Chain Reaction Charity Ride 2013 Day 2

Click here for day 1.

A semi-civilised 7AM start, 5.45AM alarm.

Less that perfect sleep due to an attack from a squadron of persistent mosquitos.

Quick breakfast and we assemble for the start.

An ethereal light creeps across the hill tops, casting the dry, slightly yellowing countryside with a slight purplish hue that is quite beautiful to behold.

I seriously LOVE central Victoria, it's an ever-changing, interesting landscape. There are ephemeral moments of inspiring beauty like this morning.

This was going to be a big day across 180-odd km. Fortunately the day dawns warmish and still.

I am in with Lakey today in training for the driver's hot seat.

A very thorough run down on rear-car operations was provided. This mostly involved instruction on the appropriate tone of admonishment for riders, and how one needs to be prepared to run people off the road in order to protect the cyclists.

Training on the Fine Application System (pertinent to the levying of fines) was also provided. The FAS is an interesting beast. It seems to have a very random framework upon which one can rely in applying KPIs to its subjugates. I am still mystified by the Lakey process for fine administration, it's seems a sprawling indecipherable bureaucracy but I will continue to attempt to unravel its mysteries.

The group wound its way through lightly undulating hills into Seymour.

We leave Seymour and are quickly into fairly remote, quiet, Central Victoria.

The Central Victorian countryside is starkly beautiful. At this time of year, early mornings are cast with contrasting purples and yellows with little green. It can appear truly arid punctuated with small pockets of life. The extensive trees defy the apparent aridness, but the almost complete lack of grass reflects the reality.

The presence of innumerable head of cattle and sheep bring into sharp relief the contrast between the desert-like appearance with the real ability of man (and beast) to survive and thrive. The sheep and cows can look at you balefully but their condition speaks volumes for a ready supply of feed.

Large boulders dominate paddocks adding to the allure, mystery, sense of loneliness and almost prehistoric nature of the countryside.

The land is pure, unadulterated – the minimal signs of man's presence are revealed by old fences, and occasional rusty and abandoned old farm implements.

These however seem to meld with the landscape rather than dominate. Abandoned old farm machinery are almost a regretful or mournful concession to the land.

For a long time, our duties are just to ensure everyone is ok and to manage the passing of the occasional car, as we arrive in Violet Town for a quick lunch, then move toward Benalla where the fun begins.

At lunch I am promoted to the drivers seat. I am concerned about a multitude of things as Lakey settles (rather comfortably) into the passenger seat, assumes iPod music control, shoes removed, feet on dashboard and starts “training”.

The absolute quiet and ease of the first 100km gives way to an instant increase in road traffic.

What Lakey made look like a pedestrian operation turned into a range of simultaneous and concurrent tasks like talking to trucks, blocking lanes, watching riders and covering mechanicals.

Fortunately Chain Reaction has the A Team on board and we manage the run into and out of Benalla without incident.

The riders are let off the leash at Winton toward Glenrowan (passing one of the best views in Victoria – the view from the Glenrowan hill across the plain to Buffalo) and immediately a group drops the hammer and heads off the front.

After regrouping in Ned Kelly HQ in Glenrowan (no photos, sorry, no stopping time), we headed toward our finish town of Milawa.

The run into Milawa is nothing short of manic. As it's the end of the long weekend, there is a lot of traffic. Some folks are driving very stupidly, and I learn from Lakey that one must be super assertive in blocking traffic from behind, to the extent that one must forcibly protect the riders at all cost.

We protect the riders safely into Milawa and arrive at the fantastic Lindenwarrah, where a bunch of riders decide to tack an extra 20km on, in order to crack 200km and Phil Tanner adds another 40km in order to crack 220km. Well done Phil!

Lindenwarrah is set amongst sprawling vineyards and is serendipitously situated near many wineries.

Everyone winds down as war stories are swapped, aches massaged out (and the massage team comes up with a most excellent fine system to fine people whenever they swear during massage), the pool is made use of and we all relax.

Dinner is excellent (great place for a function, excellent roast beef), presentations made and another day is done!

Tomorrow is another 180km through increasing hills so most people are off to bed early (not Lakey!).

Some more photos from throughout the day.