BIG SA Movember Tour

Stage41 Big SAM Tour (final stage) Langhorn Ck - Athelstone(home)
We made it, by lockdown, for me 3,000km of some of SA’s finest coast-line and Riverland, over 41 stages, nearly as many bakeries and 100’s of incredible South Australians and their stories. I feel full-filled!
It has taken a few days to pen the final entry to our Big SA Movember adventure, enjoying lockdown recovery and I wanted to get the words right.😜
Our red line has met back up finally after 47 days on the road at home, proving “the journey truly is the destination.“ Andy and I agreed at the final bakery meeting (Balhannah) that we had achieved our goals to raise awareness and funds to improve men’s health and that the Big SA Movember Tour had changed the face of men’s mental and physical challenges in South Australia.
Woke early despite all intentions to sleep in, with birdsong and sun streaming between the eucalyptus. Used the last of my milk powder in the last of a cereal, winding down food stores but couldn’t be bothered making coffee this am. Bid farewell to the awesomely lovely Trevor and Di and rolled out of our last stop towards home. Andy had cleared out early to find breakfast at the Langhorne Creek Store. And what a breakfast, joined him with a bacon and egg soft sour dough roll with latte. Happiness in a bun!🤗
This put us in a cheery mood riding through plump green vines and shady old growth Red Gums with no wind for a change! After about 20mins the vines gave way to yellow fields and a clearer view of our objective Mt Barker. Crystal clear climbing, a novelty after the SE marshland-drained plains and rolling ancient dunes of the Coorong. Raised a sweat climbing to Woodchester after breating in for heavy traffic the rewarding sight of Wistow. Heart-warming interaction with a colourful angel from the Women’s & Children’s on her way to essential work while I consumed a Lamb & Rosemary Pie and ice coffee with a Choc-Nutella macaroon(🥧🥧🥧.5).
Set off down a glorious descent through country lanes with traffic increasing towards Mt Barker. Hit a pot-hole and back tyre partially deflated but held as the goo tube re-sealed . Andy kindly rode onto Balhannah past his place in Nairne. We enjoyed our last guilt-free Bakery(🥧🥧🥧🥧) A 2Bakery day in near perfect riding conditions, it doesn’t get much better! Had a very enjoyable ride home after Daisy and I parted company. The climb out of Balhannah on Greenhill Rd then climbing some more, steadily up Carey Gully in the brilliant warm sunshine. A mandatory stop at the Uraidla Pub for refreshments and some fundraising then the legendary Tregarthen Rd roller coaster, on which I didn’t have to get off and walk. Then home down my favourite Adelaide Hills descent, Montacute from Ashton and Marble Hill. The 3rd time I found a grin erupting on my face that was difficult to remove. It was fantastic to see Buster and catch up with Ali and the boys at home in a timely manner before lockdown shut the curtain on this Cinderella story😉
It will be hard to get used to not having the riding routine of a new destination everyday to look fwd to and lose the refreshing simplicity of the life goal Andy, Nathan, Tom and I have experienced for the past few months. I hope I can carry some of the calm and purpose back into my life in Athelstone and for now recovery in lockdown. Signing out,
Mark
The Big SA Movember Cycling Team

