THE STATS
Trip 82km, Av Speed 21.7kmph, Max speed 81kmph , Height climbed approx 500 metres, 3.7 hours effort.
Elapsed Distance : approx 1180km

THE RIDE
Before the ride there was the party. And the party was good. We all got a lift from Phil McD up2 Clifton Hotel in Thirroul on Saterday Evening. Initially exciting. BUT. As we ascended hill after hill, with the Bulli Escarpent towering over us, a sort of a hush came over the assembly. We thought tomorrow was going to be a cruise day?... Hmm lots of hills...and then there the Stanwell Park Pass. Hmmmm.... However soon forgotten as we arrived at the Hotel.

Senor Greg the Generalismo Mechanico showed us his quarters pasted to the side of the hotel. A corrigated iron post box big enough to fit a large Jack Russel Terrier. Beers were quaffed at the Pub. Great Pub. Great atmosphere. Daran and Josh mingled rapidly with the other street wise folk. Al Presidente very graciously noiminated the scribe for an award. Thanks ANZ Investments, it sits proudly in front of me as i type. Although getting to some of the keys is a problem.

What a night. Huge banquet. Another Megaphonic speech of Magnificence from The Big Mac. Many cheers and reminiscences. We also cheered the Dream Team. Normally quiet-in-the-background Susan was pushed to the fore for a speech. She was struck dumb but her expression spoke volumes. A great lady.

We then had the introverted Shiralee and Mel give the prizes of the trip. Wish I could remember them but there were some classics. (Red red wine...) Best Male Lips. Best Male b*utt, best female b*tt, the Perpetual Drafter Award, and so on and so forth.

Simon gave us an absolutely fantasic poem on the ride. Man From Snowy River style. It really eloquently encapsulated the ride. Below is the URL to point to it. We all gave Simon a huge ovation for a great piece of work. Thanks Simon !!

Simons Poem : http://au.oocities.com/bbchallenge2001/poem.html

Daran gave us a great speech on his past. We were pretty dumb struck. Most of us had never heard him speak before but he was a real powerhouse. Confident, articulate and well spoken. A great example of what Teen Challenge has been doing in Australia. The statistics were formidable. Most drug rehabilitation centres have a sucess rate of less than 10 percent. Teen Challenge is nearly 90% ! ! ! We then had an auction for a signed poster, a large framed pic and some other ride goodies... $1500 was raised. The record shall state that Ralph and Allison were the sucessful bidders. Tremenously generous !!!

Then back down the hill for the beauty sleep. Snore. Up again and away thru the sleepy burbs of the Gong. Sun up shining bright. Hills were OK. View as above, one of the best we have seen. Beautiful coastal hill swoops looking down at the Ocean below...The Gong people are truly fortunate with what they have. Riding was pleasure personified for every participant. The steep ride up to Stanwell Park through the forest was quite bearable and short enough (and early enough in the day) to enjoy the landscape before lactic acid blurred the senses.

We whipped thru to Heathcote for the tea break. Extra scrummy with those Anzacs. Then a slow mass peoton to Menai Road. Much frizbeeing and football kicking in the car park. Joe, the man with Gas Bottles for thighs amused us with juggling acts and riding a bike sitting on the handlebars. Is there anything this superman cant do ?!?!?

Then onwards to Rosehill in convoy. Again. Lots of chats and reminiscences.

We were greated by a huge crowd at the Bicycling Australia Show and we felt quite special. The show was a ripper too. Wow all that good gear. Bandits salivating and wondering how hard the $35 credit cards could be hit.

Two of our Porsche bikes were auctioned at the show, so thats more money to Teen Challenge and more thanks to Porsche.

We all said our farewell and made our ways back to various parts of the country. Thanks for the bus ride to the airport Phil.

COMMENT OF THE DAY

Comments were flying thick and fast , mainly directed against the scribe but there you have it ...reality ... peoples attitudes are a reflection of one self
Waz [at 6am brekky] : "Jeez...doesnt matter what i do i ALWAYS get honey on my fingers"
Al : "Yep : Wazza mowing the lawn - honey on his fingers"
Phil : "Waz walking the dogs - honey on his fingers"
PB : "Waz doing the shopping - honey on his fingers"
etc etc

"First time Ive ever done 65 in a 40 zone...on a bike"
Al shooting through the town

THE PROTAGONISTS

PB
It was PBs birthday today - so another big happy from the scribe. PB made a pact with the scribe today. "You take it easy OK?" .... hey what an offer ... Are the Kennedeys Gun Shy ? So off we go ... the early breaks got mopped up before he had woken up properly (a slow riser is our PB- gets up early but pulse only goes over 50 after 10 klicks) - 30 minutes later we are still cruising...looking good and then the big pass up from the Gong. * zot* ...gone again ... heh heh however apon fanging off again The Punisher missed the tea break...again. No wonder he has lost so much weight...Luckily he was picked up before Sydney swallowed him.

