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You know what they say, never say never. I thought I would make another post after all. Just a bit of a wrap up and some thoughts 3 months after completing the ride.

In case you were wondering, the Online Giving web site I used to set up my fundraising page, as of 15/12/2011 ceased providing this service. My page (and all the others on that site) ceased accepting donations from that date and all fundraising pages were un-published shortly there after. Oh... you can still donate directly to the MHRI if you wish, see their web site http://www.mhri.edu.au/support-us

Fundraising wrap up -

The total raised was - $26,995-30

This comprised -

• Online giving Website - $25,655-30

Including $3,737-15 from 29 collection tins (averaging $128-87 per tin)

•  Donations direct to the MHRI - $1,300

Comprising

Dorevitch Pathology - $1,000

Rockn Suzies - $300

After some discussion the Jane and Ross from the MHRI these funds will be used to fund the purchase of new lab equipment, a centrifuge that will assist Suresh and his team in their vital research work.

Some thoughts 3 months later -

Is it really 3 months since I rode into Birrarung Marr ? , it seems a lifetime ago now.

My memories are still strong on some things, but fading on others.

The things I look back on the most include -

~ The build up, especially in the last month or so, really my life had a single focus at that time.
~ The start, how many times did I ride around the Perth Bell Tower for photos just before setting off in earnest ? I didn't get dizzy so it must not have been too many.
 ~ The first days ride out of Perth, it felt great to be underway.
~ The tough days ride against the wind into Margaret River, me tossing in the towel with only 50 Km to go, what a wimp !
~ The wet days riding the SW corner of WA into Ravensthorpe.
~ The start of the Nullarbor crossing from Norseman, what have I gotten myself in for ?
~ Getting to Ceduna, a great days ride finishing the Nullarbor leg.
~ The mornings ride out of Port Augusta into the hills heading for Clare. Still cannot believe I was the one that designed the route that way. I think that is why I remember it, such a welcome change to flat & straight roads.
~ The 6 rest days spent with Karen at Margaret River, Albany, Esperance, Ceduna & Bordertown.
~ Sharing an evening meal with Christel & Wolf at Wellington SA, the same day I met Karen coming the opposite way to me in the motor home near Callington.
~ Reaching the Victorian border.
~ The final days ride, what a mixture, standing out in the pouring rain somewhere between Bacchus Marsh & Werribee waiting for Karen to find me, and the brilliant finish in sunshine at Birrarung Marr.

Finally -

Both Karen & I felt a little lost or uneasy in the weeks following our return to Melbourne. Not sure how to explain it, perhaps a feeling of so OK that is done what now ?
There is still a raw edge to our feelings and emotions 6 months after the passing of our beautiful daughter Joanne. In many ways the last 3 months have been harder to deal with than the first 3 since June.
We are back into the normal daily rhythms of life now, and trying our best to look forward more often than we reflect back.

Joanne, I did it for you.

Dave

Conditions were pretty terrible for most of the ride today, bitterly cold W/SW wind to start with from Ballan and rained for a good part of the journey too. But it was still a great day to ride the final leg of the Perth to Melbourne journey. Fortunately the rain held off for my arrival at Birrarung Marr. It was really terrific to see so many people had made the time to be there, family, friends, people from work, people from the MHRI & from Dorevitch Pathology, thanks to you all. Your presence made my last days ride and the finish something special. I said my thankyous to all at the finish so I will not go through them again, except to say a special thanks to Claire from work & Jane from the MHRI for organising yesterdays finish.

Throughout the ride I
~ Cycled 4155 Kilometres, which turned out to be very close to the 4160Km I was predicting from the maps/courses I drew up before leaving.
~ Cycled for 171 hours 57 minutes, or if I rode non stop 24 hours a day, that is 7 days, 3 hours and 57 minutes.
~ Cycled on 29 out of the 36 days of the trip, at an average of just over 143Km per day.
~ Turned the cranks an estimated 750,000 times.
~ Wore out 1 set of new tyres & one bottom bracket bearing set.
~ Only got 2 punctures for the whole trip.
~ Lost 7 Kg, although I am not recommending this as a weight loss program.
~ Cursed the wind countless times.
~ Thanked the wind a few times, but not nearly as many as I would have liked.
~ Managed to stay on the black stuff 100% of the time, although there were a few times I came pretty close to the gravel either from gusting cross winds, road trains, or just inattention on my part.
~ Managed not to swallow any flies/bugs, that I know of anyway, although I am sure a few small ones probably got through without me noticing.

Click here for some pics from the finish.

Final days ride map

Final days bike computer download

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/125277347

This of course will be the final post on this Blog.

David

Great days ride from Ararat to Ballan today, apart from being a bit cool conditions were good, with a westerly pushing me along at times. As it turned out a work colleague lives on one of the back roads I was riding today near Ballarat at Carngham. He waited for me to pass on the side of the road just outside his house, it was great to see you Tony and have a quick chat before heading into Ballarat, thanks Tony. Once in Ballarat I had a mini welcoming party waiting for me to arrive some more work colleagues who all live in and around Ballarat. It was really great to see you all, and I was really chuffed that you had all made the time to come and see me. They had also arranged for some local media to be there and one of the Ballarat papers (sorry I am not sure which one) should have a story on Monday or Tuesday. Also another little surprise today was some friends decided to come pay us a visit at Bacchus Marsh, we had a lovey diner with them in town, thanks Sandra & Graeme. Just one more days ride now, I passed the 4000Km mark today just coming into Ballarat.

Click here the final days ride details tomorrow.

Some pics from today here, Tony & I on my way to Ballarat, the welcoming party at Ballarat & me being interviewed.

Todays ride map update

Todays bike computer download

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/124919226

David

Pretty easy day into Ararat today, in fact I beat Karen into the caravan park by a few minutes. I did have a slight advantage as Karen did go shopping at Stawell along the way. In fact this has been the shortest day in ride time of the whole trip at 3Hrs25Min. I will be passing through Ballarat tomorrow on my way to Ballan, not long to the finish now.

Click here for details of the final days ride on Sunday.

Todays ride map update

Todays bike computer download

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/124734656

David

What a difference a day makes ! Great riding conditions today & the 160Km just seemed to fly by. Northerly winds today, not too strong, which meant a cross wind for most of the day. Didn't impact me much & the bonus was when the road turned south just after Dimboola it was at my back for the rest of the day. So the last 35Km I had a nice tailwind. Was really pleased to cross the border into Victoria this morning, made the finish seem just that bit closer. We have had to change plans slightly as we were unable to secure caravan park sites all the way from Beaufort to Ballan. I will now ride to Ararat tomorrow and we will stay there overnight. On Saturday I will still ride to Ballan, but we won't be staying in Ballan. The final day Sunday remains unchanged, I will still be leaving from Ballan at 8am sharp as advised here.

Karen got a pleasant surprise when she booked in at the Wimmera Lakes Caravan Resort here in Horsham. She was told to take the charge for the site and donate it to the ride charity. This has been the only caravan park on the trip to make such a gesture, thanks.

Some pics at the border, and me trying to make the most of a tail wind.

Todays ride map update

Todays bike computer download

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/124570457

David