Counting down

It is the end of the 2009 financial year. The financial die is cast for another tax year. Now it is seriously time to turn attention to the bike ride. After all, time is ticking away.

I depart Sydney on July 27, 2009. The ride departs Rockhampton on July 29 headed for Darwin 4 weeks later and 3,000 kms further. We have a collection of 13 riders and Collis in the support van. Of those 13 riders, 5 have ridden across Australia before. Me in 2002, 2004, and 2006. Woody in 2002 and 2006. Sheila, Rob and Roger in 2006. We have all done some big tours in between. We have 8 other riders who are braving this trip for the first time. Of the 13 riders, 6 are women.

My training has been diabolical in its scarcity. I have just ticked over 1,800 kms this year, of which close to one third has been in June. No excuses really - have just been spending the time putting together a new life with a new love partner. That side of life is really good. Now time to focus on the training and staying healthy and topside the road - have had a few close encounters. In a few days, I'll put a web journal up on CrazyguyonaBike.