Just by the turn-off to Darling Point the team had some lunch, and it was here that we farewelled Ray and Ben who needed to get back to Melbourne. Damian then advised the team that we would be riding 100kms and stop for dinner then we would ride a further 100kms. So they set-off by now there were some rather black clouds gathering overhead and we were hoping that this would not mean rain. However, after riding with Rob as his support rider giving Mitch a well earned break, the lightning flashed, the thunder clapped and the rain came down. The rdiers came into the vans and took shelter, as this was not a safe situation, especially with the speed of the road-trains and slippery roads.
This thunder storm lasted about 40 minutes and then the two riders set-off again, Damian was still riding strong as were the support riders. The support team that had gone ahead to organise dinner were advised by the local pizza shop owener in Narandera that our planned route through Wagga Wagga was probably not advisable, as there were some seriously steep hills and that we may be better re-routing through Grong Grong, Junee and the into Gundagai. This was assessed and agreed on, this meant that we had a dinner break - with pizzas (very nice ones) by the side of the road in Grong Grong and then a quick rubdown and it was off again - this time with Dave in support - this would quite likely be Dave's last ride for this attempt as he had to leave early in the morning for the airport and a flight to Brisbane for his aunty's funeral. The decisions to take this route proved be quite a good one, with much less traffic and not as many hills, until we got near the approaches of Junee. Damian was still going strong and we even managed to find a real espresso machine that wasn't "out of order" in a shop in Marrar and Damian enjoyed a short black will on the bike.
Not long after the coffee we changed supprt riders and Peter began riding with Damian, it was now just after 10.00pm Sunday night - Damian spoke to Johann and asked him to find out the weather forecast for Monday as there was quite a bit of thunder storm activity around us - Johann managed to satisfy this request and Damian then requested to talk with Debbie and Johann so we rode down to the turn-off to Junee which was 5kms away down hill - Damian managed to do this in record time.
At the bottom Debbie and Johann were informed by Damian that he was going to call an end to this attempt. This was then discussed with the team as this needed to be supported by these amazing people who had been a huge part of this journey. Damian who could hardly speak due to a congestion in his lungs of all the dust and road grime, asked johann to convey his thoughts to the team. It was explained that theer were too primary reasons for undertaking this race - 1: To raise funds for orphans in Africa and 2: To break the world record. Many people and organisations had already committed funds to the number 1 reason and in that indicated support of the number 2 reason, so we had achieved our primary objective. Given that the time of the current record had passed, Damian explained that there was no reason to continue onto Sydney other than his own personal pride. There is no doubting that Damian and this wonderful team had achieved so much more than we could have imagined. The verse that had inspired Damian in many ways had been realised - “In His majesty ride on victoriously in truth, humility and righteousness, go onto do awe inspiring deeds!”
For those of us who were with Damian and the team this effort was indeed nothing short of "awe inspiring" and the ride was not short of victorious - just look at the statistics and just wait until you see the faces of the orphans that go into the orphanage when it is built. This may not be the "victory" that we imagined but it is a HUGE VICTORY for "Breaking the Cycle of Poverty."
So the team all talked for some time and then the decision was made to end this attempt to break the world record. The team then decided to jump in to the vehicles and go on to Sydney regardless. So with Peter, Dave and Johann driving the headed off, nearing Yass the 3 drivers decided that they need a cup of coffee, when they took this break at the Yass Roadhouse they discussed the fact that everyone was sound asleep and was there any real point in still going on to Sydney. They agree that there had been enough driving tonight and decided to sleep it out in the wonderful surrounds of the Yass Roadhouse and determine the next move in the morning - Good Night!!
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