Cycle Tour

Day 1 (25th August 2009) : Training Ride

(A) (AM) Point Turton to West Cowie Return (21 Km)
(B) (PM) Warooka Loop (25 Km)

At about 8 AM the cycling instructors, Pete, Paul and Riki, arrived at the campsite with 2 trailers filled with bikes. We started unloading the trailer and sorting them into small, medium and large piles. We then had an introductory lesson, learning about the bikes and safety. Then we grabbed a bike and started to get a feel it. Then we set off for the first ride. The ride was quite difficult because we had headwind for most of the ride. This tested everyone physically and mentally. We rode the training loop, to West Cowie and back. During his we learnt how to use the gears and just to get a feel of the bike. We rode back to the campsite for lunch. After lunch, since I was leader, I had to use the map and direct the whole group. This was quite difficult for me because I had to concentrate on my own riding and then I also had to use the map. I think I did pretty well, using the map. I wasn’t sure how I would do, I thought I wouldn’t do that well, but it turned out going fine. We rode to Warooka, to post our letters for the first time. It was quite different for most of us, seeing as pretty much all of us use email or txt messages and have never written letters. Once we had posted the letters we rode back to the campsite.

Day 2 (26th August 2009): Innes National Park Stenhouse Bay to Pondalowie Return (33 km)

We loaded the bikes into the trailer in the morning, and then we all loaded onto the bus. We were unsure on where we were going. Then after a long bus ride we finally arrived at Innes National Park. It took about 20 minutes to unload the trailer. Then we all grabbed our bikes and started riding. The first half of the ride to the light house was quite hard because it was very hilly. I stayed in the middle of the group, because at that time I was quite sore and couldn’t keep up with the fitter people like Arata and Viney. This ride wasn’t that hard because most of the bigger hills we were going down. We stopped for lunch at the Light House. Most of the group stayed at the tables and chairs but Moff suggested to us that we climbed the fence and explored a bit, where it was out of the wind. After I finished my tuna sandwich, I walked down the hill towards the water. It was quite difficult, as it was really steep and the walk back up was even harder. When I got back to the top I could see Nick Broadbridge doing stretches or some kind of dance, it was quite funny to watch. When we finished lunch we got back onto the bikes and started our ride back. One of the instructors, Pete, gave all of us a challenge, we had to ride all the way back to the bus in gears 2 and 8. Most of us tried it and Viney, Arata, Ben, Nick B, Angus and I rode ahead. We left the group behind us and we were so far ahead that Paul had to ride after us to tell us to stop. I was happy that I completed the 2, 8 challenge.

Day 3 (27th August 2009) Brentwood to Edithburgh - via Port Giles + Coobowie (50 km)

By the last day of the bike tour some of us were starting to really enjoy it. We had overcome the pain and were having a good time. We rode past canola fields and lakes. One of the tracks was really cool because on one side there was a blue lake and on the other, bright yellow canola fields. The view was spectacular. I enjoyed everything about this day. On the last part of the ride we were on one of the main roads and Viney, Arata, Declan, a few others and I were riding miles ahead and it was really fun, we were riding quite fast, but then Paul made us ride behind him so we wouldn't ride so far ahead. We finished the day by posting letters and riding past the golf course, loading the bus up with the bikes and farewelled the bike instructors, but only Pete was leaving, Riki and Paul came back on Monday.