I put a post on FB and immediately got 6 calls with people wanting to help the kitten. I’ll have to message the lady and find out what happened.
I was riding through a place called the Coorung, south of Adelaide. It was 250 km section with no food. I knew there was a cafe at the end but when I arrived in the morning it was shut and I had another 90 km ride to do with only a snickers bar. I finally got to a town called Kingstown but I had depleted all my stores and had no energy left. I managed to ride another 50kms to a town called Beachport and someone offered me a caravan in their yard and they cooked up this massive bowl of pasta. I polished of 4 huge bowls and it wasn’t till after they said that was for the whole family not just for me (laughs).
When I got to Melbourne people came out and rode with me which was cool. After we lost Chris I met up with a guy called Geoff Bell. He was doing his ride for Tour de Cure so we rode together for 5 days as a team and supported each other. We were both grieving for Chris. I had known Chris for years so we helped each other get through it. We went our separate ways at the Barossa Valley and from then on between him and I, it was a race. He got ahead of me one morning and I couldn’t catch him for 1,500kms. At one point he was 3kms ahead of me and he’d done a really big day so he was buggered. His parents live at Torquay so he stopped there. I ended up ahead 80kms.
I found out during the next day that my Dad had passed away which was the day before I finished the race. It’s been really tough. I couldn’t sleep so I was on the road at 2am. I finally got to the Opera House at 10am and kept my 3rd place. When I arrived there were 10 people there to meet me who knew what I was doing there. There was also a tourist bus full of people who had no idea. But they all started clapping too. That was pretty funny. There’s a corner you ride around and then the Opera House comes into view over the water. It’s stunning! I knew when I saw that I’d done it. I sat on the steps of the Opera House and someone gave me a beer. After I had my beer I found out it’s a $110 fine for drinking there.
I knew Geoff was 6 hours behind so we went and had burgers and beers and came back to see Geoff ride in. We have a unique bond now, even though he lives in Perth, we’ll catch up. I’ve ridden from here to Tasmania. I’ve done some big rides.
There is a chance I might have Motor Neurone disease. I did a ride last year and during the ride I damaged the nerve in my hand so I went and saw a Neurologist before the race and she said, I think you have Motor Neurone disease, because I’ve lost the muscle where the thumb meets the finger. They can’t test until the disease progresses. I saw another specialist who thinks it may be an injury from the bike but not certain either. I just hope it’s the latter. I did a ride to raise money for MN research and I really want to keep riding in the future. I’ve made the decision to ride as much as I can in the next year until I figure out what’s going on. I’ve never had to think about my own mortality until that day. I’ve always been super healthy and super fit so it was shock for me.
I have my Dad’s funeral this Friday. It’s been pretty rough for my family these last few months. We all support each other and I have some good friends to lean on. Mum worries about what I do but she loves that I’m out being active and not home sitting on the couch. She would like it if I was doing something safer but I love this so much. I’m still working full time at the Base and adventure when I can. I’ve thought about moving but I really love it here and everyone I love is here.