Day 2 (Part 2)

DAY 2, STAGE 3: DEAD HORSE GAP CLIMB.

Here we are early in the climb. I'm at the back in case anyone falls off and I have to push them back up.

What climb? Here I am looking very relaxed. Smile on my face. Enjoying the scenery and the SERENITY.

Wasn't long till the bunch started to break up. Someone told Pete McDonald to "p.ss off" and he did. Brendan Ingram lifted and tried to go with Pete. Matty Lucas hit off the front in an effort to get accross to Brendan. Back further Spongee and Scotty Callum working together. Further back, Robbie, Higgo, Sorbs and Jacko. Where am I? Well when I saw this break happening I had to immediately stop so that I would be able to capture it all on camera.

In a selfless act, I abandoned the climb which I was enjoying so much and after a quick drink, threw the bike on and took to the car to capture the action. It was obvious that no one needed my assistance anymore to push them back on.

Here's Jacko, Sorbs and Slapper early in the climb.

Little Slapper, didn't stick around too long with the lads and his lifted his tempo and set about getting across to other riders further up the climb. Here Slapper gives us a good view of his hear rate monitor strap. Everyone was doing that for some reason.

Poor Jacko. There he is right down the road. After Slapper left him, Sorbs did too.

Jacko was happy as Larry however. Especially with the Royal treatment he was getting from the support crew. He was big smiles after I gave him a biddon to wet himself down with and he passed his sunglasses through for a clean. In his own words, he was a "New Man" after he put those glasses back on

Here's Spongee lifting tempo and setting about getting back Brendan and Matty. Scotty "Darth" Callum is doing what he has been trained to do by the Evil Lord Concey. Yes Darth Callum, Concey's young apprentice, who was seduced to the Darkside, is sucking wheel on his vile death Masil just like his master. There's a couple of "Hubbards" sitting on the side of the road on the guard rail. In fact they do look a lot like Tommy Patton and Big Bird Murdoch.

Matty ended up getting across to Brendan and the two rode up to the summit together. Here they are proudly displaying their heart rate monitor straps and a bit of "Pecs".

Where was our resident State Hill Climb champion and soon to be Credit Agricole team member? Well he was doing the rounds. He had a little visit with Sorbs then he though he might have a chat with Matty Lucas. So he hit off the front and went up the road to talk with Matt. Then he told Matt that he was going back to clim with Robbie. So he did. Turned around and came back down the hill to Robbie. Here he is in a most provocative pose. He purposely pulled his shirt open a little more when he saw me taking the photo.

Here's Higgo back with Robbie and Darth who has been dropped by Spongee.

Here's Spongee up the Road. Spongee eventually got across to Matty and Brendan. Actually we haven't got a nickname for Brendan. Perhaps it should be "Trackie". What do you reckon Brendan? or is that too cruel guys?

This is the view that Spongee had as he came up behind Brendan and Matty.

In the end, there can be only one. Here's Pete McDonald, "King of the Mountain". Been watching the Tour Pete. Yes, Pete looked like a Pro, shirt done up as he approached the summit and won the Stage in a very respectable time of 55 minutes. Pete and I had plenty of time to chat as we waited for the others.

They dropped me again in Stage 4, so I don't know who won the Dead Horse to Jindy stage. However like Peter I engaged in a little blood sugar equalibrium and carbo loading that afternoon when we got back to the Three Way Inn. Here's Pete enjoying a well deserved coldie.

Well after that day, one would have thought that sleep was well and truly on the agenda. Not so however for our gang of party animals. Here's the "Boys". They have donned the good clubbing gear and are in the party mood. Now I am told that that is "Ginger" beer that young Tom is holding. Young Tommy and a few others came home pretty soon after. Something about no one believing that he was a Sydney jockey. The older ones however did do a fair bit of "Carbo Loading". I didn't mind as I knew Day 3, the Dalgetty loop was a hard ride and if the boys were a little under the weather then so much the better for me.