2nd July - Howard to Gin Gin

Gordon says ...

My turn to talk first today - for reasons which will become obvious.

We stayed with my brother Alan and his family last night, and had a wonderful time - great hospitality and a lot of laughter. This is a testament to the strength of my brother's character, because if anyone had the right to be miserable, it's him. A few days before we set out on this 'ride for cancer research', Alan was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He's 51. I have to say, if this is some kind of cosmic joke, I don't get it.

Alan has surgery in Brisbane on the 6th of July, and we'll find out a couple of days later where he stands. We are all optimistic he will be fine, and we wish him well. He said it was OK to mention this in the blog, particularly as it has given the ride extra meaning for myself and Nigel, who has know Alan for over 40 years. We will be asking AICR that the money we raise from the ride be devoted specifically to prostate cancer research.

Probably needless to say, the ride was particularly glum for me today.

Nigel says ... A milestone day today - we have passed the half way point! For those who thought we might fall over and sack it at Brisbane or earlier - we are still going strong. From South Point we have walked 31 kilometers and cycled 2519 kilometers, a total of 2550 kilometers (1594 miles). Bring on the second half!

Between now and Cairns, we need to prepare Gordon for the nail varnish free zone of the Cape, but I think you can see from his blog tonight we both have plenty of incentive to get to the far north. Our current challenge is dealing with the Bruce Highway.

It was great to see Alan and family last night, also to catch up with June (Gordon and Alan's Mum) Our bikes were not ready until 0930hrs, so Alan took us down to Hervey Bay where we had tea on the beach - very pleasant.

The bike shop had done well with the bikes. Sally had extra padding on her handelbars and Winona had a new chain. We had loaded the bikes onto Alan's bike rack and were ready to drive off to Howard when the bike shop man came running out with Davros, King of the Daleks', helmet complete with mirror. It must be his age....I also give Gordon 3-1 odds that he will have stood on the replacement ipod headset Alan gave him before Cairns. (He stood on the last one)

Alan dropped us off at Howard where we had come off the Highway and we started pedalling north towards Gin Gin. The day was very overcast with rain at times. Unfortunately the sun was missing all day from the Sunshine State. The road was much better than yesterday, with only a couple of poor sections just south of Childers. Gordon was a lot happier with the mirror on his helmet. It seems to work as he saw me giving him V signs as I was cycling behind him...

The route was hilly in parts, but mostly flat. There was not that much to look at. We saw a variety of countryside from bush, sugar cane, rolling savannah like terrain and large orange groves. Only a couple of towns/villages en route. One interesting sight was tens of thousands of oranges dumped in a field where the cattle appeared to be eating them.

We arrived in Gin Gin at 1600hrs having cycled 90 kilometers (56 miles).

Thoughts and comment:

• Much less traffic on the road today
• Single carriageway for most of the time.
• Much further between anywhere and noticeably fewer houses.
• Snack of the day: Anzac biscuit - Childers
• Tune of the Day: Adam Ant - Goody Two Shoes
• Slogan of the day: Nil

Mirriam Vale tomorrow.