Day 1 - Tuesday 1st April 2008
Last nights dinner at Rustlers Steakhouse was a great success with guest speaker Kellie Benda, the wife of Phil Rule who rode last year and also a Director of the Youth Focus Board. The Board was well represented with 6 Directors being in Albany for the dinner including the Chairman and his wife. Riders really appreciated this and found Kellie’s repertoire of anecdotes, as the wife of a rider and also a passionate Board Director, not only very amusing but very true. Many of the partners would be nodding heads and joining the chorus.
The morning dawned and no rain, so everyone is happy to start day one of the ride even though nerves are playing a big part today.
We all arrived at North Albany Senior High School for the official start of RFY 2008 – 300 students, band, and VIP’s and great excitement with a program of speakers including Arthur Criddle, one of our riders, who set the scene with a bright blue wig and involved the students in his presentation about why 40 riders would put themselves through 710 kilometres of gruel. Students gave him lots of support, asked many questions and enjoyed the prizes that we gave out for the best questions.
Off to one of our favourites, Denmark High School, where the students from the Home Class had prepared and cooked the most sumptuous morning tea of home baked scones, jam and cream, fantastic muffins of banana and chocolate chip and hot morsels also. We were really so appreciative. We presented a cheque to the school for a huge community effort in running a raffle. This will be used for those who need some help in crisis. Our school presenter, Sue Parora, did a great job and was our first rider to talk to the students and presented the two senior students with a Certificate of Appreciation. It is really rewarding stopping at the schools and it is certainly what we are about – and that is creating continuing awareness and the message that there is help if they are in trouble or if their friends are in trouble. Well done to the whole Peloton.
On the bikes again and off to Walpole where we stay overnight – A boat trip planned with the Wilderness people who would have to be the most passionate and knowledgeable that we have heard. We surfed around the inlet for an hour, we were totally entertained by Gary from WOW, more food and as Peter Trench the Coach said, “everyone has put on 3 kilos the first day, because all we have done is eat”!! Tonight we head down the main street to the Top Deck Café, all 52 of us, for yet another session of fines and fun, as well as, yes you have it, more eating. All great for the 40 riders who ride it off each day, just not so good for the 11 others who sit in the vehicles and run around as support crew. However I guess that is what happens when you have this division of duties! Riding or Sitting!
Nothing else to report, a few mechanical problems with punctures, bikes needing some parts etc today, but all good and everybody will be ready to rock and roll tomorrow.
Tomorrow will see us start at 8am as we head to Pembie, one of our favourite towns and certainly one of two schools who have been involved for 6 years with this ride. Anyway, more about that tomorrow night. Signing off for now until Wednesday.
Jenny |
