Finally packed, well almost...

Just missing Daniel! We think he's getting pampered by a masseur right now, but we are almost done packing! Can't believe Daniel and partner Larise drove till 6am to get to us, now that's dedication :)

The first rendezvous

Yesterday Walter loaded up the rental car, one he procured from an agency to be relocated from Launceston to Melbourne, and got onto the famous Spirit of Tasmania for the overnight cruise from Tasmania to Melbourne.

Today Paul and Duncan caught their flight from Hobart to Melbourne, and Dan and his girlfriend tackled the Hume Highway after leaving the Blue Mountains, home of the Three Sisters and Echo Valley (near Sydney) and Conrad roped his sister into driving him from Ballarat, Australia's gold mining capital famous for the Eureka Stockade, to Melbourne.

Paul, Duncan, Conrad and Walter managed to find each other and settled into their first night together in the legendary yet modest Hotel Cavalier in Wantirna, famous for its Thursday night Wantirna Club Kareoke (where they incidentally enjoyed the dinner special over a celebratory drink). Dan is still driving the night away, but getting closer by the hour.

Friday morning, a shirt sleep to go, we will all finally be together at the Greenspeed HQ, where the Greenspeed Trikes will be tuned to perfection and Ed from World Expeditions will come and collect us all for the long ride in a Troopy towards Lake Eyre.

Let the fun begin!

Farewell Party in Hobart

With the Tasmanian debut of the film 'Defiant Lives' Rummin Productions, who will be filming the expedition, invited all those who contributed to the Pozible campaign for a farewell to the team. Snacks and drinks were provided at the historic Hobart State Cinema and we all enjoyed a few shots of the super healthy Jans, the Dutch friendship drink, a herbal liqueur, which gave us all some Dutch courage for the expedition 🙂 .

All getting a little nervous now that we are packing our bags and checking our kit and getting our propaganda organised (see photo with Walter showing off some of the new acquisitions). 

Preparations

Our starting date is coming nigh!

As Daniel is getting his hand powered bike prepared for off road use in the Blue Mountains, Paul is training on his Greenspeed trike around Hobart and getting publicity with Duncan. Greenspeed is putting the final touches on the custom tandem trike in the Dandenongs, Victoria, and Walter is in Devonport kitting out and riding his Kona Fat bike from Hitbikes (located on the Sunshine Coast). Conrad is , believe it or not, sailing his boat from Timor to Bali so he can fly home to meet us in time!

Matthew and Catherine are planning the filming and World Expeditions is preparing the support vehicle. 

Next Monday 21st August Rummin Productions (who are filming us) are screening Defiant Lives at the State Cinema, Hobart, to celebrate our departure with a farewell for us after the film. Info here; 

https://tickets.demand.film/event/1917



One thing we are all wondering, and everyone is asking these questions, how will we ride together! Will the tandem trike beat us all with big Paul at the helm and strong Duncan powering the rig? Will Walter's fat Kona forge ahead at all time it will Daniels hand trike beat us to the line? Conrad may be stiff competition for the lead if he can stay in one position long enough or if the nerve pain medication holds out. It's going to be an adventure! Will we get lost in the desert wearing our warm woolens and our Keens with nothing but a muesli bar and a bottle of Jans? 

Wheelchair Bike Campaign for Daniel

To all the Samaritans! Here is a chance to bring up your karma capital :) 

Daniel our paraplegic team mate requires a special hand powered wheelchair bicycle. Time is running short, please help Daniel! Donate here: www.gofundme.com/4wd-wheelchair-fund-for-expedition.

We need him on board to complete our disabilities! We have a paraplegic (Daniel), a hemiplegic (Paul), a blind person (Duncan), someone who can't bend (Conrad) and someone who can't breathe (Walter)... What can possibly go wrong!




"The World Expedition Lowest to Highest Australia adventure kicks off on the 1st of September 2017. Not far off to raise this amount of money but I am sure I have enough friends and people interested in helping me to achieve this amount. I will need this off road chair at least in the next month so I am able to get used to the systems with time prior to the leaving date of Sep 1" - Daniel