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I rode 200km on my bike for charity

<p><em><strong>Wendy Gordon, 61, pushed herself to the limit to ride 200km for the inaugural “Ride to Conquer Cancer" charity fundraiser to raise money for the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse.</strong></em></p> <p>"You can't be serious!"</p> <p>"Impossible!"</p> <p>"I don't believe it!"</p> <p>These were the reactions of my family. My husband said nothing. Too shocked.  I knew it sounded ridiculous. </p> <p>But I had already confided in one other. He said, "Of course you can! You will do it! How much time do you have?" "Eight months" I replied.  And so it began ….</p> <p>The next week I turned up at my indoor bike training class with one goal, and this one person who believed in me, my trainer: I would ride in the inaugural "Ride to Conquer Cancer", a bike ride event over one weekend. Two hundred kilometres. I would raise money to help bring into being the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, a centre for excellence in research and treatment for cancer sufferers.</p> <p> Yes, I had just turned 61. No, I didn't have a bike. No, I had not ridden a bike since I was twelve. Never had a bike with gears, never had cleats.</p> <p>My training began, hour long sessions, twice a week, then three times a week. Then two hour sessions. Four hours on Saturday and Sunday afternoons as well. Cross training, resistance training to simulate hills, training in pedalling techniques, learning to use different muscle groups to avoid fatigue, speed training, planning nutrition and hydration, monitoring heart rate, learning the warm-up and cool down exercises, pacing myself, avoiding cramps.</p> <p>Who knew there was so much to it? I had thought it would be just to get on a bike and keep going.</p> <p>Guidance to buy a bike. Courage to start riding outside …specialist bike paths, around the lakes, along the river, then the road. Twenty kilometre rides in heat, with wind. Building up to eighty kilometres at a time, ninety kilometres.  Learning how and when to change gears, adapting to cleats, leaning into curves, body position …. Inevitable tumbles, some bad falls. Impossible hills. Heart lurching as I was attacked time and again by swooping magpies in spring, snapping at my helmet, sounding like a cracking whip!</p> <p>Many adventures, new friends. But lots of blood, sweat and tears.</p> <p>In native bushland, on a bike path, swerving around a bend, I see a bride spreading out her gown – with her photographer …. No time to stop, so a successful swerve into the bush and out again. Same for a family of ducklings. Again for the young lovers listening to their music, the old couple …. Why on a bike path?!</p> <p>Ah, but the small child … running straight into the bike path! Another swerve, but it did not feel right. Something was wrong. This was not just long grass alongside the bike path! I was sinking, sinking into a canal of murky water, cleats still attached to bike. I struggled to keep my head up, grabbed some reeds. How to unclip cleats, and free myself from the bike...? Finally I emerged, a horrifying sight of green slime trailing from my helmet, my face, my clothes, my bike – streamers announcing to all the folly of my undertaking. The child looked at me in terror.</p> <p>Flinging off as much slime as I could, embarrassed beyond words, praying my bike, gears, brakes  - everything – would still work, I hastened from the scene, praying also that my remote car lock and my mobile phone would survive their dunking, praying that I would not meet anyone I knew. All was well. A hurried change of bike clothes in the car (yes, at my age!) and a grim determination to finish my training plan for the day kept me at it. "Think of your reason for doing it!" I told myself.</p> <p>The months passed, and as the day approached I confided in my trainer: "Do you know they have cars come along to pick up any who can't finish? I don't want to be in the 'sweep-up'! And I don't want to be last!" He promised: "You won't be swept up, and you won't be last!"</p> <p>As the day approached I started to pray that I would be sick, unable to compete, that something would happen so that I could withdraw honourably. I became terrified. Two hundred kilometres for a novice was ridiculous!</p> <p>The day before the event we had to take our bikes to the starting park, and lock them in for an early start. The weather was horrendous. Biting wind, gale force at times, sheets of rain, all buffeting the car as I drove down, black ice in the nearby hills. I will never finish the event, I thought glumly. But surely they will cancel if the weather is bad? This might be my answer!</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7265793/intext-image_500x375.jpg" alt="Intext Image"/></p> <p>The next day dawned, calm and still, perfect weather for riding. As we gathered, all 1600 of us, I noted that they were mostly very athletic looking young people, with a smattering of older ones who looked as though they had been riding all their lives. Fear gripped me. But we were riding for those who had cancer, the most difficult journey of all. I could do it. And I would.</p> <p>We were away. I followed my training, pacing myself, recalling with clarity my trainer's instructions, and everything came together. I reminded myself of my reason for riding. The cancer journey is harder.  Keep going. On hills I overtook the younger riders, those who had not trained as much ("just jump on a bike and keep going"). Down hills I flew, setting new speed records for myself!</p> <p>It was exhilarating, amazing. The kilometres flew past. I finished the Saturday's 105 kilometre ride by lunch – and was in the first third of the field. Would the Sunday ride be more difficult?  No, I had prepared well, trained to reach my peak on this weekend. I finished by lunch again, also in the first third of riders. Reaching the finish line to the cheers of the spectators was very moving, the climax to the most difficult thing I have ever done, and the most satisfying and fulfilling. This was my personal "Amazing Ride"!</p> <p>I did not know it then, but my sister-in-law would be one of the first to be treated at the newly built Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, which made my amazing ride worth every ache and pain, every difficulty, and all the blood, sweat and tears. My ride was my gift to her and to all who are on the hardest journey of all.</p>

