6 7 8 km

Sure was great to arrive at Koora! An easy day today and a beaut time with the Koora team. 21 kids and staff and parents of 8. Thanks for the barbie folks.

Hey, we even hit the headlines here!!! Thanks Kerrie, Corrie, Jean, Martin and Norma.

Real nice bunch of kids at Koora. Teachers must be proud of them.

Here's the rider with the most awesome roadie (support person.) Thanks Fay. We both taught here in 1983-85. (My daughter corrected me - she was in grade 3, 4 and 5 maybe....)

That room behind me is a special room (ask Kerry.) It happened to be where Bill Harrison (my inspector) conducted the "summary" after my 3rd list inspection. (Was it 3rd list Al?) I remember it well. It was successful and enabled me to apply for and ultimately get the principal's job at Cooma with 300 kids, starting in 1986.

New lid, walkway etc. Well done.

So, 678 km. Goodooga to Koorawatha. The bureau of meteorology advised me not to cycle on Saturday 16 Oct. Good decision. Eight stages were completed. This was my 20th Bike for Bibles ride. I'll give you a total raised for this ride later, but it's over $5,000. Not too late to contribute if you'd like to. Email me on keasty446@gmail.com

One thing I forgot to mention - we didn't take into account 2 important things:

1. Borenore Field Days (hence heaps of traffic) and
2. Hay fever..... Fay got a good dose of it. Sorry about that Fay.

BIG RIDE STARTS THURS

The Keasty's Border to Border Bike for Bibles Ride commences Thursday 13 May.

Everybody looks pretty happy in these pix. Beth Robertson (above) will join Graham Brown and I at Lockhart after missing the first three days.

Fay is a very important part of the operation. She drives the Pajero which tows the avan. She will follow us each day with flashing lights and signage. She's also got the tucker and MY BED!

Graham and Beth have each done quite an amount of long distance cycling. Their resumes are very impressive. I've done 18 BFB rides, each one being a weeklong journey except for Perth to Sydney. I'm raising money for projects selected by the Bible Society:

• Bibles for Aussie school kids
• Bibles for the Australian Defence Forces
• Audio Scriptures for Indigenous Australians
• Ethiopian Pastors' Book Sets

My goal is $5,000. (I have another ride scheduled for October.... but more about that later.)

* * * * * * * * * * * *

If you want to sponsor me, send me an email... keasty446@gmail.com

* * * * * * * * * * * *

So, on Thursday, Browny and I will "set sail" from Niemur where I taught back in 1966-67. It's 20 miles out of Moula (Moulamein) which is about 100 km west of Deni (Deniliquin). I figured we should leave the place at 9 am for the start of our ride. The night before we're staying at "Farnley" where the Redfearns live, just outa Moula. Thanks George and Linley and Peter. Hopefully I'll post some pix when we reach Deni.

MULGA BILL RIDE

Somehow I missed out on putting this photo in! Sorry about that. There's Jeff from Dubbo and Russell and his daughter Syan from Ourimbah. Great that they can still smile after riding in the rain and getting soaked!

Pam and Luka arrive back from their Bike for Bibles ride at Yeoval. This was a huge ride for Pam! There were 22 riders involved in the BFB rides on Sat and Sun. Not in the photos: Adam and his 2 girls, Mark & Rosie from Bathurst and Ian from Dubbo.

Deb and her two boys rode both days. Owen (smallest) rode 27km Sat and 20 Sun, while Deb and Logan did 40 km Sat and 20 km Sunday. A great effort.

Graham and Graeme (you can work out which one is which) managed to ride in the rain on Sunday. Didn't seem to worry either of these guys. One's from Nowra and one's from Narrabri.

Jim (Sydney) and Levi (Nowra) look a bit spent! But they enjoyed it all the same.

Well done Joshua and Heidi. Josh had a quicker ride on Sat than he did on Sunday. A great family day on Sunday. Josh is the other half of Pam and Josh from Parkes.

Janet and Andrew came from Cudal for the ride. They drive a Pug! Janet is saddling up for the BFB weeklong ride in October where they'll ride from Goulburn to Cooma, all around that area and then back to Goulburn.

Geoff, Grahame (note correct spelling) and Justin the legend from Orange. Great to have Geoff ride as he is usually a road support bloke. We stayed at the Baptist Church, Yeoval. Thanks folks. The church made a generous donation to BFB as well.

