Commuter crew and Mike D going strong! BigAdz just about to roll into falls creek and tall tom crowley coming up to bogong. Exciting stuff! Hopefully I can catch some people arriving on Sat or Sun.
Thanks for the update!
Yeah, the fully pro bike mechanics are impressive - MikeD and Ollie.
I’m also impressed with Nigel Paroissien, he started early (on the 21st I think) but being very regular and ticking the ks off. No easy feat especially doing it with his own self, must be a bit lonely some days. He’s 150ks from home, might sleep in his own bed tonight.
Yo! Yo! Yo! All is well gang. I had a shitty day 1. Mega cramps in the legs about 70km in and then went downhill from there up until about the 100km mark where I had a lie down and eat some drugs. Pretty shitty way to start. I was pretty over it on Day 1, but after some food at Adaminaby decided to push on and had a few rad days in nature. Headed back to Canberra today, kinda thinking we might resupply back in Canberra and ride some of the attack of the Buns route as Mikel still has plenty of time off work. We’ll figure it out by this evening.
Rad - keep the adventure going! head to the coast.
Have just been speaking to Adam and trying to help out with some logistics. His current view:
Is he having issues? Or are you just doing a morale catchup?
Looks like those trails might be a bit dicey with all the extra bikepacking gear.
Just calculations for how many days ahead. No issues. He is all good.
Groomed trails are probably a lot better than some of the other stuff they have been riding.
Ouch. Been talking to Adam and he’s thinking about bailing. I’m trying to encourage him to keep going - he’s invested a lot in this in the last few months. He’ll sleep in Bright tonight - maybe sleeping on it will help.
Sounds like a lot of people have (bike)packed it in with the upcoming forecast of apocalyptic weather.
Sensible decisions all round IMO
The entire Tour of Bright this weekend has been canned, weather up there is supposed to be heinous.
mike said he was planning on pushing on past the last river crossing late today/early tmrw when i checked in with him by text earlier…
We changed up the game for Hunt this year after Gypsy had some misadventure on day 1, I didn’t realize I’d passed him before the 100km mark where he was resting crampy legs at Mt Clear with Mikel. I was 20min past Adaminaby when I sorted my phone and got the situation. I rolled back to hang with the guys. We got a (huge) pub meal and made an agreement to push on the next day and enjoy all that the backcountry had to offer. We slept well with the sound of rain on the pub’s tin roof.
Day two we scooted down the road and crossed the Eucembene river as we caught the edge of a big storm. As we rolled on the elation grew inside us, welling and fit to burst. We climbed higher and rode along the ridge listening to the rumbling angry storms that kept menacing the high plains below us.
Accompanied by Mikel’s masterfully curated music playlist we continued on, as we took the full brunt of a storm front we approached Mackays hut for lunch and a coffee.
After lunch the skies were blue and the sun fierce, several hours of exceptional riding and pushing later we passed some new huts and met up with faniliar ground as we hit last years route.
Last year I rolled along Grey Mare track in pain and misery, this year I rolled along with my heart singing.
As Grey Mare hut came into view the crunch of our tyres was interrupted by an angry peal of thunder as another storm came in from the west.
Spurred on we started the first of the two big pushes to get to Valentines hut, not as bad as last year for sure, especially with yhe views of the stark white snow gum skeletons against the battleship grey skies.
Valentines came into view as the storm threat passes us by. We swam and washed ourselves, then settled in to fishing. Gypsy proved tenacious and hooked two hungry trout which we ate roasted and slathered in wasabi and mayo.
Heading up to the hut I was startled by a lone hiker and his Hawaiian shirt, an anachronism in the bush. He wasn’t keen to join the party and bunked down in the hut at about 5pm.
We started a fire outside and ate and watched the sunset over the mountains and the river.
A warm and terrible night’s sleep followed as the sea to summit sleeping mats had a frictionous arguement with the wooden bunks of Valentines hut.
Next day we accidently slept in, and got our shit together to roll out at a reasonable hour.
Schlink’s track was a treat, smooth and fast with expansive views and great huts. Not to mention Mikel’s choice of nostalgic Queensland Australiana tunes.
At Guthega we had a chat with some workers trying to get an idea of our re-supply and where we could procure beer. We turned up the hill and headed to Perisher to grab some supplies, our legs giving us very little on the relentless climb.
Perisher did not supply us with what we needed (apart from a patch of grubby snow, the first snow for QLD local Mikel!). No food despite the kiosk which was reported to be open. A re-assess was in order. We were excited to get up Koszci, but with very little food and sore legs it started to look like not a great idea.
After re-rigging the now tangled Tenkara line, we head off towards Island Bend campsite for a fish and a rest.
The ride down was a blast after a quick roadside meal of miso and udon.
We swam, fished, napped ans watched another storm swinf north missing us.
Next and last day, we climbed out of Island Bend and back on to the road, Gypsy and i gave it some sauce up the hill, he won, competitive little bugger.
The bomb down to Jindabyne was exceptional, long and sweeping. We didn’t touch the brakes except for myself who detoured at the thredbo river for another fish. They weren’t hungry, I was landing my fly right on their fishy noses and they lazily scooted off.
Jindabyne filled us with chips, baked goods and a pre-lunch long neck.
Zoe the wonderful back country rescue pro drove the truck out and picked us up. We made the right decision, we wanted to enjoy our experience rather than crush ourselves being already at least a day behind scedule and lacking in food. Gypsys legs were still having cramp issues and Mikel and I were pretty cooked.
Many pleasant surprises for me this trip, back was fine, legs surprisingly good, just slow and mental state was great the whole way through. We were not defeated!
Sorry for shitty editing, didn’t sit down to write that, it kind of just blurted out
Just added to the sense of excitement. Sounds like an awesome time
What’s the report on the new bikes?
Such a good time. Couldn’t have worded it better myself, Keith. Cheers! Gypsy and I are gearing up for some hut action out of Canberra the next two nights. Red wine and good time.
Good effort blokes! As long as you had an adventure and came back with a smile on your face. Much respect 
F**king awesome. 27.5*2.4" tyres in Jagungal was 11/10!!
Just went an bought a shitload of food & a cask of wine. Me and Mikel are setting out into the Brindabellas in the next few hours and will stay in some local huts over the next few days. The ride might have changed direction but we are still on our adventure.
Very sorry to have missed Mikel’s masterfully curated playlists this year
Seb: just bang Gangajang on repeat and you’ve got the gist