Bike for Bibles

Next morning we were up bright and early thanks to Norm & Loris Garwood and we headed off to Evandale for lunch. While there we caught up with Detlef, who rode with us many years ago. He disappeared for a while and reappeared riding a penny farthing. He then proceeded to explain the history of the bike and gave a demo of how to ride it. Some brave souls even went for a small ride. After lunch the weather, which had been threatening rain, took a turn for the worse. It started pouring and at one stage just before” The Sidling” it started to hail and visibility was down to less than 20 meters. The” Sidiling “is a very windy section of road, even by Tasmanian standards. We climbed up the long side then those of us still riding had the task of negotiating “The Sidling” with skinny tyres and a wet, slippery road. The hairpin corners and steep descent made life very interesting. We all made it safely to Scottsdale and really appreciated the hot showers and fine food provided by the folk from the Scottsdale Uniting.

Wednesday was just a mere 101kms to St. Helens. Before we left Shantelle Perry(my daughter) had her fingernail removed, it had been caught in the car door. The Weather was cloudy and despite the dark clouds it only rained after we finished. I’m sure that Mark set a new world record for descending the Welborough Pass! This pass is longer than “The Sidiling”with around 7 kms of down hill; the only problem is the climb up the other side! That night we shared tea with a group of young people who were doing a beach mission for Scripture Union. They slept in the hall while we were billeted.

Thursday was quite sunny as we left St. Helens and wound our way up the St. Marys Pass to morning tea. After leaving St .Marys we meet David Boon and his entourage walking down the road. They were raising money for cancer research, how would you like to drive a support car at 5 km/h ! My main memory of that day was the ever present head wind, all the way to Conara Junction, where Dave Robson left us. We turned off the highway at Epping Forest and the wind was back in our faces. Mike and I kept each other going. At the 150k mark my left knee started to make polite inquires as to how much farther and my right knee was showing interest in the answer. Finally after 177kms and 8 hours, 17 minutes in the saddle we arrived back at Poatina. Janine Cranny now holds the record for driving around Tassie in the slowest time.

Breakfast Friday was a very quite affair with most of us having aches and pains in places we never knew existed before. We finally rolled out of Poatina for Westbury and the omnipresent headwinds. We turned on to another road and praise the Lord we actually had TAILWINDS. Sam & Greg Braid reached over 60 km/h coming into Westbury on a slight downhill. On our way back to Poatina we meet up with a cattle drive and had to wait on the side of the road until they passed, for the rest of the way we had to dodge where they had been with recycled grass everywhere. It made drinking from our biddons impossible.

Saturday was the best day weather wise of the entire ride. Coming down the hill into Chudleigh Cassandra Perry (my daughter) had a close encounter of the 4WD kind.

A 4WD Ute passed her at the same time as a car was coming the other way; this meant that the 4WD went by with only a few centimetres to spare. Cassandra was riding at 50 km/h at the time, so going on to the gravel was not an option. I was riding just 15 meters behind her and felt helpless & very angry, as I saw what was happening. Cassandra kept it all together until Mole Creek 10kms away, where she let out all the emotions she had stored up. This incident highlighted the danger that we face each time we ride. When people to pray for our safety we really do appreciate it and see the results. We always knew that riding from Mole Creek to Sheffield over the Gog was going to be tough but for the first time in 17 rides I got off and walked part the way up both the Gog and another very steep hill. Greg, Sam, John and Mark conquered the climbs with strength and determination. At Sheffield we welcomed back Ian & Jenni who had left us at Evandale. From the Paloona dam the 11 remaining cyclists rode the final 20kms into Fairway Park in Ulverstone, to a very warm welcome from the members of the St. Andrews Presbyterian who provided a very much appreciated BBQ.

We rode 860kms in 6 days with our longest being 177kms and our shortest being 101kms.

The primary purpose of Bike for Bibles is to raise money, with this year for Zimbabwe. Bike for Bibles is much more than just a fundraising exercise, the friendship, fun and fellowship between all the members of the team is something to treasure. This year all 6 members of the braid family came with Greg, Rosemary, John, Sam, and Liz riding with Jessie driving. I would like to thank Heather Perry (my wife) for all her hard work and effort before and during the ride. Heather’s role as head roadie keeps her busier than the riders. Thank you to all riders and roadies for giving of your time and effort. We also appreciate all the church’s that provide meals and accommodation along the way. We thank God for the safety we experienced this year and I trust that we never take His protection for granted.

A team of cyclists who took four days to ride 460km from Perth to Geraldton laugh at motorists who make the same journey by car and moan that it takes for or five hours.

A Bike for Bible team of six cyclists made the journey to raise money for Bible Society literacy programs in Africa.

For one team member the journey was a familiar one, though a bit slower than the trips he has made in the past. Several years ago Matt Barrett-Lennard lived in Geraldton and worked as a pilot for an air charter company. He now lives in Lake Grace and made the tip to Perth to join the Bike for Bibles team because he loved cycling and wanted to support what he said was a good cause. He joked that the worst leg of the journey was his left one. The rest of the team agreed but said their biggest challenge was the winding road at Slippery Hill near Bindoon which they tackled on day one of the ride.

A welcome treat came when they were welcomed on the outskirts of Moora by a Baptist Church parishioner driving a Clydesdale horse and cart.

Team coordinator David Kingston said the group was provided with accomodation from Churches in Moora, Dongara and Geraldton. He said they were also thankful to the Shire of Three Springs who allowed them to use Shire facilities.

The Bike for Bible team has received pledges totalling $2000 which could provide up to 4000 reading books for child literacy programs in Kenya and Uganda.

"We will be supplying what they call the early reader program which helps people break the illiteracy cycle in their generation. They can get a job, get money and break the cycle of poverty. We take it for granted that we can all get a level of education in our country, we are so blessed." David said.

The Bible Society has been supplying Christian scriptures to communities within Australia and beyond since 1817. For information visit www.biblesociety.com.au.

-- Anita Kirkbright.