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Adelaide to Darwin by pedal power - 3000km for Kiwi Can

  • Day 37

      10 October 2019
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    Mission Accomplished - crossed a continent on a push bike. Thanks for all your support and encouragement. It has meant so much to me.

    Arrived in Darwin at 1.30pm after an early start and 112km final ride. Bubbles at the Mindil Beach Casino and Resort.

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    • 10/10/2019 by David

      Wow! What an achievement! Can I book you in as a speaker when you get home please??!! Dave

    • 10/10/2019 by Tauranga Sunrise Trust - Tauranga Sunrise Rotary Club

      Sterling effort Max. thanks from Rotary and Dingle Foundation.

      You definitely have earned the bubbles and pleased you did not met a croc.

      WdV

  • Day 35-36

      9 October 2019
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    Well just one ride left. Darwin is only 113km away. I’m getting pretty tired at the end of every day. The temperature is touching 40 degrees, and rising at 5am every morning is a battle. Lots of me is aching.

    Leaving Pine Creek Early this morning I saw huge trees festooned with large squabbling bats. It was wonderful!

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  • day 34

      8 October 2019
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    Mataranka is a pleasant couple of streets called a town with a strong police presence on Saturday night because of domestic violence incidents due to alcohol abuse. Everyone buying alcohol at a bottle store has to register on a database that excludes alcohol sales to offenders.

    Manor Caravan Park In Mataranka. Not having a real mattress made for an uncomfortable night.

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  • Day 34

      6 October 2019
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    Another quirky (weird?) remote hotel. It operates under two intertwined brands. 1. Larrimah Wayside Inn. 2. Pink Panther Hotel. Its not clear where each starts and finishes. It’s on its last legs, but like several others seems to survive on Aboriginal liquor sales and lost tourists.

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    • 06/10/2019 by Tauranga Sunrise Trust - Tauranga Sunrise Rotary Club

      Very impressive Max, 500Km and you are there, just a couple of tail winds away.

      Hope you had your ID to get that g&t in the Northern Territory and then passed as a responsible person😂😂😂WdV

  • Day 32 -33

      4 October 2019
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    Day 31 & 32. Yesterday I cycled 152km which was a record, then slept in the bush. Then rode over 100km today.

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  • Day 31

      2 October 2019
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    Here’s how to feel humbled - I was feeling pretty pleased with myself because I had ridden 2000 of 3000km. Then as I was in the campground kitchen talking to Yuya and Rona Toyoizumi from Japan, a young women called Hayley asked to join us. Turns out she has a significant hearing impediment and has ridden over 16,000km! She’s ridden alone through western and eastern Europe, all the ‘stans,’ China, Western Australia and down the Stuart Highway. What incredible courage.

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  • Day 30

      2 October 2019
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    I swapped flags with the Tennant Creek Rotary Club and they would have fitted right in at Tauranga Sunrise. Such nice people with the same values.

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  • Day 26

      29 September 2019
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    This is Greg Dick, one if the great characters of the Australian outback. He owns the Aileron Roadhouse and in 2005 commissioned the 17m high Anmatjere Man sculpture on a nearby hill. It has achieved international status. He is a supporter of Aboriginal art, and has a gallery at the roadhouse. He uses extremely colourful language that would make a sailor blush!

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  • Day 25

      26 September 2019
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    Day 25. It was a big day as I had to ride 134km which is the record in one day so far.

    I can confirm the theory that two parallel lines met at infinity! Most of today’s 134km was on 2 straights. Fortunately that means it was reasonably flat, and mercifully I had a tail wind.

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  • Day 23-24

      24 September 2019
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    I swapped flags with the Alice Springs Rotary Club representatives Steve and Nicky. It’s an international tradition and it was delightful to meet like-minded people. They support a similar charity to Graeme Dingle Foundation. Remember to ask your friends to support vulnerable youth through the Givealittle page.

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  • Day 22

      23 September 2019
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    World car free day! I met another interesting couple at Stuart’s Well Roadhouse - Katie and Hinley from the USA. She is running from Darwin to Adelaide! He is on a bike supporting her. She runs about 50km a day - more than a marathon. Inspirational.

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  • Day 19, 20

      20 September 2019
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    Day 19 & 20. Yesterday was the most brutal headwind so far, so 93km in 11 hours. I stayed overnight at Agnes Rest Area on night 19, and Kulgera on night 20. There’s no mobile telephone coverage in this part of Australia.

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  • Day 16

      16 September 2019
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    You may know it was Cr Terry Malloy who inspired me to do this ride as he had done it 20 years ago. Part of the appeal was that the prevailing wind was south to north, hence my Adelaide to Darwin direction. BUT this has not held true so far! Today was another tough one into the wind all day. Maybe Terry Molloy has played a cruel joke on me?

    I met my first other cyclists today - Michael and Angela from Germany. He pulls the little trailer, and she is a very good singer and guitarist. I heard this from grey ghosters who had met them at Marla, where I am tonight. They started in Perth and have ridden 7,500km!

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  • Day 14-15

      15 September 2019
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    I pitched my tent in this shelter and tried to sleep as I was knackered. About 8pm a small van with noisy young people arrived and parked nearby.

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  • Day 12

      12 September 2019
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    Hallelujah! I woke at 4.30am to lurk around the petrol station to ask for a 253km ride to Coober Pedy, to avoid being stuck in Glendambo for three days. A delightful couple called Jal and Alison put my bike on their ute and we talked all the way. I was so grateful. And they made a $50 donation to Graeme Dingle Foundation!

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    • 12/09/2019 by David

      Hi Mad Max.

      Somebody's got to ask - why would you be stuck in Glendambo for 3 days?? By the way, Jal seems to be a shadow of his former self according to the photo!

      Dave

  • Day 10

      10 September 2019
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    The secret to self motivation is to look at the top of the list only! One day at a time.

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    • 10/09/2019 by Tauranga Sunrise Trust - Tauranga Sunrise Rotary Club

      only 40Km to the rest area and a swim? Watch out for crocs if there is actually water in the lake.

      What a reminder of the effort you are making - thanks Max

      Warwick

  • Day 9

      9 September 2019
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    Thanks to everyone for their messages of support. It means so much!

    On the day of my first tent camp somehow I lost my blow up mattress! I can’t really explain it, but it must have fallen from my pannier. Trying to sleep on the stony ground with nothing soft under you is not exactly restful. I felt grumpy for much of the day from lack of sleep and another head wind.

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  • Day 8

      9 September 2019
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    Day 8. The terrain from Port Augusta changes into desert very quickly.

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  • Day Five

      6 September 2019
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    Day 5. I went into Port Augusta town centre to buy bits and pieces I needed, and to visit the excellent Wadlata Outback Centre. It’s called a Time Tunnel because it depicts time periods starting with geological eras, to 60,000 years ago when the Aboriginals arrived, then settlers etc. It had lots of artifacts, as part of the dioramas you walk through. Heaps of voice overs and video story telling.

    The map shows the two day 170km ride to Woomera.

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  • Day Four

      5 September 2019
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    Day 4. I was blessed with a strong southerly tailwind today so rode the 91.7km in 6.5hours after F&P (food and procrastination). I could have shaved an hour off that time if I was more organised with what goes where in my multiple bags. I’m determined that will improve.

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  • Day Three

      4 September 2019
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    From Max

    80km done today against a reasonable head wind, but nothing like yesterday. I was still pretty knackered when I arrived in Port Pirie at about 5pm, but half a chicken, chips and gravy sorted me out!

    The side of the road is littered with debris from vehicles. I found this sign and attached it to the bike expecting a few toots of amusement from the truckies. Nothing! Grumpy gits. Anyway it was heavy so I chucked it away after 30 mins.

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  • Day two

      3 September 2019
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    From Max

    Day 2. OMG talk about a tough day at the office! I only had 50km to ride which I thought would take 2.5 hours. In Tauranga my magic number is 20km/h on average with a laden bike. Today the head wind was brutal, as you can see from the weather forecast below - 50km/h gusts! If I was lucky I got to 15km/h, but much of the day about 10km/h. Plenty of times I had to get off and push, which is about 6km/h. I guess the huge wind farm on the ridges were a bit of a hint! Coincidentally they used to be owned by TrustPower (based in Tauranga). It took 5.5hrs, and I hadn’t taken enough water. Dumb, but a lesson learned.

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  • Day one

      3 September 2019
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    Max is ready to go below is his comments

    And the adventure begins! Old friends Mark and Penny Stewart kindly hosted me for the weekend and then dropped me on the outskirts of Adelaide to avoid crossing motorways.

    After 35mins I had my first puncture! That must be a record. Anyway I changed the tyre and set off for Port Wakefield again, and cycled 58km on the first day. I’ll build up the distance as I get fitter.

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  • On the way to Adelaide today

      30 August 2019
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    Max has left today for Australia.

    It is probably a good time to emphasise that Max is doing this without a road car support crew which is why it is a phenomenal effort. Rotary Clubs on the way will be asked to support the ride and encourage Max and perhaps provide hospitality if possible. There are lots open spaces where Max will mostly have to pitch tent overnight.

    Max - our advice is to watch out for the train if you come to a rail line in the middle of no where, it is nearly 1 km long and will not stop.

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  • Open Target

      27 August 2019

    Hello everyone, we have decided to be ambitious and leave the fundraising target open so we can try raise as much as we can. No limits! This is such a great cause, and such an awesome effort from Max. Please give generously.

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