Adelaide to Alice Springs

May/June 1999

Gael & Norm Brabazon, retired members of St. Margaret's congregation, with support vehicle driver Val Jeanes, undertook to pushbike from Adelaide to Alice Springs. The actual ride was from Gawler to Alice Springs and the actual distance travelled was over 1500kms.

The ride took approximately 19 days including two rest days. The team camped all the way through Australia's dry inland, except for two nights in Coober Pedy and two nights in Port Augusta.

They were equipped with dehydrated food for the journey, lots of Weetbix and other cereals and plenty of energy bars. The backup vehicle was carrying plenty of spare parts.

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A typical day began at 6:00am to breakfast, break camp and be on the road by 7:30am. The ride was broken into thirds by meal and refreshment breaks and the next camp was established by 1:00 or 2:00pm. The longest day's ride was 120 kms and the shortest was 56 kms.

And the Result of this Endurance?

  • Two very sore ...
  • One flat tyre (on her bike).
  • Wonderful memories of the people met along the way.
  • Elation at the reception provided by Bruce Nulty and the John Flynn Memorial Uniting Church, who presented them with a fax from Geoffrey Steven Kyeyune, Director, Rubaga Youth Development Association
    and ...
  • A total of $US1652 electronically transferred to the RYDA bank account.
  • The funds were used to strengthen the work of the Tailoring department of the RYDA Skill Training programme.
Crosslight, April 1999, Page 15
crosslightapril1999_p15
Crosslight is a monthly newspaper of the Uniting Church, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania.