NQ 2 NT Journal Entry
Day 17
Wollogorang to ‘Kevvy' Camp
By: Mark "Sharky" Smoothy
Daily statistics
Cars sighted: 6
Distance: 140km's
Accumulated Distance: 2727 km's
Average speed: 18.5kmph
Riding time: 7:30
Air Temperature: 38 degrees
Humidity: 43%
Wind direction: Headwind all day
Another 140km day of red bull dusty corrugated roads did not start out on the best of terms with me today. I awoke tired and cranky and mentally down. The thought of another eight hours into a headwind on these tortuous roads did my head in before we even started. I warned Falcon how I was feeling and that my only way of dealing with it was to go into my own private world and suffer until I rode through it. I have been there before, through days and moods like this, so it was just a matter of hanging in there until I snapped out of it. This normally takes a good hour or two but today it took a full three hours. For three hours I grovelled and brooded and set a blistering average speed of 15kmph! To cover just 45km's in three hours is so depressing; at that speed you are looking at a nine to ten hour day in the saddle to cover 140km's. A lot of my friends would be surprised to hear that these endurance events do not come easily for me, but like my good mate Shano said; "Smoothy if it was easy every bugger would be doing it!" There is a side of me that hates it and a side that loves it. The highs and lows are like a drug that I need to take a few times a year to make me complete. Like I said before, if I wasn't doing stuff like this I would not get a chance to meet so many awesome people in my travels.
Anyway I am going to wrap up today's ride by saying that it was a long nearly eight hour day in the saddle, and while I did recover somewhat after that initial three hour horror stretch, it was day I was so immensely relieved to see the end of.
Once again I would like to make this journal entry a little different. I have come up with a couple of questions for each of the road crew and their responses will be today's story.
I would like to start with my sister Kim, who I must apologise to via this journal. When I asked her in Toowoomba to come on an all expenses paid vacation for two weeks and all she had to do was keep Kevvy company and help out a little as road crew, I guess I ‘accidently intentionally' left out a few minor details like it gets a little hot up here, the roads are a bit bumpy, your clothes may get a little dusty, you may get eaten by crocodiles, there is the odd annoying fly or three thousand that wish to rest on your face, you might get dengy fever from the mossie's, you have to sleep out in the open, there may be the odd night or four where you don't get to shower and you have to witness sights of cyclists shoving chamois cream down their pants. Like I said before, just a few minor incidentals.
Kim Smoothy: So Kim, tell our supporters what you think of your favourite and best and most caring brother now? But I thought Terry was my favourite brother? Seriously, if I had of got eaten by that 28 foot croc last night that silently slithered past the very flimsy tent that I was fearfully sleeping in, you would be my least favourite brother. But as my life was spared to live another day to see you reaching for that dreaded jar of chamois cream, I think to myself "What a wonderful world". So in concluding this answer to your question, it makes my day to see you smile and do something silly to make me laugh. I have always been very proud of you and think of you as my most favourite brother. PS, if you are reading this Terry, you are my most favourite brother.
Kim please tell us what have been the highs and lows for you this trip? My highs for this trip would be getting to spend time with you, seeing a part of Australia I have never seen before, watching the sun rise over the waterfall and not getting eaten by any crocs, yet!! My lows would have to be the heat, the flies, the never ending dirt roads and not getting eaten by any crocs!!
Shane Butler: Next I would like to ask Shano a couple of questions. Shane how hard is it going to be not going all the way to Darwin; you were on board last year for the cape trip and know what you are going to miss? This will be extremely hard knowing how exciting the finish of the cape trip was last year. Having this short taste of your Darwin trip has been a massive tease and I will miss the look on your crazy face when you cross that finish line at the Darwin wharf. I would just like to say good luck to you and ‘The Falcon' and the double K road crew. Have a great time and you know I will be thinking of you guys all the way to Darwin.
I am forever in your debt and this morning when I said I am going to miss you when you leave in two days time I was close to tears, thank goodness for sunglasses to hide my tears. I am supposed to be a big tough man hey and I don't wish to break this perfect illusion. Anyway buddy tell us your reasons for coming on board each year and will we see you for the Darwin to Broome leg next year? Well what can I say, but you owe me big time for all the fun and excitement we have had over the past four days. Fighting off all the crocodiles and the nasty, only found in the Northern Territory, Bum Bears! With regards to Darwin to Broome question we will just have to wait and see what next year brings and stop trying to put me on the spot! If I win the lotto (20 million dollars) Rita and I will definitely sponsor you for the entire leg around Australia and join you for sure.
Scott ‘Falcon' May: your turn my friend. I am truly honoured that you chose to accompany me this year. How hard has it been for you to ride with me being sick for a week and always having to temper back your pace on the bike for me?
Well far as you being sick - it's been a little bit of a worry. I know you know what's right and wrong about exercising while you're sick, and we've talked about that enough. We've kept your heart rate in the right zone and worked through that well in the most part. As far as the pace goes, I can't complain as I've had plenty of opportunity to run the "Falcon Freight Train Express" when we need to cook up the pace a little.
Falcon every time I have asked you on this trip about how you are feeling you have never once said you are not travelling well. Are you not finding the conditions tough or are you holding back a little? Please talk us through any bad moments you have had thus far?
Mate the conditions have been tough plenty of times. Plenty, really! We've had some long days when I've wondered are we really getting into camp before dark (and didn't!). I've got a bot-bot that feels like it will never recover, although in reality it will no doubt before we leave Darwin. The corrugations on these dirt days and the surprise sand traps that appear when looking for ways around the corrugations have shaken the top half of my body in a way I never expected. But I look at the wrist bands I wear that remind me why I do the things I do and realise I can't complain - I'm out doing what I've chosen to do.
Kevin Enchelmaier: Kevvy this is year three for the Smiddy Challenge and year two for the Smoothy around Australia quest. Please tell us what keeps bringing you back each year and what are the chances of your beautiful gorgeous darling wife Mary letting you off for another four weeks next year for Smiddy Challenge and then Darwin to Broome? Firstly, is the opportunity to see more of Australia off the beaten track. Secondly, a chance to be part of something that one day may be responsible for finding a cure for cancer. With regards to Darwin to Broome Mary wants to know is it only seven stages?
Kevvy what you do for Smiddy Challenge and for me each year, literally I have not the strength in words to explain how special it is what you do. Please tell us why you volunteer each year and explain to everyone about the camaraderie and friendships you form throughout Smiddy and the extended trip? Now that I am no longer working (retired 2 years) I have made a commitment to devote time to worthwhile community activities and the Smiddy Challenge is just one of the charities that I help out each year. As for the friendship side of your question through the Smiddy Challenge and through the extended trip the friendships I have formed have been amazing. Especially on the Smiddy Challenge where I am in contact with young and old who I now can call my friends. The biggest thing I would like to say that while it is such a sad thing that Adam Smiddy lost his life to cancer, I feel blessed to have been introduced to Maria and David Smiddy and I now consider them to be lifelong friends. They are the utmost in strength and friendship.
Gordon Butler: Gordon we are very much appreciative of you joining your Son Shano and helping out for the past few days. Can you tell us your thoughts so far on what we are doing and whether you have enjoyed the experience? It has been a great experience and it has been a pleasure to meet the riders and crew although they are all cracked in the head!
We have loved having you on board mate, for someone who is 76 years of age it is amazing how incredibly resilient and fit you are. I also noticed you can hold your own when it comes to downing the odd Jacobs Creek wine or three. What is your secret to your incredibly good health and amazing drinking capabilities? For my fitness it has just been a life of hard work, as for the red wine I was introduced to quantities far larger than what I am used to thanks to that crazy old bugger Kevvy and after last night I will never drink it again.
Well guys I hope you enjoyed this journal and the entertaining interviews. It is to be our last day on the dirt tomorrow into Borroloola and a short day at only 120km's. Whoo Hoo! The past 3 days of dirt have been some of the hardest physical and mental stuff I have ever done in my life, and I can't wait to see that beautiful tarmac road surface again.
To finish with; just a couple of facts of our energy expenditure and hydration each day per rider.
Fluid consumed in water, electrolyte, soft drink or beer each day: 10 litres each. It is just so hot and dry out here and nothing quenches our thirst, throats always dry, made dryer by the next shower of dust from a passing car.
Calories burnt: We are burning between 7 and 8 thousand calories a day, (equivalent to an Ironman each day) it is impossible to keep up with what our bodies are burning. We try, but fail, replacing just 5 to 6 thousand per day, so Falcon is disappearing before our eyes. I disappeared years ago!
Through all these journals you will notice we suffer a heck of a lot, but you know what? It is part of the journey and we asked for it. Don't feel sorry for us, just dig into your pockets and donate please.
• You can find Sharky's Everyday Hero site here
• You can find Falcon's Everyday Hero site here
Thank you kindly.
Sharky.