Retirement Life

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At 69 I rode a motorbike across America

<p><strong><em>Intrepid seniors David and Lona Brown had the full Easy Rider experience at 69 and 70, motor biking around the United States. Here’s their incredible story.</em></strong></p> <p><img width="226" height="163" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/25444/dave-lona-2004-small-grd-canyon_226x163.jpg" alt="Dave Lona 2004 Small Grd Canyon" style="float: left;"/>Our first trip was a ride to Milan and the French Riviera on 200cc motorcycle in 1958. When we got married in 1961 Australia was the furthest we could get for 10 quid.  </p> <p>We came to Newcastle NSW and have never wanted to leave.</p> <p>I’ve been in real estate since 1969 and Lona has worked with me at the office, as well as raising our free children. We never lost our lust for travel, taking the kids to England for six months in 1978. In 1990 we did Europe in a 17 foot camper following Italia 90.</p> <p>It wall really started in 2003, when I retired from 30 years in real estate. </p> <p>We had joined a friend with 44 foot catamaran in Chicago for a trip south through the American river systems to finish in Mobile on the Gulf of Mexico.</p> <p>I envisaged a cross country motorcycle ride. Lona was a bit miffed at that idea and thought she would enjoy Wal-Mart and its shoe department much more if we bought a motor home and were not so restricted luggage wise! So by a stroke of good luck mates of ours in Ulysses happened to have some very good friends in Austin Texas which solved lots of problems for us. </p> <p>We finished up in 2004 with a 30 foot motor home, a trailer with a 650GS BMW on the back. Five months and 29 States later I still wanted the bike trip.</p> <p>For 2009 I finally convinced her that a trip across the States on a bike would not be such a bad idea.  Having met a Californian Ulyssian in 2006 and admired his new Honda Goldwing at his home in Camarillo, near Thousand Oaks I emailed him to be on the lookout for perhaps an ST1100 to make such a trip. He came straight back to me with an offer to buy his ‘06 Wing. </p> <p><img width="512" height="371" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/25445/goldwing-in-la-015_11a-copy-copy_512x371.jpg" alt="Goldwing In LA 015_11A Copy - Copy" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>That was Feb/March this year 2009, Mark in Camarillo agreed to store the bike until we got there in July, pick us up from the airport, and billet us for a few days until we got sorted out.</p> <p>We flew from Sydney and Mark was there to pick us up and drive us the 50 miles north to his home.  A nice three days there, buying Lona a new helmet, some super lightweight bike boots and gloves and we were ready for the road.</p> <p>Another Ulysses acquaintance we know lives half the year near Bakersfield California and the other half between Newcastle and Brisbane and I had promised to visit her for a couple of days. </p> <p>So we left Mark and Karla very appreciative of their hospitality, which by the way is typical of most Americans we have met, they are across the board very welcoming people. </p> <p>We set off north to Ventura and then north/east to Bakersfield and Springville at the base of the western side of the Sierra Nevada mountains. After a couple of days with Kate, including a memorable night with a dozen or so of her friends at the Springville Inn with a backdrop of good food and live music reflecting the local country style, we set off eastward again.        </p> <p>Over the Sierra Nevada’s we continued on into Death Valley with temperatures rising. The co-pilot was feeding me bottles of water over my shoulder, until our first stop for fuel and more water at Panamint Springs. </p> <p>Burning up we were committed to reach our planned destination at Stovepipe Wells where we collapsed into an air conditioned motel room having checked the thermometer over the General Store door which was reading 120°F in the shade. </p> <p>20 miles along the road next morning was breakfast at the aptly named Furnace Creek!  More stifling heat for the rest of the day as we made our way out of Death Valley stopping to admire the panorama from Dante’s View which is about 12 miles off the highway up an “interesting” switchback ride. Returning to a more normal landscape we made our way back to civilization arriving at Summer Bay Las Vegas Resort in the gambling capital of the world.</p> <p>Much to Madams disgust Bette Midler was away for July, the best show we saw was Aussies, Human Nature. Not being a gambler the ancillary expenses were minimal and the hand brake tells me she only lost about $20 on the “slots”.</p> <p>Moving on we travelled via Lake Mead and Hoover Dam to Kingman on old route 66, from there we took the old road through Peach Springs and into Seligman where we stayed at the DeLuxe motel, which was the epitome of non-deluxe, but it was air conditioned, and we had a great afternoon at the Black Cat Bar with some locals.