Day Two Bundanoon to Canberra
Signature Tour 2014
Day 2
From Bundanoon to Canberra
Total riding: 170km, ascent 1,750m.
Last night we arrived very wet and cold after a very long first day of riding mostly in the rain and a lot of punctures slowing us down. The hot shower was wonderful but rushed as we were already late for the team community dinner. The hall in Bundanoon was full to the brim and buzzing. We were entertained by a couple of local pianists. The tour hosts presented a cheque to Petria King for her Quest of Life foundation and she was inspirational in her acceptance speech. Some of us were fortunate to stay in the facility she created for cancer patients and people experiencing difficult times after she was diagnosed with terminal cancer about 30 years ago – what an amazing survival story.
An interview with Prof. John Rasko and one of his lead researchers Chuck Bailey was another highlight.
John and Chuck have received tour de cure donations and used then to make a major break-through in the area of ‘junk’ DNA that is world leading and has been published in the premier global medical journal Cell. To believe our efforts and my supporters donations are directly at the forefront of cancer research is very moving especially as this team is working to improve survival rates among Leukaemia patients a disease close to me having been (with my family) the main carers for a close relative who lost his battle with this disease in 2011, aged 54.
But wait, it got better. Life Technologies, a major TdC sponsor (and the team I am riding with) went beyond. They have promised Chuck a $150,000 piece of equipment (ion torrent pgm gene sequencing machine) that their lab could never afford. This will enable him to map human gene sequences that used to take 10 years in a single day! Whilst I must admit, I don’t really understand this, Chuck looked like he had won 10 lotteries and this pumped us right up! Bring on Day 2 ……
…and it arrived. The alarm went off at 530.
As James Tobin was in my peloton we had to wait until after his final Sunrise weather report so did not roll out until 9am. The morning was slightly overcast, but thankfully not raining. The weather got better as the morning went on as did the scenery.
Saturday does not usually include a school visit, however that was not the case today. The kids of Tarago Primary School all came in to school today to be with us -Sensational! Why, because they were genuinely interested and gave us their undivided attention as we delivered our message of Be Fit, Be Healthy, Be Happy. What great kids and what a great school visit. They even gave us a beautiful donation, which they had all contributed to.
Country Australia has a heart whose beat we should all experience.
We also managed to get a full tour photo and it was impressive to see everyone all together.
After lunch it got a bit lumpy. We climbed one hill on our way into Canberra that hurt a bit – not too long but 10% gradient – but after that it was mostly downhill into the Capital city and we arrived just as it started to spit with rain at 5.05pm. It was another quick change and off to dinner where I was delighted to have my son Ashley join us as he is at Uni here.
Tomorrow the guest riders who joined for just two days leave us and it will pick up in pace again. They have been great ambassadors for the Tour and have contributed so much in their commitment. I did start to wonder if I should have started with a guest ride rather than jumping right in for the full experience – but too late now!
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