However I think we must donate another chapter to this amazing creature of the hills. After all it is his birthday...that would make him 68. We must visualise the early morn ...round about cock crow...when Challenge riders are still warm and snug in their rugs. I for one, am reluctantly rising, eyes glued shut, voice a muted croak...my mouth a den of dead ferrets ...then in walks PB ... a daily ritual .....bright eyes, bushy tailed ..."morning folks!!" in a clear strong voice laced with mint and rosemary...shaved, clipped, pate polished, whiskers in allignment, riding shoes polished, both socks pulled up (with logos facing outwards) Man o man this fellow is an example to mankind i can tell you. Kerith tells us that this is The Man every day. Every day is the best day of his life. We sure are lucky El Pres conscripted him... 'Onya PB !!!

AL PRESIDENTE
Al was a river, a torrent, a waterfall of quips and jokes on the way in today. Many screams of recollected delight and humour. ..No mention of the lumpy knee and sausage fingers. The beard is now gone and ladies are starting to talk to him again. EP started to flex the sprint muscles again...a spurt here... a hammer there....The king will be looking to impose his will on his loyal subjects next week...

CLIVE
The Wine Mystic does all his serious business at the break of dawn....ablutions, teeth,whiskers, brek and then a slow cruise to warm up the sore muscles..all at the same time certain other bandits are staggering around trying to recover their wits .

Clive hit a pothole today....almost tore the handlebars off !! Nearly won the toothless award for the day and made his Orthodontist a wealthy man. Pure grit and savegery (and a few choice oaths) kept his act together and the Mystery Man gathered himself and cruised to victory.

PHIL
Nuggety was my shadow today. Would NOT draft. Insisted in punching his own hole thru the turbulent air stream. Now stands up in the hills. Looking very dangerous. Our most improved Bandit could be setting the road on fire when he re mounts his Coppi-later this week (apols for the Freudian skid marks)

WAZ
Allo Allo Im feeling more like ze Tour de France rider every day. Ze Challenje? Sacre bleau. Zut alors...Pah ! Zoze hills. Pfffffttt !! I blow my nose at them. I spit in zeir jeneral direction. Zey are, ow you zay. Nurthin. A piece of croisant you hava befor yur honey in bed.

KERITH
Made our day again and again... Took good piccies. Had my gear availabale ...even before i realised i needed it. Waited for me by the car at the show knowing that i would eventually become uncomfortable walking around in my lycra and tatoos whilst amongst normally clad people (very strange after 9 days of riding) ... Thanks Kerith. We had a great luxury in having the Porsche backup.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
In rough order of importance :
1. The very social atmosphere generated by a great crowd of folks
2. Not falling off the bike whilst going down those big hills
3. Not falling off the bike at any speed
4. Doing all the days rides
5. The scenery

I wish I could have remembered more... but the best puns, jokes, one liners, comments and observations were made whilst riding and have been lost in my sieve like memory.... but better that than running around with a pad and not being in the moment...

FINAL THANKS
Phil and Susan and the team. Bear, Bram, Greg and the others. So many thanks from all the Bandidos and all of the rest of the riders. It was perfect. A dream. We will be saving up for the next ride with you lot.... BECAUSE IT DOESNT COME ANY BETTER THAN THIS.

Thanks also to our friends Simon, Joe n Co from Team Caffiene. The Dawn Patrollers. Hope we can get together and get some good rides laid down.

Thanks to Tabatha, Mel, Shirallee, Jo, John, Ralph, Allison, Angie and Steve, Tracy and many many others. You were an absolute pleasure to be with.

Finally but not in order, our many many thanks to Porsche. They were extreemly generous. Their stand at the show was out stand ing. And we will always remember their many contributions to our comfort and morale throughout the trip. That Boxster, hey, what a car !! Thanks again Ross and Michael !!

FINAL NOTE
I will be patching up the web site and putting in the gallery over the next week ending 28 October. There will be a lot more pictures and content especially our guest rider interviews to round it up. If anyone has any comments, name corrections etc , please email me below. Thanks for the feedback from all.

Finally, The End...

ONWARD AND UPWARD
and ALWAYS remember ....

* Work like you don’t need the money.
* Love like you’ve never been hurt.
* Dance like nobody’s watching.
* Ride like a Bandido.

for any queries : please email :

bbchallenge2001@yahoo.com.au

ps : to see the latest news and pics go to
http://au.oocities.com/bbchallenge2001/index.html

or go to the Bandits Mega Site
http://www.baysidebandidos.com

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