This is the longest ride day on this leg. The itinerary stated it was 180 ams, Collis stated it was 185kms plus some and the road sign stated 193 kms. We will have to wait and see which is correct but not till the end of the day.
The day has started early with Collis giving everyone their leaving times from camp. The girls (except Annie) went out at 0630 hrs on the dot. Dr Mick and then Annie at 0645 hrs, then the boys staggered out at 15 minute intervals.Everyone, except Gareth met their leaving times but Gareth was late leaving although he left before Geoff.
I was the first car to leave camp as we were going to stagger them as well. I took off about an hour after Geoff. 13 kms out I found Gareth cruising along the road. I couldn’t work it out- had he got lost and taken the wrong turn or did he have to fix a puncture? NO- he stopped to do his last post on FB and made his final calls before we lost reception. We were now spread out down the highway (which we were trying to prevent) over 20 kms plus margin. It’s going to be a long day if they don’t catch up with each other by lunchtime.
The day was heating up quickly but there was no wind to hinder or to help. Morning tea was at a rest area which ended up spreading out over an hour or more but everyone are a little closer together now. Annie lost her pedal after morning tea so she gets a 20km lift with Collis to lunch where Mike fixes it and she has to get back on the bike. The day has turned out a scorcher and still no wind. At least the sides of the road were covered with quite dense forest. The afternoon clouded over and the temperature dropped a few degrees but still no breeze.
The scenery round here is great but unfortunately not everyone is able to enjoy it. Lunch was at 100k mark, about half way, everyone is doing okay.
At the afternoon tea stop, Lorraine arrives flat as a tack and I had to leave her in Pat’s capable hands while I raced ahead to get Collis to come back and pick up her and her bike. I couldn’t put her into my car - well Lorraine I could but not the bike. Pat and Dallas continued on without her at the back of the pack.
We got into Victoria River around 4pm and most of the boys arrived within 1/2 an hour. Collis went out to check up on the girls after opening a tab at the bar for the riders to get an ice cold drink or an ice cream. The girls slowly came in and all glad for a nice cold drink. The distance turned out to be 193kms!!
The worst part of today was not the distance but the heat and the humidity. Anyway, that one is out of the way and they all survived.
Everyone ate at the roadhouse, with most of us eating off the breakfast menu. The service was good and the food came quickly.
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