That’s Pete at the back, looking like an urban terrorist – bloody photo bombers!
It’s the final night of 1000ks 4 Kids and tonight is the presentations and the mighty Team CSA didn’t get a guernsey – I think the Skippies were letting the Ashes get in the way if I’m honest. The jerseys went out to deserving riders, and Big G gets most supportive only to have the Fines process reversed so he is copping it big financially. All very funny and the Legends should be proud of themselves for being on the verge of completing the ride we have trained eight months for, so tonight we celebrate! – even the Mechanic turned up.
We are staying in the Railway Hotel, so the Legends camped out in the Bar to have some cheeky pints and FREE POOL. With NRL and AFL on the big screens the celebrations began, and at 8PM it’s the start of the Ashes where the banter flows, but let’s say the mighty 3 Lions were ahead. Dodgy local turns up looking like Patrica Fugly from Miss Murrurundi but there is only one Miss Fugly, and that is the photo bomber who has given up on pool and is playing darts. The die-hards stay on till the small hours, but I head off to share a room with six blokes who are undoubtedly going to sound like a crash of rhino’s wrecking the joint.
Final days plan as the Legends cycle from Muswellbrook to Rutherford.
- Get up at 6 AM for the last time!
- Breakfast was done by 07:50.
- Start rolling at 08:00.
- Mixed terrain to Lochinvar – lunch & loads of cakes!
- Roll into The Bradford Hotel.
Elevation map, where green/yellow is FLAT and red is INCLINES
With the familiar sound of kookaburra’s sounding the attack, the room wakes up a bit dusty and gets straight to the routine of trying to get your knicks on without farting, and the daily application of Australian Essential Oils begins. I cram everything I own into my bag and get Santa to jump off the top bunk so that I can close the bloody thing and I head to the courtyard looking like a supreme cycling machine – oh yes I’m looking damn fine apart from the love handles and walking like John Wayne. Forming an orderly queue to be breathalysed I look around and realise the Legends have gotten fatter all accept the photo bomber whom I swear has hollow legs as he can eat and drink like he’s on death row. Have the breakfast of kings, coffee with peanut butter on toast and start getting the Carbon Fibre Stallion ready for the last day of riding.
For the final time on the ride, King declares ‘AT DAWN’, the Legends reply ‘WE RIDE’ and the Constipation leaves Muswellbrook. With 30ks of undulations through roads aligned with slighter greener fields, Stud farms and cattle we progress at a steady rate. The first stop is for refueling only, with a couple of horses trying to get involved, but I’m sure cycling gels are on Racing Australia’s list of banned substances – Dishy likes horses, and it keeps him amused.
The next 40ks is bigger inclines with a lot of roadwork as we head through Singleton to Braxton and its evident what keeps the Hunter thriving, the mines. With coal shifters and abandoned mining hardware spread across the landscape we know we are getting closer to the finish. In every town, we are greeted by the locals, with every car horn and lorry blast we are getting closer to our goal – the Lockinvar WA cake stall. There are things the Legends look forward to along the 1000ks but the one that makes them act like children on Christmas morning is the WA’s batch of cakes set up in a small town hall. Now I will admit that the amount and variety of homemade cakes on display were impressive and the Legends were trying them all, and it is now apparent why we had a light breakfast – bloody porkers.
We motor on to Rutherford airport where the Constipation regroups, and the local fire brigade escorts us to the Rutherford Hotel and the finish line. Team CSA is at the back, but it is good as you get to see the reaction of the crowds lining the road and we turn into the car park to cheering and photos. Sarah and Lo were there, and they give me hugs as I unclip from the Carbon Fibre Stallion for the last time. The Legends are with their families, and we are all Cream Crackered, but we have completed the best cycle ride imaginable and with a great bunch of people whom I didn’t know ten days ago and I am now well and truly part of the Camp Quality family.
Well that’s it my global audience I have completed the 2019 Camp Quality 1000ks 4 Kids where we have raised over $391k and we are still counting. I will give you a review in about a week when its all sunken in but here is today’s ride for you visual pleasure.
Badger & Batbottom 