As per the previous couple of years, there were hundreds of people (including kids) who rode in the Mulga Bill ride today - Sunday 26 July - despite the rain!

Last but not least - the important people - our roadies. They support us as we ride and they feed us when we stop (and they even babysit a bit too.) It's that simple. Lyn, Marie, Mary and Fay. Thanks ladies for the great work you did over the weekend to support us riders.

Jim Blaxland is the ride coordinator. If you're interested in a BFB ride or want to know what rides are available in 2010, just contact Jim - 02 9525 8158 or J.BX@bigpond.com Great!

BIKE FOR BIBLES NEARLY READY

Here we are ready to depart from Narrabri for Cairns. The BFB ride goes from Cairns on 5 April to Melbourne on 2 May. Wow!! 3,700 km. I'm a support driver and Fay is a food roadie! Thanks to those who have supported us.


This is the beast (XR6) that I'll be driving. Each vehicle will tow a trailer with food or bikes or luggage. I have plenty of CDs and stories on CD.

Alan will be driving his Prado (and towing a trailer). He's done quite a number of BFB rides now.

Here's the RIDE LEADER! The CAPTAIN! He's just relaxing before the big event!! Jim has organised heaps of bike rides over twenty plus years. He is now employed by the Bible Society to plan and execute rides! And he does a great job.

You've gotta wear the right cap on the right day... see following photos!!

Don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight.... so excited! And we're just going from Narrabri to Cairns (over 3 days).

BIKE FOR BIBLES RIDE

Bike for Bibles is under the banner of the Bible Society.

Fay and I are heading off on a Bike for Bibles ride (BFB) from Cairns to Melbourne. It's a bit over 3,000 km (nearly 2,000 miles).

After having been on about 15 rides since 1994 I've decided to go as a roadie this time. That means I'll drive behind a team and be ready to provide them with their daily needs such as water, pump, spare tube, sunscreen, fruit and lollies! Fay is going as a food roadie. That means she will be part of the team that organises the tucker - brekky, morning tea and lunch. Evening meals are usually looked after by local churches as we travel through the towns. Sometimes we go to an RSL or Leagues club for the evening meal.

There will be about 15 riders and 7 support crew. We even have a blind lady riding this trip (yes, she's on the back of a tandem!)

So, we're busy getting things organised because our house has been sold!!! Settlement is on 22 May. Wow! Yep, looks like we're gonna depart Dubbo.

I'll put the schedule on this blogsite shortly. Departs Cairns 5 April and arrives Melbourne 2 May.

THREE NEAT CRITTERS

This guy hangs around our caravan down at Cudmirrah, along with a bunch of rels.

This bloke, Owen Cooper, 8 mnths old, is a super happy bloke. And a bit noisy!

This fella, LJ, is pretty neat (more ways than one eh Bren?) Here was a quiet moment he shared with Pooh - a gift from Great Marg back in October 2006. He's now 2 yrs and 5 months. (LJ and Pooh actually. I incorrectly had him down as 2 yrs 7 months... guess he's just so mature for his age!!)

Been busy checking out houses down the south coast. Seems there has been some serious interest in our house in Dubbo. We'd better check things out. See blog below...

Next week I'll fill you in on the coming Bike for Bibles ride - Cairns to Melbourne in April.

SUMMER 08/09

Mike from Newton Iowa came to visit us for a few days. He sure enjoyed the surf. Not a lot back where he came from!

Ian and his tribe popped in for a few days. Great to have he and Rozzy and the 3 Muskateers.

LJ is normally quite clean around the face.... but with ice cream, all rules are broken!

The lovely E.R. enjoyed a break from the English winter to appreciate our summer. Great to see her once again.

Well, summer’s been spent so far mostly at our Retreat. It’s a small caravan and annexe in a caravan park at Cudmirrah, not far from Sussex Inlet. For any O/S folk, we’re talking 2.5 hours south of Sydney. We’re here for the best part of 2 months (Dec and Jan).

It’s the cricketing season too so we watch a fair bit of cricket (I'll report on Hayden's retirement shortly) as well as wander on the beach and swim in the lovely clean surf. Other critters around are roos, possums, bandicoots, colourful parrots and a regal sea eagle or two.

Christmas in Australia is a time when families congregate. We have been fortunate to have daughter Deb and Brendan and their 2 kids here, son Jeremy, our mate Ian and his family and now young Mike from Iowa. Of course not all together! We missed daughter Peta and her Jon and also brother Bill who lives in Canada.
We’ve been kicked out of Dubbo by Josh and Belinda! Actually they got married and wanted somewhere to live for a few months. So, it seemed like a good idea to let them have our house. That’s why we’re here in Cudmirrah and will wander round the countryside for a few months.