https://au.movember.com/donate/find-results/

Stage40(penultimate) Big SAM Tour: Meningie - Langhorne Ck
Woke to the usual routine of 6-6:30am with the sun and the birds, breakfast and pack up with one exception. First flat tyre! I feared as much after running over a patch of caltrop the night before on the way to dinner. Changed the tube and wasted a cylinder with the tube bulging from the rim where I hadn’t slipped the tyre into the rim correctly. Last cylinder🙄
🤞for the last 2 days.
First 40k we sailed down the Princess Hwy in 2hrs with the wind at our backs for the first time in a while. “Delicious tailwind, you are so sweet!”🤗 But as we turned towards Wellington and the ferry across the Murray (Enjoyed the company of a couple of Harley bikies for the short ferry trip), it turned into a savage head wind that we endured for the rest of the day to Langhorne Ck. Not before we enjoyed the most unexpected curry from the Roadhouse in Wellington. We arrived hungry and I devoured a pastie, Butter Chicken and rice and downed a B/ginger beer, and an iso drink into a bidon for later and a Barista x2 Esspresso ice coffee. The curry had been frozen but tasted authentically homestyle Indian, delicious. Do try it, served by a lovely Indian couple, with friendly service.
Thanks Susngi! Fortified by the great food we forged into the headwind to the bemusement of several patrons at the roadhouse. Long straight stretches of road thru yellow, dry, barren fields with no roadside veg cover. The bland scenery was finally broken by the beige white-caps of the massive Lake Alexandrina and a few channels bedecked with Cape Barron Geese. “No I don’t want to take one home for the table Andy!” The only saving grace was that the gusting WSW 40-50kph head-cross wind was cool. We dealt out the remaining 30k and swapped 7-8ks shifts at the front till we started to see vines👍 Made Bleasdale Winery in time to sample some of their award winning wines. Liked the Adelaide Hills sourced Chardonnay and Sparkling Shiraz and bought a couple of each. Very historical winery, recognised many of the Potts family photos and historical b&w‘s. Apparently, after building and setting up the winery in 1850 Mr Frank Potts was not content to sit back but instead built 3 Murray paddle-steamers! He kicked off the career at 9, sailing the world for large stretches of time, arriving in SA with carpentry skills on the Buffalo in the First Fleet! But tell kids today!😆
Arrived happy and safe at the shady Langhorne Creek Stealth Campsite ($5/night) and met a fantastically friendly collection of campers. One couple, Trevor and Di, invited us to dinner and we shared food and conversation in their van. Time for bed, excited about the final stage of our trek tomorrow and quite awake but need to be alert for this ultimate leg.

https://au.movember.com/donate/find-results/

Stage 39 Big SAM Tour: Salt Ck, Coorong -
Meningie
Few spots of rain surprised us with 34 forecast. Despite the 300m walk to the toilet, enjoyed the morning stroll up the path cut through the pretty bush. Andy had kindly put on porridge, essential for what we had in front of us today, 65km of strong, hot headwind. Packed up quickly and got away a record 7:30am, pretty good for a Sun and camping rough. Traffic very light, wind 10-15kph head-right corner. At 9am it was like someone turned on a traffic switch and the heater fan. Wind steadily increased up to a gusting 50kph. Traffic all very considerate except one notable. He went flying by in a dark ute, pulling one of many race vehicles that had passed us heading to the Tailem Bend Track or Murray Bridge speedway we guessed. Decals on the flash trailer & car (all the gear no idea) leaving a trail of sparks and a groove in the road from a shredded tyre! The sound was extremely loud as he passed us within a metre. We followed the groove mark weaving all over the toad for a couple of k, fully expecting to find a wreck but instead found him finally changing the tyre.
Demoralising riding with little tree cover to hide from the persistent wind, the energy from porridge and an oat bar quickly dissipated. Saved by the water tank at Camp Coorong. Had a chat with Bill Rankin who told us that Ernie Dingo was expected shortly to film a TV episode of ‘Getting About’. Waited for a while but it wasn’t getting any cooler and the wind was building.
Out on the road, buoyed by extra water and chocolate bullets I broke out! Apparently a truck knocked down the 10km services sign for Meningie so you have to wait till 2k our to get the good news you’re approaching Meningie. When we finally rolled in headed straight for the(🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧) Bakery! Smashed a delicious Ned Kelly after slamming down a large iso drink, then a berry tart with caramel thickshake made it all ok!😜😋
After a few chats and bumping into the Ernie Dingo film crew and half the town golfers and bowlers buying lunch. The lovely lady behind the counter donated $50 straight from the till(boss) and related a sad story of the black dog taking one of her close family recently😪
With plenty of time up our sleeves checked in to CP (thanks for sponsoring us 1/2 price guys) set up tents, swam to cool off in Lake Albert, put on a massive load of washing and showered. Then went over to the beer tasting rooms across the road and unfortunately met the pizza chef on his way out, so booked the pub for later on. Spent a lovely couple of hours sampling beers and ciders and chatting with the owners Peter and Stacey of Coorong Brewing Co.
Went back to camp for a read and snooze then went out for a great dinner at the pub, last out with Daisy before we part company Tuesday and head home.

