Day 13 - Final Report (Fri 27 Feb)

Standing on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Great feeling, great view.
Odometer 1120km.
Thanks 2 everyone 4 your support & encouragement!
-jb

Day 12 Report (Thurs 26 Feb)

Odometer 1045km.
Busy highway day today.
In Gosford.
Going to make a run for the Harbour Bridge finish line in the morning (90km).
Epic hill climb first up.
Almost there!
-jb

Day 11 Report (Wed 25 Feb)

Odometer 964km - start preparing for 1000 parties!
Camped at Swansea with seagulls, pelicans & ocean air.
A new chain and derailer in Newcastle today has bike running smoothly!
-jb

Day 11 Update (Wed 25 Feb)

This is a shot of me leaving Gloucester.
I'm currently at a bike shop in Newcastle. $75 on parts and repairs - ouch!
Have a great day!
-jb

And another photo from the flooded road after Grafton:

Day 10 Report (Tues 24 Feb)

Big day!
About 35km north of Newcastle @ nice highway caravan park.
Bike problems made for hard riding.
Visited historic Stroud.
Skipped Dungog.
Newcastle bike shop tomorrow.
Odometer 885km.
-jb

Day 9 Report (Mon 23 Feb)

Camped by river in Gloucester.
Odometer 795km.
Beautiful ride to 2day thru rolling green hills/mountains.
Painful climbs, but worth it for scenic surrounds & quieter roads.
-jb

Day 9 Photos

Riding to Gloucester:

(Welcome home Jess! Hope you're having a nice day back at work!)

In the hills above Gloucester:

Day 9 Update (Mon 23 Feb)

On top of a hill in Krambach.
Travelling through beautiful hilly country en route 2 Gloucester.
Legs climbing well so far.
Great to be in quiet country.
Odometer 754km.
-jb

Day 8 Report (Sun 22 Feb)

Slow 2 report today, feeling tired!
Arrived Taree around midday.
Odometer 720km.
Had massive breakfast @ John's River shop, think he piled the plate cause I was cycling!
-jb

Day 7 Report (Sat 21 Feb)

130km today & feelin good.
Odometer 635km.
Rain set in!
Camped on back patio at farmstay 5km outside Wauchope.
Hilly area!
Bris train just flew by.
Prob to Taree tomorrow.
-jb

Day 7 Photos

Day 7 Update (Sat 21 Feb)

In Kempsey.
Odometer 575km.
About 2 depart for Wauchope.
Did first puncture repair this morn. 4cm piece of metal thru the back tyre.
Hot! But can see clouds ahead.
-jb

Day 6 Report (Fri 20 Feb)

Odometer 502km - time for 500 parties!
Arrived Nambucca Heads - hot hilly day.
Think I prefer rain to heat!
Camped at beach.
Feeling tired, but well.
Rain clouds gathering again!
-jb

Messages on the rocks at Nambucca

Sitting on rocks at Nambucca . . . Dont you think this is a great photo?

The 5hr wait

This river was up to 9m the day before. Where I was standing taking this photo I would have been well and truly submerged....

Day 5 Report (Thurs 19 Feb)

Coffs. Odo 448km.
Another wet day!
Doing all washing, walking round park in only bike pants.
Lovely downhill cruise at end of day & amazing rainbow on arrival!
-jb

Day 5 Update (Thurs 19 Feb)

Having a bite 2 eat in Glenreagh.
Spent 5 hours sitting by the Orara River waiting 4 the water 2 go down.
Met lots of locals...
Heading to Coffs 4 the night.
Odometer 404km.
-jb

Photos from departure day

For the rest of the photos, go to www.picasaweb.google.com.au/mcmonagle.alice/farewelljohnnyb#

Day 4 Report (Wed 18 Feb)

Arrived Grafton, exhausted from 120km ride & soaked thru.
Odometer 355km.
Bloke @ bike shop fixed gears for $5 & gave advice on roads.
Route may change tomorrow due to floods.
-jb

Day 4 Update (Wed 18 Feb)

The Whiporie shop makes great milkshakes!
Over halfway 2 Grafton & going strong.
Stopped 4 second breakfast.
Long road today, so better keep moving!
Odometer 288km
-jb

View Johnny's planned route

Click above to link to the google maps route John planned out before leaving as his anticipated path. Each stop point is a goal for a day, so you can work out where he should be!
Alice.

Day 3 Report (Tues 17 Feb)

Luxurious short hop to Casino.
About to set up camp.
Some bike probs on outskirts of town, need to sort chain issue today.
Odometer 223.06km.
Sun is shining!
-jb

Day 2 Report (Mon 16 Feb)

Arrived Kyogle
Heavy rain!
Odometer approx 187km
Very tough day in border ranges!
Happy 2 b on flat in NSW
Planning 2 brave the weather & go for supplies soon
-jb

Day 1 newsflash update

Greenseas Chunky Tuna with cheesy pasta is the greatest food ever made. You heard it here first...
-jb

Day 1 Report (Sun 15 Feb)

Arrived Christmas Creek
Odometer 105.2km
2 x farewells
1 x screw replaced
1 x chain fixed
1 x sore back & neck soon 2 b rested
big grey clouds rolling in
Thnx 4 support!
-jb

An introduction

Hello followers of Johnny B and his epic cycle journey south to a new beginning and a different way of living.

John was very keen to be able to keep his word to the many people who asked him to keep them updated, but the limited technology on the road and quest for the simple life makes that a little difficult for him to do personally. As a compromise, we decided that a blog site would be a great way to keep people informed and then you, as the reader, can determine how often you check in.

John will sms me an update for this site at least once a day, which I will add as promptly as possible. The updates will only be brief as they are via sms, but we will at least know he is doing well and on track!

I know I'm a little late in setting this up as the journey started on Sunday (15 Feb 2009) at 7:00am to be precise, but following are the updates so far and I will also add photos from Sunday and continue to update for the rest of the fortnight of this voyage.

Please feel free to contribute comments and messages of support, however remember that John probably won't see this site until he arrives in Sydney. I am sure he will appreciate your encouragement then too though! You can also sms him meanwhile on his new number (if you don't have that, please email me and I'll tell you).

Thanks for reading and remember there are always more sustainable ways of doing your everyday things!

Alice.