2011 Bottlemart Smiddy Challenge: Day 7 Journal - How good are we?!?
by the Smiddy Road Crew
Stats for the week:
- 360 meat and salad sandwiches
- 14 dozen eggs
- 1.5kg peanut butter
- 236 slices of Tasty cheese
- 3kg Nutella
- 42 packets of Saos
- 3kgs cream biscuits
- 20 packets rice crackers
- 16kg diced salad vegetables
- 9kg grated cheese
- 320 slices cold meat
- 180 Up ’N Go
- 2kg sugar
- 12 packets chocolate bars
- 60 kg Lollies
- 1400 litres of water, some of which is begged, borrowed or stolen
Belyando Crossing is a special point in the Smiddy week and it feels like our ‘spiritual home’, so it was with much excitement that we arrived there on Thursday afternoon. The Roadhouse still bears the same resemblance as when our original host, Hogg welcomed us there five years ago. Sadly Hogg passed away just before Smiddy 2010. For those of us who have visited the Crossing before you’ll be quite familiar with the peaceful laid back atmosphere of the place. For the novices amongst us though, it was not long before they were “whipped” into shape.
Sincere thanks to Mandy for donating our accommodation and meals again this year. The fare was fine and plenty and in the words of the late Hogg, we are “lycra-clad deep gutted bastards”. So day 6 quickly became day 7 and it wasn’t long before road crew alarms were ringing – it was 4:15am and our day’s routine was starting again.
Another tradition of Belyando Crossing is Maria’s poached eggs on toast to kick-start the cyclists on their way to Charters Towers. At the sound of Kevvy’s whistle we give the cyclists a good send off, praying for their safety until we see them again at morning tea. Something worth mentioning: Jimmy replaced a spoke at 5.30am, something he said would never do in the morning.
With the cyclists on their way, our first job is to re-pack the catering van. Supplies are dwindling, heralding the near-end of another Smiddy ride. The store van is packed to the rafters with neatly rolled swags that have swaddled a number of our cyclists and crew overnight, under the canopy of stars that is central Queensland. (Alan actually begs to differ at this point and says that the swags were definitely not neatly rolled.) After vehicles are refuelled and we bid our farewells, the Road Crew splits up – each group understanding exactly what it is they need to do to contribute to the smooth running of Smiling for Smiddy.
Over the last seven days, some of the skills your road crew has brought to ensure the smooth running of Smiddy include: mechanics; logistics managers, safety officers, traffic controllers, waste removal experts, furniture removalists, electronics engineers, purveyors of fine food, counsellors, photographers, physiotherapist, racing car drivers, entertainers, laundry experts, haulage contractors - and all of this done with charm, grace, style, perfection, modesty and sleep deprivation…we only dream of the quiet zone!
We hope the riders enjoyed the colourful welcome into the well-chosen lunch stop at Old Victoria Downs.
Just after 4 pm our cyclists arrive into Charters Towers to a very warm welcome at the School of Distance Education by hosts John and Anne Clarke and their team of volunteers from Charters Towers Rotary Club, and the staff of the School of Distance Education. Our sincere thanks to them for again hosting us with BBQ dinner and accommodation for the cyclists.
Our very special thanks to Lesley and Ken, our honorary road crew members who have pitched in and contributed to the smooth running of Smiddy 2011. And a special mention also to ‘Shimmy Kimmy’ who couldn’t join us this year because she broke her foot a week before Smiddy. Never fear Kim; your role of Laundry Queen awaits you in 2012.
Our sincere thanks to Telstra for enabling us to get these journals home to our wondersful supporters and donors. Telstra's Next G Wi-Fi and phones to have helped us stay in touch during the Challenge in areas with limited coverage.
Lastly, It truly is a pleasure and a privilege to be road crew for a group of such fine athletes; people who are making a difference in the lives of so many by raising funds for cancer research.
