Riders Blog

THE LAST DAY
The Settlers House in York is the location of our final award ceremony. As in the past we were joined by the Scottish Masonic Charitable Foundation of Western Australia who are regular sponsors of the Mountain High jersey and the riders arm protectors. So riding into Perth, which riders had which jerseys?

Mountain High Jersey – Brocky, Daniel Brockway
Superman Jersey – The Troll, Jonathon Wyatt
Knight Sky Jersey - Adam Fitzsimons, the RSR bike mechanic
Yellow Jersey – Wolfman, Mark Hoyer
High Five – Maverick, Kim Gilbert

All this talk of “it is all downhill from here” is a little misguided because until we all reached Greenmount Hill the road from York to Perth is actually hilly (or slightly undulating as we have become accustomed to hearing). It is only 100kms to Perth (give or take one or two), so we actually got a sleep in.

Traffic on a long weekend Sunday was pretty heavy -lucky for some overtaking lanes. Morning tea was at the Lakes Roadhouse and we tried to finish all the cakes. No more cakes for a little while now. The riders then rolled down Greenmount Hill and actually overtook a semitrailer in very low gear. Riding through the suburbs after a week out in the country is a bit of a shock with more traffic and noise. The crowd gathered in Murray Street Mall and as we got within spitting distance…. Fitzy had a flat tyre.

After a quick tyre change by Knight Sky jersey winner Adam, the Red Sky Riders finally pulled into the mall to the applause of their family and friends. The Deputy Lord Mayor of Perth, The Honourable John Tognolini, Dr David Joske and David Edwards from Solariscare were there to officially welcome the riders’ home.

The total funds raised as we arrived (including some cheques and cash we picked up along the way) was $315,000. Please feel free to continue donating so we can reach the target of $400,000.

Thank you to all the Red Sky Riders and the volunteers for putting in the hard yards and making this an amazing ride. Everyone is home safe and sound after 1000 kilometres. Well done team.

The awards night for the most outstanding and not so outstanding riders held at the Mitchell Hall Motel, Wagin
And the winners are:
Yellow Jersey – Patrick Bowman
Superman Jersey –The Kid (aka Sonya Debenham)
Mountain High-Mishy (aka Michelle Butler)
High Fives-Brocky (aka Daniel Brockway)
Knight Sky-Fitzy (aka Rod Fitzgerald)
Toughen Up Princess- Maverick (aka Kim Gilbert)

There are great comedy duos that have stood the test of time such as Laurel and Hardy, Gerry Lewis and Dean Martin and Hamish and Andy. And then there’s Jester and Dirty Carlos. They sounded and looked like two drunken AUSSIES buggers when they relieved Kim of his duties and handed out the jersey winners. They had almost everybody in stitches.
If any place could be haunted, the Mitchell Hall Motel would be it. And I almost thought I did see a ghost when a strange apparition appeared in the gloomy dark corridor only to turn out to be Jester wrapped in a white towel on the way to the bathroom.
There’s no doubt this stage has the potential to cause considerable pain to riders. For one thing, Wagin to York is a whopping 183km. Then there’s the dreaded headwind and although it’s a largely flat run, it is potentially the hottest leg. Okay, the 183km stayed the same, but there was largely a tail wind, it was cooler although humid and cloud tempered the baking sun, especially earlier. At one point a miniature tornado hit the riders broadside, obscuring them in dust and clobbering Mich with a flying gum nut. Fortunately no injuries.
In keeping with my adrenaline junkie lifestyle, I did the lying on the middle of the road with bikes flying past either side of me, missing by mere inches. Happily no mishaps and only one take required.
A cracking pace was set early today so the original morning tea stop in Pingelly became a quick water top up. Morning tea took place at the old train station in Brookton. For some, it was greatly appreciated.
Just short of Beverley is a very significant location for veteran Red Sky Riders, a railway crossing. To the uninitiated, it’s nothing more than a railway crossing. But at this stage last year it was the site of a pile up when riders fell as a bunch. All for one , one for all, you could say. Needless to say, nobody took the crossing lightly and as a result, all went as it should.
At around 3.00pm, riders filed into York and tucked into a sausage barbecue put on by the generous York Lions. It was certainly a long day, but most riders found it easier than most other stages. After checking into Settlers House in York, riders almost immediately hit recovery mode which varied from getting muscle recovering massages from Anne Young to pub crawling around town searching for “Mexican Sports Drinks” and other beverages.

The day four awards night for the most outstanding and not so outstanding riders held at the Nelson’s in Bridgetown. The riders had a rest day to contemplate the last half of the ride.
Riders is special jerseys today were:
Yellow Jersey - Hollywood (aka Mark Drabble)
Superman Jersey – Big Fella (aka Shane White)
Mountain High- Jester (aka John Down)
High Fives- Fitzy (Rod Fitzgerald)
Night Sky- Rimjet (aka Chris Rimmer)
Toughen Up Princess- Troll (Jonathon Wyatt )
The day off was all about getting over the big night at Scotts Tavern, Bridgetown where playing pool and drinking was an all too common occurrence. The day off was also about the girls going shopping. The official welcome at the Bridgetown Pottery and Tearooms where Shire President, Brian Moore welcomed us. Also riders were thankful for the services of Judith Moyes at the Natural Therapy Centre for their services.

