Parting words from the 3B Support Crew

Craig has been re-united with his family today after not seeing them for 69 days since he left Sydney on 29 May. While he spends some quality time catching up with Lisa and the kids, the blog today comes from Petah Handley-Garben and Katrina Mitchell from the 3B Support Crew…

Part 1 – from Petah
There are not enough words to describe my journey with Craig and the crew across the Nullarbor and into Adelaide. We have all shared some very special times. There are a couple that stand out for me.

We couldn’t get reception to watch Random Acts (we were at a truck stop in Mundrabilla, that only gets channel 9 when it is not raining-it was raining), so we watched a snippet on you tube the next day. Watching beautiful Jessica call out on the home videos ‘I love you Daddy’- it is clear where Craig draws his inspiration from. There was not a dry eye amongst us. I have three children of my own and it really put into perspective what Craig is trying to do. He can’t cure cancer himself, but he can help raise money for research to maybe one day save the heartache that he and his family have been through.

Craig and I have had a couple of heart to hearts while doing the dishes. I asked one day if the hurt of losing Jessica ever went away, and his reply was never. I can’t even begin to imagine the pain of losing a child-but at times you can see it on Craig’s face.

So for all of you that have donated-a big thank you, and for those of you that haven’t – now is the time!!!

The man’s a machine-never ever, ever a complaint! (I can tell you all now, we are going to suffer at training!) It’s been an absolutely amazing journey that I feel honoured to have been a part of.

Roger and out (my new CB talk)
Petah

Part 2 – from Katrina (KT)
(hello-hello) my new nick name earned from a talking crow which I saw at a roadhouse in Balladonia-of course no one believes me!

When Craig asked me to write this blog, I felt such immense pressure. Not because he’s such a great writer himself, but because this is my one opportunity to personally express how I have been motivated by Craig as a person. Even more importantly how I can reach out to people and to further motivate them to get involved, make a difference, and achieve Craig’s goal of $1 million for childhood cancer.

There are special people in this world and Craig and Lisa fall into that category. I don’t know if it is because of the sad journey they travelled with their beautiful Jessica. All I know is that I feel blessed to be a part of their lives and they enrich mine just through their presence.

I have travelled on the third leg of this epic journey around Australia, joining him in Kalgoorlie, and experiencing the adventure across the Nullarbor into Adelaide, where we sit right now. It is day 69 and he is as strong as ever. He has been away from his wife and four other children for over 2 months. Remember, that’s no dad for those kids, no husband and no income. All because Craig doesn’t want any other family to suffer the same fate as his. This isn’t about him, it’s about anyone who could be hit with the dreadful blow, this nasty disease, that just doesn’t let up!

We wake early in the morning, some mornings are very early. No complaints from any of the crew, we are all focussed and dedicated to see this through. More importantly, Craig throws down some breakfast, puts on his gear and cycles off into the dark, without a question of thought or procrastination.

There’s a lot of time to think about things on those long lonely roads – doing anything from 100km to 250kms a day. It absolutely blows my mind. Imagine, it’s like riding from Avalon on Sydney’s Northern Beaches to Kiama on the NSW South Coast and back again! He gets off the bike, eats an enormous amount of food to refuel and sits down to write the blog on his website of carry out media obligations.

When you look into a child’s eyes, deeply, how could anyone deny them the right to live a healthy, happy life. This is what drive’s Craig! All children should have that right.

We all dream of doing something good, we all want to make this world a better place, to share our lives and love. To reach out and connect with someone, and to make a difference.

This is your opportunity. If everyone who read this blog could urge their friends, their relatives to donate, just even $10, it’s a coffee and a muffin. All with the hope that it could make some change, it could make a difference, you could make a difference…….

Call the radio stations, the tv networks and the newspapers. We need to get the word out there. There is an amazing man, doing amazing things, and we can all be a part of it.

He will not stop until he reaches his goal. I only wish there were more people like Craig Goozee.

A special thank you to all of those that have donated, both big and small. Every little bit counts.

Katrina Mitchell (KT)

Click here to make a donation today or call 1800 682 536

From cow pastures to Adelaide traffic!

 

Riding into Adelaide

 

Morning traffic in Adelaide

30 days to go!

Wow! 30 days to go. Two thirds of the journey now covered and only four states and one territory left to cover. I have been thinking just how lucky we are to live in this country as every day brings something different.

Cool weather this morning made me start the day in layers of cycling clothes to keep out the cold breeze from the movement of cycling. When I left the Nullarbor Roadhouse there was a sign indicating we were just about to start travelling across the treeless plains. I expected the plains to last for about 100km’s, but unfortunately they only lasted a short distance before hitting some ranges in the Aboriginal land of Yalata. The ride was very similar to the Balladonia area of the Eyre Highway with long undulating straights, through area’s covered by stringy bark gum trees. As the sun started to rise, a mist came in over the land making visibility awkward. For the first two and a half hours of riding the only thing I could see was within 30 metres of where I was riding.

I stopped at the 100km mark and had breakfast with the crew and per usual and then continued on cycling to Nudaroo Roadhouse. We have then travelled a further 29km to the coast and plan to stay at a sea side fishing town called Fowlers Bay.

Yesterday afternoon we mentioned that we had visited the “Head of the Bite” to view the whales and their calves. What an amazing experience. I will let the photo’s and video tell the story.

Craig

Yesterday's whale watching

 

A truely amazing experience to be so close to these enormous creatures

Day 62 - Misty Morning

 

Yalata Aboriginal land