The good, the bad and the ugly… my overview of A2B4C number 3!

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!

The journey through the eyes of the support crew

Well…  its that time again, time to say farewell to the leg 3A support crew and welcome the new leg 3B support crew who will travel with Craig through to Adelaide.

Craig and the crew are busy doing a handover for the next leg and have had a big day with local media today and more fundraising commitments tonight so today’s blog has been written by Peter Johnson, Craig’s brother in-law and Jessica’s God Father…

My day started as usual before any normal person would be thinking of getting out of bed at 3am-4am.  I spring up just the same as the day before, eager to show my enthusiasm to my fellow team members and especially Craig.  This is my third time as a support crew member with Craig and the humour, fun and energy just gets better and better.

I’m proud to say that I am Jessica’s Godfather and to be part of the extended family is a privilege.  Every time I’m close to, or hear people talk about Craig it makes me seem like I’m a better person for being involved.  I have personally seen the man work his wonders with anything he puts his mind too.  From the first 1000km paddle up the east coast of Australia, I still hold such fond memories.  My greatest memory was being hit off Byron Bay by the tail of a cyclone that had just destroyed the coastline of Queensland.  I have a vast experience in ocean racing with yachts and this storm was awesome, producing massive swell and gusting winds.  Craig took it all in his stride and just paddled straight into it until the caps of the rolling swell started knocking him off every minute.  I’ll never forget the look on his face when he caught a massive wave into shore and came out grinning from ear to ear.

The second trip I came in and supported Craig paddling up the leg of the Murray River.  Day after day I would soak up the amazing scenery and just wonder what makes him go each and every day and what must go through his mind.  I guess his mind is filled with harmful memories of their loss and I can understand what inspires him to do this outrageously adventurous fundraiser.

Nothing will stop Craig from achieving his goal as he knows the money raised will help ease the pain of others.

As I woke at 3am in Broome for my first day on Leg 3 I could see the determination, strength and courageous nature that has driven the man over the first 6000km’s of this journey.  Eight hours later and 240km’s ticked off the sheet he thanks us and we stand there and wonder why we are the ones being thanked.  I love this guy like a brother and to see him succeed on the marathon and goal of $1 million dollars will make me so proud.

Pete.

Crew meeting