The day of rest is followed by one the rides hardest legs, a 157km slog from Bridgetown to Wagin.
It was a coolish Bridgetown morning as the riders set out of town only to hit a big hill almost immediately. Life can be so cruel. But, these riders are made of tough stuff and they need to be. The big hill was thankfully behind them only to be followed by constant up hills and down dales, a veritable roller coaster of physical exertion and mental highs and lows. Not that these hills are particularly big, just so many of them.

At the 29 km mark they stop at the attractive little town of Boyup Brook for a some much needed hydration and media stop.
The hills are hard going, but what is really making it tough is the heat. At the 87 km mark and oasis in the middle of the parched wheatbelt, just crying out for a drink, appears just at the right time for the riders. Moodiarrup Sports Centre with its air conditioned comfort and copious amounts of cake and sandwiches are most gratefully received. Solaris Care stalwart Rose Graham and her band of happy helpers have made an incredible effort to welcome the riders. And if that wasn’t enough, Rose handed over a cheque for over two grand. Its a great effort from the Kojonup community.

There’s another 70 odd km to go as the intrepid team head out on the hot bitumen. The heat became intense into the afternoon. Riders consumed water at twice the rate of the other legs and some of them were suffering.
At the Arthur River turnoff to Wagin, there’s a mercy run into town for bags of ice that is matter form heaven for the riders and just the incentive needed for the last blistering kilometres to Wagin. Less than 10km out of Wagin with the end in sight, the riders faced another big hill. With incredible fortitude combined with selfless team work from the stronger riders, all made it into Wagin for a hugely deserved lunch at 3.30pm at Ram Park.
Kim said it was the toughest leg and from him that is really saying something.

The Daily Red Sky Ride video can be found at http://www.youtube.com/user/redskyride#p/u. Have a look at the team in action.

The third awards night was held at the Augusta Hotel Motel in Augusta.
And the winners are:
Yellow Jersey – D9 (aka Darin Dunstan)
Superman Jersey – Smurf (aka Flavio Bruni )
Mountain High- Wolfman (aka Mark Hoyer)
High Fives- Fruity Na Na (aka Rob Fruin)
Night Sky- Iceman (aka Al White )
Toughen Up Princess- Biscuit (aka Matt Miller)

Today, riders encounter what could loosely be called the Mountain Stage. Well, mountains by WA standards anyway. It is the much anticipated and dreaded Day Four, Augusta to Bridgetown, 133km.
It all starts tamely enough. A farewell crowd of two (being Jo Wilson and Clare Nash) waved the riders off on a lovely cool Augusta morning. At first, the riders are buoyant and were keeping up a cracking pace. Kim Gilbert, showing his guile and commonsense tempered by previous experience strongly suggested taking it down a notch all two. If not, it could end up in tears for some before Bridgetown.

It is deceptively flat going and the riders, but soon after crossing the wide Blackwood River, flat turned to undulating. But mercifully, it stayed cool all the way to Nannup. The riders are greeted by representatives of the Nannup Lions club at the Nannup Visitors Centre who also supplied morning tea and handed over some donations.
As I am writing this blog, fund raising by Red Sky Ride has reached $308,510 which has topped last year’s total. What a superb effort by all concerned.

From Augusta to Nannup the 85km leg was pretty smooth going. On leaving Nannup the riders almost immediately strike their first real challenge of the day. The climb is steep and according to our notes, 1.5km long. The riders are exposed to the elements and it’s getting hotter. As the riders slowly pass by I snap some shots off. Pain is etched in their faces, EExcept for Kim Gilbert who always has a broad smile for the camera.

The gruelling climb has split the peloton in to three groups as stronger riders help the ones who are struggling a tad. The great thing about this group of 21 riders is the camaraderie and willingness to help each other when the pressure is on. We see that abundantly displayed on this hill and the next one as well.

They all make the first hill and then encounter a plateau of undulations through shady forest which gives the riders a chance to regroup and recover. That small respite was much appreciated by Jester (John Down) who earlier on that previous hill required plenty of ice and cold water applied by our dedicated first aiders.

The ride then descends dramatically into the Blackwood River Valley, followed by the steep climb out. For photography this section between Nannup and Bridgetown is probably the most scenic, but I doubt the riders see it that way. The climb out is tough under the now hot sun. Once again John gets some tender loving care involving water and ice, but he gamely presses on all the way to Bridgetown. The riders sweep into town and stop for lunch at a shady park by the Blackwood River.

Everybody made it and what a great effort. It’s a testament to the team’s months of training in the hills around Perth.
The rest day in Bridgetown could not come at a better time.