https://au.movember.com/donate/find-results/

Stage38 Big SAM Tour: Kingston - H/Plover Campground, Coorong NP
It rained overnight so, dried the tents out on the road, grateful for the sun that came out and no wind....yet. Got away early after the usual CP breakfast. Made good time on a quiet Princes Hwy1 admiring the newly restored ‘’Big Lobster" on the way past. Turned onto the Old Coorong Rd and finally found out what the ‘Granites’ were all about. Spirited chat and coffee! with 2 lovely couples prostate cancer survivor Doug Schmitt of Strathalbyn.
Could have chatted and laughed and swam at that beach all day but Salt Creek and the Coorong beckoned. We didn’t get more than 10k along the dirt before we pulled up alongside 5 youngns stopped on the side of the road in 2 utes. Turns out it was Jesse’s 25th birthday and we were offered cold beers, an arm wrestle (strong Frances farm-lad🙄) , beat me over 100m in bare feet down the gravel Rd🙄and he managed a wheelie on the Beast! Absolutely wonderfully friendly young country people and we had to drag ourselves away again!
The next stretch of dirt we made good time snaking through the spectacular start of the Coorong basin lakes heading for 32 Mile, 42 Mile, then Tea Tree Crossings. Stopped for a double wrap lunch at Wreck Crossing and totally spellbound by the beauty of these serene lakes, wisened old growth Tea Tree and Samphire flats.
Back out onto Hwy1 for a bit then ducked down the Coorong Loop Track to the campgrounds. Bit of a mix up over the campgrounds and ended up sharing Hooded Plover CG with 20 school girls on a canoe trip! But they’ve quietened down now😌
Awesome dinner of 2-course Uncle Bens with tuna, H/Beef Soup and a cup of tea with chocolate bullets! Caught an out of body sunset over on the Coorong side, Swans, Pelicans and Shell Ducks and Hooded Plovers.
What an awesome end to an awesome riding day. Good night!

Stage37 Big SAM Tour: Robe - Kingston
Short 48k hop up the coast after a spin around Robe’s artsy coves. Rode the coastal walk/bike path, chatted with a lovely old chap Gus in the Historical Customs House and walked through a couple of galleries on the way to meet Andy at the bakery. Consumed 2 with an ice coffee to confirm (🥧🥧🥧.5)
Uneventful ride with cool crosswinds through a few small towns Mt Benson and Wangolina to get to Kingston at ~3:30pm and checked into the CP. After setting up camp headed into town to get a milkshake, stumbled on the last gift I needed to pick up in same gift/sweet/milk bar, bought some groceries and cased town for dinner options. Came back in later for fish n chips after shower and snooze. Early night after trying our new game ‘bananagrams’

https://au.movember.com/donate/find-results/

Stage36 Big SAM Tour: Millicent - Robe
The Big SAM Tour is winding down in the home straight to Adelaide. But still throwing up some challenges! I don’t think I could have ridden the last 2 riding days (160km)of hot then cold headwinds back to back and most thankful to Peter Whiting and Millicent for hosting a rest day in between👍 We calmly walked around town, enjoyed a coffee at ‘McCourts’, shopping for dinner we cooked for Peter, Remembrance Day Ceremony, museum lunch at ‘2 Spoons’ and nearly fell asleep reading at the lovely Wattle Range Council Library!😆
Got underway early after bidding farewell to Peter in the mainstreet for a photo to stick it up the stuck up councillors that don’t want bikes in the Main Street?!🤔😳
The headwind picked up immediately and threw everything it had at us, 30-40km/nor-westerly gusting to 50km/hr all the way to Beachport. Managed to swap 10’s without tanking with a banana and an oat bar.
We could see a storm front dropping rain in our path and it caught us before we reached the port town😏
Stopped in at the newly arrived(3yo) bakery and I ordered 1st lunch, steak and pepperoni pie, vanilla slice(check photo and x2 coffees (🥧🥧🥧🥧)to wait the rain and dry off.
Lovely place to sit and watch people move past. Chatted with Rick and his wife about cycling and hit the fundraising hard in the Main Street.
Finally managed to drag ourselves away and took a few snaps of the beautiful seafront, jetty and bay as we cycled out along the Norfolk Pine-lined cycle path to the Robe turn-off. Hard slog for the first 1/2 of this leg with exposed open roads and a rude headwind but polite traffic. Grabbed some food of our regular fave, flave tuna, cheese slices, cherry toms and cucumber wraps just after the Clay Wells Rd junction.
The second part supplied more roadside veg as wind breaks to help us to Robe by ~3:30pm, checked into Lakeside TP and set up our tents. Back in town Andy grabbed a coffee from the Agreeable Spoon and I grabbed a beer paddle from Loophole tasting rooms adjacent the Caledonian. Delish 1/2 Strength and got a taste of delicious mead!😄😁Met heaps of lovely folk from Adelaide, Balaklava, Iowa and Verona! Spruked Movember and handed out cards👍
Picked up a bit of shopping and headed back to Lakeside to shower and get ready for dinner. We decided on Chinese for something a bit different after finding the seafood shop shutting up. Good call, hearty chicken and sweet corn soup, Mongolian Pork and Oyster Chicken with a large serve of Special Fried Rice hit the spot.
Rode back to Lakeside again and sat with few other lovely van tourers that shared a sad but powerful story around the combustion heater with a cup of tea and dark black chocolate Kit Kat. Time for bed , signing out.... M

