Well its one day down and only ten to go.
The day started out as a rather brisk gathering down at BMD Manly. I was surprised to see how many gathered to see me off. It was great. All of my friends showed up, a couple of family members and about a dozen or so friends/colleagues from BMD.
Well, after lots of hugs, well wishes and tears from my Mum, 7.00am came and I was off on my adventure.
First place of note was Mt Cotton, I travelled through Mt Cotton at approx 22km per hours, a lot quicker than I originally anticipated. After making it through Mt Cotton, I headed toward the Gold Coast, taking the old Pacific Hway, which runs for the most part alongside the M1.
My first stop was Caltex Helensvale, where I rested the old legs and hoed into a well deserved, and may I add, tasty, mars bar. Whilst minding my own business and wolfing down my mars bar, a colourful character named Sally decided to strike up a conversation with me. Geez, I thought I could talk. She turned out to be quite a lovely lady and wished me well on the days ahead.
I continued on, through Helensvale, Labrador and down the Gold Coast Highway, towards Surfers Paradise. I had a bit of a moment coming into Labrador, which I ever so casually tried to cover up, without much success. I was coming up to an intersection and this car decided to speed up in front of me and then take a left. Right in from of me. IDIOT! I proceeded to jam on the brakes whilst simultaneously providing the young male driver with a hand signal of my own. As I did this, I had trouble releasing my left foot from my clip pedals and continued on to fall straight over onto my left hand side, luckily it was a soft grass strip that I fell onto. With a now very bruised ego, I proceeded to get up and pretend to look over the "faulty" clip pedal. How feeble. I have tried to cover up my blooper by pretending that it must have been the equipment... It couldn't possibly be me, making a tool of myself...hehehe.
Well, I continued on and made a brief stop at Miami before moving onto my destination - South Tweed Heads.
I arrived at the Tweed Fairways Motel and was warmly greeted by Charlie & Chris Jensen, who so generously have given me a nights accommodation as a form of sponsorship. They are both lovely people. Not long after my arrival, and a nice hot shower, I was greeted at the door by Chris. She was holding a couple of bottles of juice for me. It is these small gestures that mean so much on a journey like this.
I had a quick nap and then headed out on my quest for dinner. Within a 600m strip, there is every fast food place ever established. I finally came across a Chinese restaurant and ordered a huge serving of Beef with Honey Pepper Sauce and Steamed Rice. I don't know if it was because I was so hungry or not, but it was awesome. I thoroughly recommend Ocean Sky Chinese Restaurant, should you ever be in South Tweed.
Well thats it from me for now. I must get my rest for Day No. 2.
Stats - Total kms = 125km. Total time = 6hrs 15mins.
Average Speed = 21.8km/hr.
The day started out as a rather brisk gathering down at BMD Manly. I was surprised to see how many gathered to see me off. It was great. All of my friends showed up, a couple of family members and about a dozen or so friends/colleagues from BMD.
Well, after lots of hugs, well wishes and tears from my Mum, 7.00am came and I was off on my adventure.
First place of note was Mt Cotton, I travelled through Mt Cotton at approx 22km per hours, a lot quicker than I originally anticipated. After making it through Mt Cotton, I headed toward the Gold Coast, taking the old Pacific Hway, which runs for the most part alongside the M1.
My first stop was Caltex Helensvale, where I rested the old legs and hoed into a well deserved, and may I add, tasty, mars bar. Whilst minding my own business and wolfing down my mars bar, a colourful character named Sally decided to strike up a conversation with me. Geez, I thought I could talk. She turned out to be quite a lovely lady and wished me well on the days ahead.
I continued on, through Helensvale, Labrador and down the Gold Coast Highway, towards Surfers Paradise. I had a bit of a moment coming into Labrador, which I ever so casually tried to cover up, without much success. I was coming up to an intersection and this car decided to speed up in front of me and then take a left. Right in from of me. IDIOT! I proceeded to jam on the brakes whilst simultaneously providing the young male driver with a hand signal of my own. As I did this, I had trouble releasing my left foot from my clip pedals and continued on to fall straight over onto my left hand side, luckily it was a soft grass strip that I fell onto. With a now very bruised ego, I proceeded to get up and pretend to look over the "faulty" clip pedal. How feeble. I have tried to cover up my blooper by pretending that it must have been the equipment... It couldn't possibly be me, making a tool of myself...hehehe.
Well, I continued on and made a brief stop at Miami before moving onto my destination - South Tweed Heads.
I arrived at the Tweed Fairways Motel and was warmly greeted by Charlie & Chris Jensen, who so generously have given me a nights accommodation as a form of sponsorship. They are both lovely people. Not long after my arrival, and a nice hot shower, I was greeted at the door by Chris. She was holding a couple of bottles of juice for me. It is these small gestures that mean so much on a journey like this.
I had a quick nap and then headed out on my quest for dinner. Within a 600m strip, there is every fast food place ever established. I finally came across a Chinese restaurant and ordered a huge serving of Beef with Honey Pepper Sauce and Steamed Rice. I don't know if it was because I was so hungry or not, but it was awesome. I thoroughly recommend Ocean Sky Chinese Restaurant, should you ever be in South Tweed.
Well thats it from me for now. I must get my rest for Day No. 2.
Stats - Total kms = 125km. Total time = 6hrs 15mins.
Average Speed = 21.8km/hr.
