org.au
Take care.
Sharky.
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