Bicycling Around Australia for Kidney Awareness - Battling Nullarbor Winds
AUSTRALIA | Friday, 5 October 2007 | Views [801] | Comments [1]
In late July I was driving the road between Derby and Broome. For the first time in weeks I had radio reception that lasted more then a couple kilometres each side of town. The interview was midstream before I realized the magnitude of the story.
A lady, a school teacher, from Adelaide had taken one year leave to ride a bicycle around Australia to raise awareness for kidney research. She was somewhere on the road in Western Australia. As the story ended I thought, “It would be awesome to meet this lady.”
It will never happen!
Fast forward to Cape Range National Park, the Ningaloo Reef and the invaders who “moved in close” to my campsite – Graham and Gwenda.
On the way north at Coral Bay “we met the most amazing lady. She is riding a bicycle around Australia to raise awareness for kidney research. She is motivated to do this because one of her daughters has a bad kidney.”
They went on and on about Margie.
I arrived at Gwenda’s home on Friday. The first words out of Gwenda’s mouth when I finally arrived were, “Just after I talked to you last night Margie called. She’s going to arrive tomorrow for the night!”
Without fail Margie arrived Saturday afternoon. We sat spellbound by the stories of the road and looking at her photographs.
I enjoy bicycle riding – but to ride around a continent . . .
Near sunset the four of us went to Kings Park in Perth. The next morning we said our good-byes. I promised to say hello when I saw her on the road. “Honk when you go by – but do it after you pass NOT before” were her last words as we parted.
It’s been almost a month since she left Perth and after two weeks of driving I still hadn’t found her. I had done the calculations over and over. If she averages 120 kilometres per day and rode through Margaret River and through the giant trees I should be catching up by now.
Maybe I missed her.
I’ve been buffeted by winds. Tossed from side to side of the road. The tail wind I had in the southwest has turned into an almost unmanageable crossing headwind on the Nullarbor.
This afternoon I was struggling along, both hands on the wheel, battling the road-train caused vortices when on the horizon I saw a bicycle. . . the first bicycle in two weeks.
Maybe this is her.
Getting closer I identified the cyclist as Margie. I’ll give a toot as I pass. Getting closer I saw the struggle. The wind threw her back and forth. I could see the concentration. A road-train was ahead of me, and a car was coming from the other direction. I passed without making a ruckus. It’s only 10 kilometres to Cocklebiddy. I’ll stop there for lunch.
A few minutes later Margie arrived. Even with the vicious headwind she was making good time.
Almost the first words out of her mouth today were, “Today is exactly ten months since I started riding around Australia. I have 30 days to go. I’m looking forward to seeing my friends and family again. I’m glad you stopped and said hello.”
The story of Margie’s ride is worth learning about. Rather then trying to tell the story and getting it wrong I’ll let her tell the rest.
www.renalride.com
Stop by and give her your support!
Tags: adventures, ambassador van
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