CAIRNS TO CAPE YORK
Its actually 22 months since my accident but who's counting. About 12 months ago a friend saw a Facebook post from a company called Cape York Mountain Bike Adventures. They offered the experience of a life time to ride a mountain bike from Cairns to Cape York (the most Northern point of Australia) of course its typical of me to just say "heck yes... sounds like a great adventure." Please keep in mind only 10 months earlier I had just had the worst day of my life (9th August 2015) which resulted in me spending 76 days with scaffolding screwed to my skull. Since being released from my HALO brace / Torture device I had taken to riding my mountain bike and found it really therapeutic both mentally and physically. My doctors had given me a time frame of 2-3 years before I would get full movement of my shoulder and they were not sure about the long term deal with my double vision but from the first day I rode home from work it seemed to unlock my double vison and free my movement up. As each week passed I travelled further, first starting with 3-5km rides then 10-20 and before long I was doing 40-50km rides. as the months rolled on I gained more and more movement in my neck and shoulder but noticed massive improvements with my eye sight fairly early on. This was a great head start for the possibility of riding this great adventure.
With my Cairns to Cape Adventure registration accepted I now had 12 months to train and be fit. This ride is not for the faint hearted, its no road ride either. After doing a little google research I realised I was going to need to be strong. 9 days of off-road riding through some of Australia toughest 4WD tracks, wading through crocodile waters and battling sand sections where the question wasn't "did you fall off?" it was "how many times did you fall off?"
For those of you who may be familiar with this part of the world here is our basic itinerary with distance travelled.
Day 1 Cairns to Hann River by Bus where we start our first days riding to Musgrave Roadhouse (62km)
Day 2 Musgrave to Coen (108km)
Day 3 Coen to Archer River (66km)
Day 4 Archer River to Moreton Telegraph Station (123km)
Day 5 Moreton to the Telegraph Track (86km)
Day 6 Telegraph Track day #2 (53km)
Day 7 Telegraph Track to Seisia / Bamaga (68km)
Day 8 Seisia to the Tip of Australia - RT to Seisia - Ferry Thursday Island (68km)
Day 9 Ride Thursday Island (10km)
I'm now home after completing this amazing adventure. I have to say the organisation that went into looking after the riders (23 all up) keeping us fed, watered and our spirits up during some of the more challenging sections was simply incredible. The nights sitting around the camp fire listening to the gentle strum of the guitar is also something I won't forget.. To Sparky and Dave our team leaders- you guys really are awesome. To Cec who ran the bar, organised lunch, chopped wood and drove the support truck through rivers over sand sections I thought you would need a tank to get through- you go alright... JUST DONT SHARPEN ANY MORE AXES! lol.. To Brad from Pump'n'Pedals for keeping everyone's bike going and listening to the bikes groaning as we rode along and then fixing them at the end of every day "Thank You!" To Ray "the Sandman" for his loan of the vehicle to make to trip possible. Watching you navigate those sand sections with ease was inspiring.
Also want to put a huge shout out to Helen (one of the great ladies) on the ride who had a huge stack on the first day riding the Telegraph Track - your courage to get on the bike the next day was incredible. Also special mention to Rosie for her great effort in patching up Helen and assisting in the various bumps and bruises met with along the way.
Lastly, to all the other riders. For me this ride has cemented some great friendships and already we have re connected on FB and even in person. I truly hope we all get to ride again sometime in the not to distance future. Thanks for the memories.
Mark Hinchelwood.
With my Cairns to Cape Adventure registration accepted I now had 12 months to train and be fit. This ride is not for the faint hearted, its no road ride either. After doing a little google research I realised I was going to need to be strong. 9 days of off-road riding through some of Australia toughest 4WD tracks, wading through crocodile waters and battling sand sections where the question wasn't "did you fall off?" it was "how many times did you fall off?"
For those of you who may be familiar with this part of the world here is our basic itinerary with distance travelled.
Day 1 Cairns to Hann River by Bus where we start our first days riding to Musgrave Roadhouse (62km)
Day 2 Musgrave to Coen (108km)
Day 3 Coen to Archer River (66km)
Day 4 Archer River to Moreton Telegraph Station (123km)
Day 5 Moreton to the Telegraph Track (86km)
Day 6 Telegraph Track day #2 (53km)
Day 7 Telegraph Track to Seisia / Bamaga (68km)
Day 8 Seisia to the Tip of Australia - RT to Seisia - Ferry Thursday Island (68km)
Day 9 Ride Thursday Island (10km)
I'm now home after completing this amazing adventure. I have to say the organisation that went into looking after the riders (23 all up) keeping us fed, watered and our spirits up during some of the more challenging sections was simply incredible. The nights sitting around the camp fire listening to the gentle strum of the guitar is also something I won't forget.. To Sparky and Dave our team leaders- you guys really are awesome. To Cec who ran the bar, organised lunch, chopped wood and drove the support truck through rivers over sand sections I thought you would need a tank to get through- you go alright... JUST DONT SHARPEN ANY MORE AXES! lol.. To Brad from Pump'n'Pedals for keeping everyone's bike going and listening to the bikes groaning as we rode along and then fixing them at the end of every day "Thank You!" To Ray "the Sandman" for his loan of the vehicle to make to trip possible. Watching you navigate those sand sections with ease was inspiring.
Also want to put a huge shout out to Helen (one of the great ladies) on the ride who had a huge stack on the first day riding the Telegraph Track - your courage to get on the bike the next day was incredible. Also special mention to Rosie for her great effort in patching up Helen and assisting in the various bumps and bruises met with along the way.
Lastly, to all the other riders. For me this ride has cemented some great friendships and already we have re connected on FB and even in person. I truly hope we all get to ride again sometime in the not to distance future. Thanks for the memories.
Mark Hinchelwood.