A typical day on the Sydney to Surfers Ride starts with riders and crew climbing out of bed for a 6-6:30am breakfast.
Our crew (particularly the bus drivers who are massive legends) often start earlier than this, ferrying riders from far flung hotels and motels toward Duncan’s Mess Tent.
Duncan's Mess Tent
Being one of those bus drivers myself, I was inspired to write the following, strongly worded letter as a result of the early start…
“Dear Mornings. It’s not you…it’s me. Things just aren’t working out between us. I’ve tried so hard to get you to compromise and start somewhere around 10am…but you never seem to listen to me anymore.
I don’t how to break this gently…so I’ll just say it.
I’m breaking up with you!”
(if only it was that easy)
Apparently the ride had a pretty serious hill today. Though when I drove up there, it didn’t seem that bad???
Seriously though, sadly reporting one rider affectionately known as “Ribbit” pulled a muscle or ligament or one of the other parts that make up the “knee” and is limping about. The rights to rub it better was generously bought at auction for $120 by her own pack.
But even sadder is our report that another rider had quite a serious fall today (no…I wasn’t there to photograph it) and was transported to Coffs Harbour Hospital with concussion.
She’s doing well and will be released to return home tomorrow. We’re all thinking of you!
We also say goodbye to another two blokes tomorrow morning, unfortunately departing to attend a funeral back in Sydney. All this bad news!!!
On a positive note, there was no rain today and likely to be none tomorrow. Whilst event coordinator Kevin assured me today was the day for a nice long hill, I’m told that tomorrow is actually the day for hills. And many of them too!
So, for those riders who are reading this and thought they suffered today…you haven’t suffered yet. And when you do, I’ll be there waiting…camera in hand 
Notable mentions must also go to the North Haven Bowling Club who presented the ride with a cheque for $500 at last night’s dinner. Thank you!
Our Youth Of The Streets kids are powering on, completing kilometre after kilometre. Great stuff guys. We’re past the half way mark. Keep going!
On the media front, whilst it’s unfortunate that mainstream media coverage of the event is close to zero, the ride did receive a worthy mention on a local FM Radio Station from a caller who said…”there’s about 200 riders holding up 200 cars on the highway”.
Reports confirm it was roughly 6 or 7 cars, but hey…any media is good media…right?
The Rotary Club of Engadine took a moment out of tonight’s ride dinner to call in on the Rotary Club of Nambucca Heads who were fortuitously meeting in a room downstairs from the dining room at the Nambucca Heads RSL.
Always great to say g’day to fellow Rotarians.
I can also report that our ride has received a small amount of international attention, with some comments from abroad landing on the Engadine Rotary Facebook Page, wishing people luck, and oddly…asking if we have milk in our coffee.
Things that make you go hmmmmm…again.
But, for tomorrow it’s onwards and upwards toward Southport, with a short 20km drive in the morning due to a riding ban on a section of road into Urunga, before turing inland for Grafton.
Families wishing to keep up with their loved ones can view some of the action in our daily photo albums on Facebook. Also check out Youth Off The Streets on Facebook too! That Like button needs to be clicked. On both pages ok?
Yours in desperate need of a sleep in but won’t get it because Duncan’s Mess Tent is putting on pancakes tomorrow morning…
Brendon
About the Author: Brendon Walker from Centric Social Media is on loan to the Sydney to Surfers Bike Ride for the week to shoot pics and blog. He also doubles as one of the event bus drivers. His week long goal is to stay dry inside the bus, brag about that to the riders, and capture a spectacular crash in high resolution pixels. He enjoys long walks along the beach, but only if he gets to take his iPhone and tweet about it.
