Donna and Steve's Charity Cycle Ride
... continued from previous page

Touring the valleys around Adelaide was arguably the most fun part of the journey.
The pace was certainly more leisurely.
It may look as if Steve is pointing to the sign about the Clare Valley Riesling Trail
but the reality is that he just can not stand up straight.

Victoria is Donna's home state.
How many people turned out to greet her homecoming?
Well, er, none actually.
Another Steve had joined them by this stage;
this one is an Englishman but it was not held against him,
at least not openly.

A group of riders on Harleys thought that they were travelling the hard way
having riden their motor bikes from Perth.
Their view was that Donna and Steve were completely mad to have cycled
but had to agree that fluorescent yellow clothing is much cooler than black
even if it does show up the flies more.

The Great Ocean Road, Victoria was yet another magnificent sight.
It winds its ways around ragged cliffs, windswept beaches and passes through lush
mountain rainforest and towering eucalyptus.
The photograph shows Donna and Steve in the Port Campbell National Park
where golden limestone cliffs and rock formations face the buffeting of the sea.
Behind them can be seen a number of the Twelve Apostles (of whom only 10 remain!).

Steve and Steve hard at work repairing one of six punctures
that had occurred on this piece of road.
Donna had been asked to test the inner tubes during an earlier stop for repairs
but she became confused about whether to suck or blow.
The resultant inadequate repairs failed shortly thereafter.
Steve's face on the left tells you everything.

Nearly there!
Note the wish fairy on the bike. No, the one tied to the front.
She was looking the worse for wear.
Thinking about it, both needed a good wash.

After 106 days and 5,800 km touching the Sydney Harbour Bridge was a surreal moment.
At times it had seemed as if this goal would never be reached.
The occasional tantrums on route were forgotten and elation set in.
The only regret was the lack of a photograph capturing the look on
the face of the couple who were accosted with the words
"Hi, would you mind taking a photograph. We have just ridden in from Perth.".

Finally the welcome that Donna had hoped for originally when she entered Victoria.
Friends and family gathered by the steps of the Sydney Opera House.
From left to right :
Steve (friend); Steve; Whitney (friend); Mimi (Donna's aunt); James (Donna's cousin);
Anna (James' fiancee); Donna, Caroline and Adam (friends); Irene (Steve's mother);
Peter (Steve's father); Natalie (girlfriend of Steve's brother, Mark);
and Catherine (Steve's sister).

Time to don the Whizz-Kidz t-shirts for a publicity shot at the finish.

Meanwhile back in England, Francis and Cate, two friends,
presented a £6,0000 cheque to Whizz-Kidz for the money raised for that charity.

The trip of a lifetime and money raised for worthwhile causes.
Surely it does not get much better than this!

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