Greetings from Benalla at 2:00pm. Ride knocked off and we're sitting in front of the TV watching the Velentino and Max Show (AKA the Australia 500cc Bike GP)....Life is as sweet as a nut. [What a finish !!]

Today was a day of 135km. About as long as yesterday. Less Hills. But made fearsome by one monster gradient. Grown men were crying at the top. The smart ones got off and walked. Some pictures are provided at the website. Note the almost vertical cliffs cunningly coated with tarmac and road signs (saying Benalla - just round the corner)

They also did something similar with the roads leading into Benalla. Many bumps. Tarmac coated paddocks hammering sore pullocks.

A day made memorable by Al Presidente not riding off any cliffs or flattening any small buildings located in the viscinity of the road.

However, however ..... let us not forget this day becuase ... and let it ring from the rafters, let it be shouted from the rooftops. PB that mountain goat. The Hammer King. He who is invisible 30 seconds from the start. He who will forever punish us for calling him Poppa Smurf and an Old Fart. PB whose face has not been seen on any cycle shots, so fast is he....

Well folks, PB has finally been visited by fate. PB has now become APB.

PB might call it the curse of Murphy. But but and but, PB will have to admit that. By his own hand. He got lost. Not little lost. Not slightly lost. Lost BIG TIME!!!. PB rode an extra 50 kilometres to get himself out of the geographic hole he dug for himself. We thought of putting out an APB for our PB. But that would have taken time. Would have been interpreted that we were waiting for him..

The mighty have fallen. Altho I might admit he looks pretty chipper after all of that. Still mighty really !! Im typing this quietly in case I annoy him....

I can hearing him talking outside. Right now as I type. Still making excuses...

Now more of the ride. In essence, a slowly building tempo with the crescendo at the vertical slopes of Mertons Gap Lookout. Then a leaurely 80 clicks home . Punctuated by a very pleasant lunch at Euroa. Then Violet Town. (who thought of that name?) Another memorable moment was coming into Benalla. Drafting the Boxster. The last 10 odd kays executed at 40 clicks after 120. We were awesome...

Another dimension : The Nether end . A painful part of the anatomy. AKA the saddle contact area. We had 4 hours sitting on this sorry part of the body to reflect in depth. And perform one of the more common methods of male bonding. Rock Hudson and Liberache jokes abounded. Mine felt like it had won the Guiness Book of Records record for non stop Musical Chairs.

Some news on the team members

Alistair. As above, survived. Played the team captain role well. Rode with us all of the way. Onya Al. Also worth to mention is Als new defensive style of riding. He walked over the wooden bridge today,whilst we rode. He navigates gravelly bends on the 25 tooth cog. The model of probity.

Clive. Clive of India is at his conquering and rampaging best. He looks strong and smooth. Nothing like the shadow of a man on Beach Road Saterdays. The hills ? He laughs at them. He spits in their face. Mere bumps occasionally inducing a token gear change.

Phil : Phil is still looking quietly confident. No big boy antics. No acceleration when the female riders hive into view. Just that quiet confidence of a man who knows he has done the hard yards BEFORE the ride and awaits the moment of truth at Thredbo. When all the prentenders will be unmasked. When tears will flow openly down the faces of brave warriors.

Waz : Your author feels like he has gone down the road and purchased the paper. Did I really ride a bike today? 130 what? Kilometers? Surely not. Pah!! Serve me the big stuff. Throw it at me in excess. The student of La Bomba Tomba is ready for the main game. I am ready. I feel like jumping out of my skin....... Bring it on !!!

Stuart. Our Porsche driver is having a horror trip. Not only one complaint of sore right wrist changing gears. We also have a report of leg strain engaging the clutch. He is starting to walk with a noticable limp.

The Porsches continue to add lustre to our presence. The Boxster has motivated our Motel Proprietor (a Porsche Fan who hosts the Porsche Racing team) to provide extra towels, supplies and luandry facilities. We are walking on a porsche lined cloud. Doors are opening left right and centre.

I sign off now offering you the following vision. Of boys doing what they love second best. Cleaning cars and bikes and sucking down the amber fluid. I should be keeping this secret and say we are sore and miserable BUT we are having sooooo much fun.

...There could be some serious debt repayment when we get home.

Did I mention Lisa today? Nah better not...

Hasta la Vista

ps : to see the latest news and pics go to
http://au.oocities.com/bbchallenge2001/index.html

or go to the Bandits Mega Site
http://www.baysidebandidos.com

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