Cycling in wonderment
Remember how we hosted more than a thousand cyclists through our little bush region last week?
How we revelled in feeding these hungry hordes as they took a well-earned break at the Bunyip Hole while pushing pedals up and down our steep hills…
Well, in the aftermath of the last rider saddling up again to push onwards towards the lunch break, I did take a couple of additional snaps. Because I have a tic in the shutter-finger department. And I wanted to share my thoughts about this unusual visit before they memories and images get lost in the backlog of events in my yet-to-be-blogged file.
This shot shows a Mum doing the hard yards up one of the more gentle inclines (I am not sure the little one was doing too much work here! ). I wondered at what age Mum will make the pink-clad one take over the front seat. And if she was contemplating it shortly…
As we entered our tiny township (can a town be a town with no shops? We have five tennis courts, so perhaps that counts?) I wondered at the sudden flash of colour and buzz in the eternal quietness of our ‘main street’.
And up the hill to the entrance to our little one-teacher school, I wondered at the swarm of action caused by the hundreds of colourful jerseys – and if this was the most people who had ever been there in its history.
The bikes were parked up against the fence, like a giant queue of wheels and handlebars… and I wondered if anyone ever took the wrong bike by accident?
This one had an multicultural flavour….so I wondered if maybe the rider’s bottom was American but his head was Australian?
I wondered if the occupants of this family-affair ensemble dashed from their seats to grab a ‘real coffee’ on arrival (check the coffee van and catering truck the background, which travelled everywhere with the group. Amazingly well-set up! )
Some of the riders apparently allowed the gobsmacked schoolkids to ride their bikes (just before I arrived) which caused great excitement. I wondered if any of these brave riders feared for their shiny transportation?
I was asked about 20 times by the visitors how many children attended the school – and when I said ‘just seventeen’ they would all nod, look around them and agree these kids were incredibly lucky to grow up in such a place. How could I argue? We might be a long way from the nearest ‘real’ dance class, rowing venue or orthodontist, but fresh air, freedom and the ability to work and play with kids of all ages makes our little school a great choice for us. I wondered if my kids would always feel that way too…
I was feeling a little haggard after my morning’s efforts (keeping in mind I was being exceptionally good with my new diet) and left to head home… through another onslaught of cyclists.
These guys were coming back from the ‘long way’ trip which was an optional extra for riders… the slightly madder ones apparently. They went to visit this place… which is always worth a little extra effort. I wondered if they were really taking in the scenery around them as they puffed up each incline…
.. and past each lot of grazing cattle. I wondered if they sucked in the bucolic bliss of the green landscapes sliding by them…
And I particularly wondered how the last two riders I saw enjoyed the final 5km back to the school… after I informed them to keep their eyes peeled for the brown snake I had just run over on the road…
12 Comments
Bragger
I would love, love, love to come do a bike ride in your area! I’ll even brave the hills.
In my experience, no one has ever taken the wrong bike. It would be like picking up the wrong child at school. 🙂
Dogs are a much bigger concern than snakes to most cyclists.
I ride a tandem with my (older) sister on the back. And I’ve been much tempted to put her up front!
Bragger´s last blog post ..Stalked by a Black Snake
debby
BB – you are the best. I love the looking around you let us do…and we did not have to be on bikes. Although, if it were the only way to see Australia, I’d do it. I love your little town without shops. And your little 17 kid, one room school house. And the cows. And the little hills. Not so much the brown snake you ran over on the road. Which you did not stop to take a picture of. Like I said, you’re just the best!
debby´s last blog post ..Stories
Bush Babe
Thanks Bragger. Thanks Deb. I’m no cyclist, but I do wonder if this is not a great way to see the bush. As long as there is bitumen (black-top) under the wheels… as long as there is a mobile loo available at all times… as long as there are no nasty motor vehicles to push you off the road… yeah. Nah. An oft-stopping Prado might have to do me…
🙂
BB
Nancy in Iowa
What a way to see the country! Oh, I’d do it – if my knees didn’t scream! No complaints – I did lots and lots of hiking in the North Georgia mountains. Beautiful! As for the school – I love it. My first 2 grades were spent in 1- and 2- room schools (we moved a lot!).
Jayke
Love that last photo, I can almost see the waves from the heat off the pavement.
Jayke´s last blog post ..Back- But Busy
Kelly
Five tennis courts and no shops??
Loved getting to see more of the cyclers through this post!
Kelly´s last blog post ..One of those days
Theresa in Alberta
I wonder if there were any Canadians in the group eh! I see those “kid carriers” all the time here in the city.
Cheryl
OMG Bush Babe. I was one of those cyclists! I can’t believe how close I came to meeting you and didn’t know it! Mine was the black Cannondale Bad Boy – did you notice it? (Just kidding!). Just loved your area and little school. I’m betting all the kids have drawn pictures of the tandem recumbent bike – they were fascinated by it! “Catch The Kids” alerted me when she read my latest blog mentioning my bike ride and had read yours about catering for 1200 cyclists. ( a bit like a plague of locusts!) What a small world. Thanks to you all for the marvellous hospitality we experienced through the whole district. Heading off for a 570km ride might seem a bit weird but it is a great way to see the country. I believe we also broke a 15 year drought in some areas so happy to have been of service! Am so gobsmacked by the smallness of the world! Oh something that might amuse you, at our Mt Perry stop, the hotel took an entire 12 months taking in one night and in just a few hours the fridges of the general store were almost empty! Thanks again.
Cheryl´s last blog post ..Fabulous Mockumentary!
Bush Babe
WOW… that’s amazing! I missed you… I must’ve had my head down and you-know-what UP serving coffees when you got your smoko…
Funny about MT Perry – apparently you lot drank them dry!!!
🙂
BB
Cheryl
PS – Theresa I didn’t meet any Canadians, though I didn’t meet evryone and there were NZers, Americans and Germans in the mix. Oldest 86, youngest 6.
We also wondered about the number of tennis courts everywhere we went. Just amazing.
Cheryl´s last blog post ..Fabulous Mockumentary!
Leenie
BB: Good for you taking time out of your busy life to serve up food and fun to all those travelers. It’s that sort of kindness that makes the world go round and round in spite of what the talking heads in our televisions would have us believe. What an event that must have been for your little wide spot in the road! I would love to have the opportunity to pedal through your neighborhood–snakes and all.
Leenie´s last blog post ..DAY OF A BAZILLION BICYCLES
Kane William
All amazing pic ! I wish i could join the journey. Love to see these amazing photo.