Sea to Summit and Back - Day 6 - Saturday 21st November, 2009

Sea to Summit and Back - Day 5 - Friday 20th November, 2009

Text to be added

Sea to Summit and Back - Day 4 - Thursday 19th November, 2009

Text to be added

Sea to Summit and Back - Day 3 - Wednesday 18th November, 2009

for those that travel the road less travelled this is the road, sort of...

The sky boasted a couple of Cirrus clouds and the early morning winged insects were not out in force as the the Tools left Cooma earlyish.

The peleton headed for Cabramurra via the four mile, then the seven gates, then the vast green plain of the nearly high country, then the big trout of Adiminiby,then the really hilly bit to Kiandra, then the even hillier bit to Cabramurra which has the longest last 4 klms to go in the world and is the highest something in Australia. It was a day of numbered things and favourite quotes and gates from the past.

the stats;

dist: 82.32 klms

time: 5 hrs 5 mins 5 secs

top speed: 76.58 kph.

Sea to Summit and Back - Day 2 - Tuesday 17th November, 2009

Day the second of the S2S went for 88.5 klms from the home of the platypuses at Bombala to the land of the legless lizards and worlds most expensive bus passenger shelter of Cooma. The rolling hills out of Bombala and down to Bibbinluke are a fabulous ride, the road is smooth and fast and all the car and truck drivers are considerate and gracious. The Indian elephant ( you can tell by the ears) at the Nimmitabel stop was looking a little wrinkled as we took refreshment at the bakery in the middle of town which boasts two claims to fame. One being known traditionally as the "dividing of the waters" which has something to do with rivers and creek hocus pocus. The other is that Nimmitabel claims to be the birthplace of Greek migration to Australia. Something to do with a convict then freeman former pirate whom, on release from the crown took up residence in multicultural Nimmitabel long before that was a word or a state of mind.

Trials of the day included a few too many punctures and a tyre blow out which tested the natural good humour of Van velo a little.

The O'night stop was in Cooma. A late lunch at a very sophisticated cafe just up the main street toward Jindabyne was a feature event. A raven haired yet ice blue eyed wait person puzzled us all with their gentle grace and service manner and what can only be described as an awkward limp.
Nothing spilt amazingly.

The evening involved a quick trip to the gun shop for supplies and a magazine photo shoot for our tour mascot "Andme" followed by a walking tour of the stately homes of the Cooma cbd fringe. The Victorian mansions invoked a true sense of Cooma that somehow defies articulation by anything other than poetry;
ergo;

there once was a rider
rapide,
Who dreamt he could ride fast
and did.
Though pedal away,
by night
andby day,
It was not ego,
alas,
but all id
and but for a tub of butt
grease
he would
a thousand quid
pro quo
give
through a sieve
oh no Cooma
there you go.

For some strange reason we slept well that night apart from an unfortunate incident involving two of the cycling party and a band aid application that was challenged by a late to the room third bunk mate who thought he saw a gymnast and a ring master practicing for the circus....

Sea to Summit and Back - Day 1 - Monday 16th November, 2009

On the far south coast in the very farthest south east corner of far new south wales and in the grounds of Merv's mansion high on the highest hill of Bega a small group of powerfully legged men and one even more powerfull woman gathered to pump tyres and watch the dawn push back the dark of a November night.
The warm air in their faces and the dauntingly jagged outline of the distant
mountains in the early morning light reminded them of the challenge ahead.
The feel of coolmax chamois between their legs combined with the silky smooth feel of freshly shaved legs aided the excitment of journeys imminent start.
They are the the " Tools on Tour". A loose group of individuals
connected by bikes and the thrill of the chase.
Once a year the Tools ride from sea to summit and back to sea again. A road bike trip of
about 699 klms over 6 days. They climb the highest mountains of the craggy australian alps and indulge in many many downhill screamfests.
The route the tools take is Bega -Candelo -Wyndham -Cathcart -Bombala -Nimmitabel- Ando -
Cooma -the four mile -7 gates -Adaminiby and the big trout- Cabramurra and the Lupins- khancoban and the green valley- Geehi -Tom Groggin-Dead Horse Gap ( which as the picture proves is a misnomer)- Thredbo-Jindabyne -Berridale-Cooma-Nimmitabel-
Brown mountain- the bemboka pie shop -Bega-Tathra and the ocean.

Anyway, enough of the way we went and on to who went. The "Tools" are;
A sportstore model
A land repair scientist
A sea captain
A potentially struck off professional
A Tarmac engineer
A gorgonzola making machine engineer
A gardener
A former exotic dancer, drinks host and quiz contestant
A spy with a day time cover job as a bike riding machine
A trained pet with a licence to enter national parks

and as alaways

someone who had to stay home and go to work....

Day one involved 92.04 klms in 4 to 5 hours for the group with a two tough climbs and some headwinds and a lyrebird near miss.

Coffee at the famous Wyndham general store was the perfect morning tea.

did i mention the support ute....

Bombala put on a platypus show in the Bombala river just below the quaint country pub where the beer is cold and steaks all weigh at least a kilo

we went to bed tired but happy at maneroo lodge

Fitz's Challenge - Sunday 1st November, 2009

Text to be added