For the first time known, Oz is going to be crossed diagonally from Cape Leeuwin Western Australia to Cape York Queensland. To ride from Cape to Cape means over 6,700 kilometers of dirt roads in 29 days is the challenge we face.
We are not a bunch of fit youngsters, but could be politely described as a group of “older” adventurers but with a collective age approaching 500 years (and that includes a couple of youngsters), probably should all know better! Does the word mad spring to mind.
Anyhow on 2nd May 8 of us riders (total age 413 years) backed up by 2 vehicles (drivers Bruce and Les) depart the Lighthouse at Cape Leeuwin ,in the south west of Western Australia to ride diagonally through the centre of Australia to Cape York in far North Queensland. This adventure ride will be some 6,700 kilometres across one continent and and as far as we know the first time this has been attempted.
Why?: It seemed a good idea when Micko and Liam O’Byrne came up with the idea! We have all riden road bikes together on long trips where we thoroughly enjoy ourselves so we thought we would push the envelope a bit more while we still have the strength to push the starter button!
This trip has really taken a lot of planning and organisation, including vehicles, fuel, water, food and so on as we are camping out many nights, permits to travel over Aboriginal Lands from the Traditional Owners, bike parts and tools. Because of the remoteness of some of the areas we are also carrying fairly extensive medical equipment which hopefully we wont need to use! But with 1 of us only just able to get back on his bike after an ambulance ride ended his last practice ride we all understand there is a real danger of injury.
So that’s it really an adventure with good mates, seeing more of the best motorcycling country in the world!
As well as the challenge the trip is raising funds for two charities.
The first charity is the Western Desert Health Care Project conducted by the Medical Faculty of the University of Western Australia (UWA). There is a high preponderance of kidney and renal failure amongst the indigenous peoples of the Western Desert and to enable early stage detection in the field UWA wants to purchase and equip two Toyota Landcruisers with diagnostic equipment, which will be operated by graduates and students. Each one of the diagnostic machines cost over $10,000. Our aim is to raise sufficient funds to buy at least one of these machines.
The second charity is the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), which is a great Australian icon needing no introduction for the ongoing and incredible work it performs in outback and rural Australia in cases of medical emergency. The RFDS continues to rely heavily on donations to support funding the purchase of aircraft and medical equipment.
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