sport, leisure, travel
Charlotte’s Pass felt like the end
of the trip, as the snow would prevent
us cycling the last nine kilometres to
the summit of Australia. From here
we would have to go on foot.
Finally, we trickled onto the top
of Australia. The strain of keeping it
Setting out on
day one, and
below, Ed.
together for 42 days, and suddenly
being freed, was as though a levee
had broken. We all shed tears and
then it was time to take interviews
that we were unable to take care of While riding, our Lowest to Highest from local and national radio. We
ourselves. Rumours even got back to expedition was taking on a life of its toasted ourselves, but more-so
friends and family in Tasmania that own. As the publicity machine gained Wally who was the only member of
we weren’t being ‘looked after’ (mass momentum – we were gracing front the team to ride uninterrupted for
hysteria was averted by some timely covers of newspapers and talking on 2,152km from start to finish. Daniel
phone calls). the radio – increasing numbers of didn’t make it to the summit. He had
cars and trucks honked their horns in been transferred to the hospital in
support. Albury and vowed to return when he
From the Flinders Ranges the
team would head out east on the
most remote leg of the journey to
One question we were forever
asked was ‘Is this a charity ride?’. In Not only had we achieved the
in shearing sheds. fact, it just happened that each one first journey from the lowest point to
We spent a couple of days in of us was an adventurous soul and it the highest point of the Australian
Broken Hill, where Ed led us into Big was just something that we wanted continent, we had delivered a
W. It was a strange experience for us, to do. message of empowerment: the
Once Lake Hume was behind us
we had our first view of the mountain. are capable of ‘world firsts’, not
limping and wheeling through the And what a view! Still dressed in its just ‘first disabled challenges’. We
air-conditioned store. winter coat of snow and seemingly have shown that firsts are not just
hovering above yellow canola fields, the domain of the able-bodied. We
Silver City Highway from barren we wondered how the hell we were have challenged commonly held
desert to the lush Murray Riverina. going to ride up there. misconceptions about what people
Above Khancoban, on the huge
what they are told they are allowed
Daniel started feeling unwell again to do and not allowed to do. For
and was vomiting uncontrollably, so people with disability, it is a powerful
the decision was made to evacuate message: we can have agency in our
him to Corryong hospital. own lives.
* This story is dedicated to
pedalling, we reached the snow at Daniel, who passed away, while
the aptly named Siberia. We took a heading for another attempt on the
moment to appreciate just how far we mountain, three months after the
had come since the salty surface of expedition ended.
Kati Thanda all those weeks ago.
sport, leisure, travel
with disability can and can’t do;
hill past the Snowy Mountain Hydro,
After more than 2,000km
42
message that people with disability
seeing five dust-laden, dirty bodies
From Broken Hill, we rode the
M
Y
was well.
Broken Hill, being accommodated
and possibly the other customers,
C
vimeo.com/244744757
linkonline.com.au
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K