BIG PROBLEM: I’ve committed myself to do the BFB bike ride in April this year from Cairns to Melbourne…. 3,000 km (nearly 2,000 miles). I should be doing serious training. I’ll give you an update on what’s happening in this regard shortly. UPDATE: I'm going as a roadie now.
Heading to Sydney next week as a volunteer at the NSW Tennis Open at Homebush. 10-17 January. Then we thought we’d go visit some places further south eg Ulladulla, Batemans Bay, Narooma.
If anybody wants us to come visit, just give us a yell. We’ll see what we can do. (Hope Wendy doesn’t give a call from Perth eh!)

[As expected, Wendy did give us a yell!. Dunno if we can get there at this stage Sis.... will keep you posted.]

BIKE FOR BIBLES 25th ANNIVERSARY

THREE CYCLISTS SENT TO HOSPITAL!

VETERAN CYCLIST REQUIRES OPEN HEART SURGERY!

The headlines are somewhat alarming – but we could also have written:

FORTY CYCLISTS DO 25TH ANNIVERSARY RIDE. Or

$60,000 GOAL FOR LITERACY DEVELOPMENT AT INDIGENOUS COLLEGE.

Maybe: KEAST HERDS CYCLISTS FROM SYDNEY TO MELBOURNE DESPITE WEATHER, MISHAPS AND TERRAIN.

From 6 – 13 December I was a roadie for the 25th Anniversary ride of BIKE FOR BIBLES. Fancy that! 25 years ago Bob Forest, (see first photo) his son and a friend rode from Sydney to Melbourne. They raised about $2,000 for the purchase of Bibles through the Bible Society. This ride expects to raise up to $60,000 to support Wontulp-Bi-Buyu indigenous college at Cairns in Northern Queensland. The rides over the past 25 years have raised in excess of ten million dollars for literacy development throughout the world. While there are rides in other countries (eg Canada and India) most rides have taken place in Australia.

Being a roadie for the A team meant driving behind about 12 riders (with signage and flashing lights) and supplying them with water, nibbles, track pump, encouragement, wet weather gear and other maintenance necessities. (see 2nd photo) There were two other teams of riders, a tandem and 2 recumbents. About 30 riders. It took us 8 days. Yes, there were 3 casualties: one with a heart condition, one with a damaged shoulder joint and one with a damaged left elbow. Those 3 were unable to continue riding. Riders and roadies came from Ulladulla (1), Dubbo (1), West Wyalong (1), Narrabri (1), Orange (1), Port Macquarie (1), Melbourne (3), Nowra (4), Newcastle (4), Canberra (4), Central Coast (5) and Sydney (18).

Distances each day between 80 and 160. At each place we visited we would stay at a school or a church hall or a church or a sports hall. The roadie pair provided breakfast, morning tea and lunch. Evening meals were provided by local church communities mostly and sometimes by an RSL club.

Jim Blaxland did a fantastic job (as usual) in organising the ride. He is the ride coordinator with the Bible Society. It was great to have Bob Forest (one of the original riders) have a cameo role by riding on day 1 and day 7. Bob is over 70. There was a tribute given to Bob and his wife Betty at the end of the ride.

It was my first BFB ride as a roadie. I did enjoy it although I managed to sneak off when we reached Benalla and have a 21 km ride using one of the bikes. Whether I am able to ride again or not…. God only knows. I have indicated a desire to do the Cairns to Melbourne ride commencing April 2009. It’s over 3,000 km. Time alone will tell. And yes, I will be seeking sponsorship next year to the tune of $6,000! Gonna support me? Again?

Thanks to all those who have been my support team both this year and in past years. Much appreciated. I’m glad to have made a small difference in the lives of others less fortunate than myself with your help. I rode in the Mulga Bill ride in July, the Dubbo Coffee Shop Easy Ride in September and then roadied in December for this 25th Anniversary ride. I have been truly blessed.

SPRING IS HERE

John O'Brien was the mastermind behind the Aust Veterans Cycling Club Championships held near Dubbo in late Sept. They were extremely well organised. Congrats John and team. 

Here's Stuart leading a group on the road race for his age group. Dubbo riders did very well. 