</p> <p>Next day was a diversion to catch up with Papadavenrebel at Clarkdale. So south on 89 to Prescott and then north on 89A to Jerome, an old mining town of 15,000 people in the late 1800’s for the gold and copper, now about 500 inhabitants and picturesque hanging as it does on the side of a mountain. Down the mountain into Clarkdale and an hour or two with Dave and Rebecca before we headed up to Flagstaff via Sedona which is an ultra-touristy small town which we just drove slowly through.</p> <p>Back onto Interstate 40 from Flagstaff and a quick trip across to Winslow Arizona well known to Eagles fans that are familiar with the words to “Take it Easy”.</p> <p>Arrived in Austin on the 29th August to the usual Owens welcome and had great week with them as usual, a blaze of cards, meals out, a crazy poker night where they change the game after each hand. I took the grandchildren Hayley and Cody for a ride on the bike when Laura and Eric came over to celebrate Eric’s birthday. </p> <p> <img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/25448/sdc10155-copy_500x375.jpg" alt="SDC10155 - Copy (2)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>All in all the Owens are wonderful hosts and we had a few laughs on the two Sundays with the pool, volleyball. From Austin we went a little north to take in famous civil war battle site at Vicksburg.</p> <p>The battlefield site was intriguing with the main interest an exhibit of the remains of the USS Cairo an iron clad river boat developed into an early version warship bristling with guns and driven by a stern paddle wheel.</p> <p>From there we just wanted to get to Florida. We had been advised to take the circuitous route around the Gulf coast and take in Fort Walton Beach and Destin Beach. Through some fault of my own, like not having studied the map enough I got confused and took 98 too early instead of staying on I-10 through Pensacola, all very easy when you know how. </p> <p>We were recommended to any one of half dozen restaurants cause her indoors had had enough of burger and fries and wanted a “proper meal”.  We went to Staffs just down the road where Dave the barman made us welcome with a couple of beers and a bourbon and coke while we perused the menu. </p> <p>Lona had a fish we had never heard of, amberjack and I had grouper. We really enjoyed the whole thing except I think I overindulged a little and suffered a bit later. It dawned a little doubtful weather wise the next day and within 10 miles we had the wet jackets on, didn’t have any wet pants with us!! </p> <p>The light shower was enough to prevent any pictures of Destin Beach which was a shame as it was all it had been suggested it would be, a very pretty bay with white sand shores, and the high rise apartments to go with it. </p> <p>We pushed on to try to make Lake City and leave us one days ride to finish but torrential rain and high wind stopped us 30 miles short at a small town called Live Oak. Up until now the coolest morning we’d had was 74 F, with most days between 85-100 F</p> <p>Into Econolodge for the night where Shirl the receptionist got us and the bike under cover real quick and after a shower and the reverse cycle air con on heat for the evening everything was dry by morning.</p> <p>Last day, maybe? 350 miles to go. With a Supercentre Wal-Mart across the road I decided we needed some insurance, a pair of wet pants each.  You know what?  It worked, no rain.  Blazing hot all day as we made our boring way down the spine of Florida on I-75, then on the Florida Turnpike, finally joining I-95 for the run into West Palm Beach.  </p> <p>Our host cousin Gary was busy for the afternoon so we decided to indulge in a cold beer at the previously tried and tested Queen Mary English Pub.</p> <p>To our eternal disappointment it was closed awaiting new owners. Still 100 F.</p> <p>Wow, what an incredible adventure? Doesn’t this sound fantastic? Have you ever taken a similar trip, and if so how did you manage? Let us know in the comments.</p> <p><strong><em>No matter where you’re travelling to, making sure you know how to access your cash while away – and in the most affordable way – is very important. Easy to use and with countless benefits, the Over60 Cash Passport allows you to securely access your cash in the same way you use an ATM or credit card­. <a href="https://oversixty.cashpassport.com.au" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">To apply for a card today, click here.</span></a></em></strong></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/07/6-of-the-best-european-beaches-to-visit/"><em>6 of the best European beaches to visit</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/domestic-travel/2016/07/the-story-behind-that-wanaka-tree/"><em>The story behind that Wanaka Tree</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/07/7-best-beaches-on-australias-east-coast/"><span><em><span>7 best beaches on Australia’s east coast</span></em></span></a></p>

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