Eve of ride

Tent city! Ours is the tallest dome tent to the very left of the photo.

58 kms down and he made the bus!

Dave loves a deadline! So much so he powered through the last day's ride in record time - 60kms in 3.5 hrs, making doubly sure he did NOT miss the bus. My hero! xx

Leaving Manjimup

Self-portrait after 106kms

106kms up and down hills in 35°C heat = 9 litres of water drunk & no pee + one David nearly falling asleep on his bike. It's all easier from here on in.

Bye Bye Rosie

Rosie goes to her grandparents tomorrow AM. Sarah's bestie Mel, who lives in Dunsborough, works in Perth a couple of days a week, and will be the chauffeur. So Sarah gets to ride the 103km friday solo without Rosie or carriage. Her thighs thank Mel.

Dave riding hard...

Dave being waited on by one of his women (wearing pink) after a long days ride!

Cycling & Simmos

One feature about cycling into Dunaborough was the rest stop at Simmos Icecreamery. Now they've followed the bicycles to the campsite at Busselton. I highly recommend Simmos lemon sorbet post-cycling.

Progress

You can tell there's been a paradigm shift when one thinks, oh today's just a 49km day, piffle! Friday will be 35°C, 103km and nearly all uphill to Baligup. Not piffle!

memory limit - no more photos today

Seems we've hit a daily limit for uploaded photos, so for those from the 19th and following we will have to try again tomorrow.

Setting up Tent for the first time - 17 March

The Beginning - Bus to Manjimup 17 March

Views from the Road

Rest Day Margaret River Tues 22nd

Well we're at Mel and Craig Stevens place for most of today, doing washing, sitting on comfortable chairs, congratulating ourselves on 200+ kms done to date and not thinking too much about 220+ kms to go. Rose (2) and Willow (1) have been playing but are now ready for sleeps, as probably are the rest of us but we'll hang on. Back to Margaret River tonight then cycle to Dunsborough tomorrow when we'll catch up again.

Dave & Rosie's goodnight dance ritual, Margaret River

How Sarah saved my arse!

A day or so before the ride Sarah told me proudly she had found these gel seat covers for the seats. "gel, schmel" i said to myself, but if it floats Sarah's boat, excellent, but I'll manage with my plain old bike seat, thanks. Yesterday was the 106 km ride and at the 50 km mark my glutes were all but screaming aloud "cruel and unusual punishment". Remembered the gel cover. Put on. Ride. Surprise, the pain is now manageable. Thanks, Sarah, for saving my arse. D.

A cyclist's view - between Augusta & Margaret River

sorry

been trying to upload photos from Pemberton, but the Telstra wireless broadband seems limited to 2G and it's just not loading photos. So apart from any we post direct via iPhone, we'll be loading photos in Margaret River - Monday night/Tuesday. Cheerio

ready for the ride

Survival first day.

Sarah and I (Dave)  have established our  differing fitness levels, and that me being to race off ahead in the latter part of the day is good for both of our mental healths. This way I get to stretch my legs and have the tent set up when the other two arrive.  Rose has been pretty good - for a 2 yr old - sleeping large chunks of the ride. Big one tomorrow. May get to post some photos here tonight. 

"Where going"

"Where going" is Rosie's equivalent of "Are we there yet?". Given she started in the East Perth carpark BEFORE we left, this may be a long bus ride to Manjimup.

Ride Menu

Ooops - this is not part of the Ride-Guide, but in my op, is the most important 'guide' of all!! - Sarah xx
http://www.bv.com.au/file/file/Great%20WA%20Bike%20Ride%20Menu%202011.pdf

Bike-Ride Guide PDF

Hi Everyone,
A more comprehensive guide can be downloaded as pdf from
http://www.bv.com.au/file/file/GWABR2011/Great%20WA%20Bike%20Ride%20Guide%20-%20FINAL.pdf
Love, Sarah xx

Daily Route Overview-Posted by Sarah!

Daily Route Overview

Day One:
Saturday 19 March, 40km, Manjimup to Pemberton

Day Two:
Sunday 20 March, 106km Pemberton to Karridale

Day Three:
Monday 21 March, 74km Karridale to Margaret River

Day Four:
Tuesday 22 March, Rest Day Margaret River Rest Day

Day Five:
Wednesday 23 March, 71km Margaret River to Dunsborough

Day Six:
Thursday 24 March, 49km Dunsborough to Busselton

Day Seven:
Friday 25 March, 103km Busselton to Balingup

Day Eight:
Saturday 26 March, 42km Balingup to Nannup

Day Nine:
Sunday 27 March, 58km Nannup to Manjimup

The Rosie- kart!

Testing Testing 1,2