https://au.movember.com/donate/find-results/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7YeVUzigB8&feature=youtu.be

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Stage35 Big SAM Tour: Pt Mac - Millicent
What a hard day at the office, hardest next to Stage2’s hot headwinds but fitter now and flatter today. All the same quite challenging long straight roads (Kongorong-Tantanoola Rd) into gusting hot 50-60k/hr head winds.
We took off from Pt Mac early after a bit of fundraising at my friend's motor home camp and talking with a few folks on the bike path into town. An older couple from Geelong opened up their 15yo grandson had just taken his life that week with promising football career in front of him. Spent some time talking with them about that and listening to his story. Another local Libby was cycling a rusty mountain bike and proudly recommended the town with great facilities for youth and full of life describing her 30+ local social group weekly catchups.
Rode out to Cape Northumberland, Southern- most point of SA for some spectacular coastline and interesting maritime history. Slipped along some beautiful limestone compacted calcrete unsealed roads.... “Smooth white ribbons of shimmering white,
listening to Andy’s navigational games of sh*te!”!😝😜 Met an oncoming hay-bale road train and experienced white out for a while. Should look good on the GoPro footage! Some roads had some pine/native veg windbreaks but for the most part it was open fields of waving pasture grass into an unrelenting 50-60km/hr, hot, head to cross wind. We took a break at 35k and hunkered down behind some poplars in a field just to get out of the wind, ate snacks and rehydrated. Have 1 bidon left to last to Tantanoola.
Swapping the lead sometimes every 2km as the wind is so strong. Made Tantanoola to find 4 important things: 1. Rainwater tank with good drinking water, 2. shade for lunch and the PO sold 3. Coke and 4. ice cream!!!
Our guardian angel of Tantanoola dispensed a 1.2 L bottle of Coke and two Magnums then 2 more lemonades to wash it all down. + of course the mandatory tuna wraps!😜
We pedalled off reluctantly down Railway Tce (along the disused railway line- this should be a designated bike path, footnote1) the onto the Princes Hwy, very busy and hot. Steamed into Millicent with all that sugar firing the engines!😆
Rode into town and found a cafe (2 Spoons)for iced latte and the swimming lake for.... the obvious, in that order. The water was so clear, cool and refreshing and we chatted with a few locals and many Mount folk that had made the 1/2 hr trip as Mt Gambier’s public pool was closed for renovations?
We watched the storm front stealthy arrive on the scene and so got ready to meet up with our warm showers contact, Peter. Great host, interesting student of archeology and 41 yo bloke working as a town planner at the the Millicent Council.
Went out for Schnitzel night at the Mad Penguin after a warm shower and cold beers in the pub after😜👍
What an awesomely challenging yet rewarding day. Good night.

https://au.movember.com/donate/find-results/

A few photos from Stage 35 (Port Macdonnell to Millicent).