Leg 1. I would call my crew on this leg “The Perfectionists”. It was nice to get out of the flooded areas of New South Wales and into some crystal clear waters of QLD. My favourite days on this leg were the two day paddles near Frazer Island and then from Hervey Bay to Bundaberg. Paddling with sharks, dugongs, whales, turtles, crocodiles and so on is just a buzz. The best town that I stayed at would of been Point Elliot, Bundaberg. The hardest day of this leg was probably the shortest when I cycled on the horrid Bruce Highway from Gin Gin to Seventeen Seventy.
Leg 2. I have to call this crew “The Entertainer’s”. Starting at Longreach and finishing at Broome, it was going to be a long 21 days. We laughed our way across two states and one territory, staying in some very dusty places. My favourite day was the hardest in this leg and that was paddling with 40,000 croc’s across Lake Argyle and into the upper Ord River. My fondest memories during this leg was swimming in Edith Falls and lounging in the thermal springs at Mataranka.
Leg 3a. These guys are remembered as “The Surprise Package”. One thing I loved about this leg from Broome to Kalgoorlie was the way the support crew worked together. We saw really remote areas of Australia with long stretches of isolated coastline and vast sandy areas at the back of the Great Sandy Desert. My favourite day was paddling along 80 mile beach with my son Tim and Billy Wall in the support boat. This part of our country is extremely special.
Leg 3b. This crew was the “TLC’s”. With the first two girls on tour we all received some TLC and some extremely tasty food. We experienced the long straights of the bottom of WA and SA. The landscape changed every day and the land was very healthy from recent storms. We were all blown away at the head of the bite in SA with the whales nursing their young so close to the land. I couldn’t believe how great the pastured areas of SA were between Nundaroo and Adelaide with the greenest rolling hills and yellow canola fields.
Leg 4a. This crew would have to be called “The Doer’s”. They didn’t take no as an answer and just pushed on regardless. My favourite day was paddling up the Yarra River to Melbourne on such a beautiful morning. The hardest day was going from one side of Tassie to the other after such a busy schedule in and around Melbourne. One of the nicest towns on tour was at Warrnambool in Victoria. The most rewarding experience on this leg was seeing my crew enjoy the emotional journey.
Leg4b. This crew – “Never a Dull Moment”. I have enjoyed the boys company on the last leg and also the company when some of them have joined me running and cycling short distances. A small run through the state forests, and paddling into Narooma are memorable. Some of the hardest days cycling have been on this leg with huge head winds which are just punishing. Most mind blowing day on tour was with Tony and Ang at the Royal Willows Hotel in Pambula and raising over $18,000!
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