As a support team we are doing all we can to do exactly that – support Damian in this superhuman effort and to try and stay ourselves focussed on the agenda and goal which is simple – support Damian, finish the race, do not look back and deal with what is here and now – to help break the Cycle of Poverty for the orphans.
Ray kept riding with Damian and did really well, Damian was using everything in him to keep up the pace and not let the wind deter him. We were focussed on getting to Mundarabilla, along the way a truckie asked us on the CB what we were doing and why? Mark explained to them the Race and the work of HopeBuilders he said – “that is great I will leave $10 for you at the next roadhouse. This spurred Damian on in an incredible way to go collect the money. We arrived at Mundarabilla Roadhouse for lunch and Damian walked up to the counter where the manager was and asked if there was some money from a truckie – he said “yes, here it is and here is $20 from me as well!” Wow, this was awesome.
Lunch was most enjoyable and then it was Mitch’s turn to get alongside Damian and head towards the West Australian / South Australian border. The winds had not let up – but neither had Damian with Mitch in “close” (sometimes too close) support. As they approached Eucla the road up the Eucla pass loomed and given the wind and heat we knew this was going to be a test. It was at this point that the wind seemed to change 3 times with each turn of the road – it was unbelievable and ridiculous. However, Damian did an awesome job up the hill he stayed ahead of a B-Double and then clocked up speed while tucked in behind it of nearly 45+ km/hr up hill!!! and Mitch came right up the hill after Damian and did it strong.
The next goal was the WA/SA border and wasn’t there a riotous cheer when we crossed that line – WOW – it was a good feeling we had finished a state. We stopped here for dinner and Greg readied himself to go out with Damian onto the Nullarbor. This was something that Damian had remembered Greg had said he would love to do about a year ago – and it was happening. This was an awesome ride with some amazing sunsets and even though it was still blowing Damian kept pushing out the kilometres, and Greg kept up. The boys peddled for a long time and we finally called it a night at 1.05am, and we finished up 73 kms before the Nullarbor Roadhouse. What a day!
The team statistics for day 5 reflected some incredible work from the team but don’t forget that there is one guy whose statistics are basically the sum total of everyone’s each day, and he endures all the wind changes, temperature changes, strong smelling road kill carcasses, B-double and B-triples not to mention the grey nomads!!!
Ray rode firstly for 1 hour 10 minutes and covered 20 kilometres
Ray rode again for 3 hours 25 minutes and covered 62 kilometres
Mitch rode for 2 hours 15 minutes and covered 42 kilometres
Greg rode for 5 hours 45 minutes and covered 112 kilometres
Rob and Dave were rested.
The next morning (Thursday) started with a 6am wake-up and the team set on our way at 6.50am to the Nullarbor
Roadhouse. Mitch was the first rider out with Damian and they were riding into an awesome looking sunrise and some big headwinds – you almost didn’t notice the sunrise because of the heartache of having this consistent wind. We then realised that the Transporter had a flat tyre and so this needed to be attended to. Dave and Rob were in the back so they assisted in a big way to get the job done – changing the middle tyre (set of three) of a 5 tonne transporter without using a jack!!! We rode into the Nullarbor Roadhouse and Damian enjoyed having a seat on a beaten up old bike – it was a priceless photo. Mitch was beaten up by the wind and Dave came out to support Damian in the battle.They set their sights for Yalata and the half way mark for the ride - the total kilometres for this 24 hour period was 311 kms and the accumulated total for 120 hours was 1665 kms – this was 63 kms from Yalata.
