Trail Bike Adventure Magazine

Longest Day

Monday, 22 December 2008 23:30

The new benchmark has been set. Boris Everson, Craig and Tony Hartley, and Dan Vaughan left Sawtell Headland at 5.38am on December 21, and at sundown were approximately 150km into South Australia. The new mark will be something like 1600km between sunrise and sunset, about 70 per cent off-road.

I can only give an approximation because I pulled the pin 100km further back. After a perfect day - perfect weather, roads in perfect condition, no breakdowns, no crashes - I rode through the gate at the dingo fence just as the front four were leaving. I'd ridden sweep all day, and with the dust, I was a several minutes back.

I watched them hit the main-jet, flashed a look at the sun, flashed another look at the fuel gauge and the unmanned bowser, and bolted off after them. Fifty kilometres later I pulled up on a crest where Mick Crutch (pictured with me) was standing, gazing wistfully at the dust trail about two kilometres to the west.

"What's up?" I asked.

"This is enough of an achievement for me," he answered.

My heart sank into my boots as I realised that I wouldn't be able to catch the frontrunners, and even if I followed them I wouldn't have enough fuel to run another 40 minutes - the time I guessed to sundown. Plus I would somehow have to get back. Mick had a few liters in a jerry on the back of his bike, but it was all too late.

It was magnificent effort from Boris and his crew. I give the credit to Boris because I wasn't planning to worry about Longest Day this year, but he was so enthusiastic I decided I'd give it a crack. His enthusiasm and organisation made it all happen, and dragged everyone in.

I rode the TDM, and it was every bit as brilliant as I thought it would be. Having shot the bike at sunrise on the 22nd, I jumped on and lolloped it home, and it's sitting outside now, showing some wear and tear for sure, but as far as I can tell, ready to go back to Cameron Corner.

Brilliant!

Some totally unsubstantiated reports of other starters:
• John Liddell and Al had engine problems at Bourke and had to turn back;
• Not sure what happened to the Sunshine Coast contingent. Jake IT was supposed to ride with them but couldn't get a bike;
• Trevor Fields pulled off a truly legend ride. Not seeming to grasp the concept of chasing the sun west, he rode solo from Townsville to Cameron Corner to demolish a dinosaur steak with the TBAM boys at the Corner store! The guy gets TBAM's Un-f*%ckin'-velievable award for the year.

Merry Christmas to everyone.

TF