Settling in and starting the Bike Tour

The days leading up to Monday the 2nd of February were filled with packing the 5 bags we needed throughout the long extended stay. These bags included: the day pack which we were meant to take to most places and contained our lunch, journal, camera and other such things. The Residential bag which had some of our clothes which we needed when we got back from the cycle tour and went to our Wardli’s or cabins. The food tub, which had our food which should last us for the cycle tour. The expedition bag which had our clothes sandals and things which we needed while camping out during the cycle tour, and our fishing gear. Packing these things was very hard because I was also watching the Wimbledon final while doing so.

On Monday the 2nd of February the we, the Year 9 class of Mr Steer from PAC, got ready to board the bus which was due to go to Wambana in Point Turton. After saying our goodbyes to our families we boarded the bus. We were off. This trip was to last around three and a half hours. I was very sad that I was to leave my home, my mum, my brother and my dad for four weeks. My brother on the other hand was quite happy because he didn’t have to be annoyed for the next four weeks. My mum was kind of sad and so was my dad. I could tell though that I was going to be missing everyone for the next four weeks.

After this long journey filled of looking at the view, eating, sleeping, and talking we reached Wambana in Point Turton. Some of us were excited to be here while others like me weren’t as much as the 160-180 km bike ride loomed before us. But today was just an orientation day and was to help us familiarise ourselves with the facilities at Wambana. We weren’t allowed inside the Wardli’s or cabins that we were going to reside in after the bicycle tour yet, because it was an expedition and we were sleeping outside in tents and sleeping bags. Dinner was a rushed nachos with corn chips over the tranjia.

Tuesday came and we were told that this was only a trial ride so we would still be camping back at Wambana that night. As it turned out we spent every night at Wambana for the whole cycle tour. The people helping us out with the cycle tour were a company called “Bike About” which did mountain biking. They told us the normal safety rules of riding a bike such as keep to the left, wear a helmet and all that. If we failed to keep these rules we would have to lift up our bikes and walk a couple hundred metres. We set off and were to do a loop and return to Wambana for lunch. This was full of riding on Dirt roads which were tough to ride on. At one stage we had to carry our bikes because 2 of the people rode no handed for a bit. Apart from that all went well and we finally came back for lunch. The afternoon ride was also challenging especially the last bit which was very bumpy but we got through it and I didn’t even stop to walk up a hill. By the end of the day everyone had a sore bum and was tired from the day’s events.

The highs of the two days were the feeling of accomplishment after finishing the first bike ride and the Nachos that we had on Monday night.The lows of the day were that I had a sore bum and legs.