Jo and her man Stuart got married on Friday 3 October out at the zoo. Our tandem, Sundae (Banana Split) was asked to attend for photos. They all looked pretty sharp. Jo looked great and even rode the tandem! Yes, in that gear!
It was great to have the world's greatest dentist (Phil) and his lovely wife Pam come to visit. We went to Gil to see Manly defeat Storm and then attended some live theatre.... Bethany Simons in the weather and your health. What a great show. Well done Beth. You are magic! But then I knew that beforehand. Phil and Pam really enjoyed the show. Phil and I managed to get some tennis in despite the rain over the weekend. They're now off to Nelson Bay. We're due to head to Wagga, then Sydney, then Nelson Bay. Back in a couple of weeks. Thanks for the loan of your computer Dicko. 

BIKE for BIBLES - DUBBO

Riders came from Macksville, Armidale, Sydney and Central Coast

Our daughter Deb and her #1 son Logan on Old Dubbo Rd.

Peter Halyburton from Energy and Management Systems

Logan Jack was the youngest in the team. Nearly 2.

Nine riders, two very important support personnel and two kids under 2 comprised the Bike for Bibles team. It was the DUBBO COFFEE SHOP EASY RIDE. A lot of fun as we raised money for Wontulp-Bi-Buya College near Cairns. This college equips Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to reach out to their communities with God's word using local forms of communication and language. We've also managed to get to quite a number of coffee shops during the week. Daily rides have been between 40 km and 90 km. I've personally raised in excess of $1700 for this cause. Peter Halyburton (above) was one of my major sponsors. Thanks Pete. He now lives in Newcastle.

BIKE for BIBLES RIDE

The DUBBO COFFEE SHOP EASY RIDE commences on Monday 8 Sept. Monday through Saturday.

Rides will start at Wahroonga Park on Macquarie Street at 9:30 am. Provision will be made for cyclists who wish to do a few less or a few more than the scheduled daily target! Here's the rough scenario:

Mon 8 Sept Town Exploration 20 km Olive Grove Coffee Shop
Tue 9 Sept Basher Loop 40 Grapevine
Wed 10 Sep West Dubbo, Minore and Zoo 55 West’n Plains Zoo
Thur 11 Sept Old Dubbo Road & Offshoots 67 Lazy R Winery
Fri 12 Sept Dubbo – Eumungerie 86 Eumungerie
Sat 13 Sept Wambangalang 60 Wambangalang

That probably got all mixed up! Have to get Rodney to help me with tables.

Money raised this year goes towards the Wontulp-Bi-Buya College in Cairns. This college equips Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to reach out to their own communities with God’s word using local forms of communication and language. The Bible Society provides funding for the employment of a Theology Lecturer.

We have 9 confirmed cyclists plus support personnel. It looks like it's gonna be a great week.

MULGA BILL RIDE

Graham Brown, myself and Andy Baltaks

Team leader, Jim Blaxland, rider Alan Melmoth and roadie Geoff.

A great time was had by all! Though it was damn cold I can tell you!

Distances ridden each day were: Sat - 87, Sun - 25, (that was before the actual BFB ride), Mon - 75, Tue - 104, Wed - 103, Thur - 108, Fri - 75 (most in the rain) and finally Fri - 108.

It seemed that each day was just a bit harder than the day before. Though Friday was only 75 km, the consistent rain made riding less than ideal. Saturday was the hilly day from Canowindra to Yeoval. Other towns where we stayed were Parkes, Condobolin, West Wyalong and Grenfell. The local churches that opened their doors for us and often provided sumptuous meals were greatly appreciated. Wow! Underfloor heating in the Uniting Church at Canowindra! Two of the days - Wednesday and Thursday, were VERY cold. For me, it meant I rode for three or more hours with no feeling in my toes!

Money raised this year goes towards Wontulp-Bi-Buya College in Cairns. It equips Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to reach out to their own communities with God's Word using local forms of communication and language. This is an initiative of the Bible Society.

What was a real thrill for me was to cycle with Andy Baltaks and Graham Brown, two blokes I went to Wagga Teachers College with 46 years ago!!!

PS Late News (13 Aug): Deb (#1 daughter from Sydney) is on track to come to Dubbo to be part of the Bike for Bibles DUBBO COFFEE SHOP EASY RIDE from 8-13 Sept. Great news. She anticipates riding with Logan in the trailer behind the bike (not an easy task.... I tried it!!) I'll give more details about that ride in a day or so.