8in8in8: The 2009 Challenge

Daily Dispatch

15 October 2009- Campbell Street Primary School (FINISH)
Distance: 25 km
Word of the Day: Thankyou (to the students and teachers who made this expedition FANTASTIC.)

Last days are often a bit funny. It's funny waking up and thinking that the next day is not about riding or paddling or walking. It's funny riding along familiar Hobart streets after being away for more than 7 months. It's funny meeting the students at Herdsman's Cove (photo) who have been with me on the forum every step of the way. Everything, in short, has been a bit funny. IN A VERY VERY GOOD WAY.


The YTBC led the way from Pontville to Herdsman's Cove Primary mid morning. I asked the students for ideas for next year's expeditionclass.com adventure before waving goodbye as we continued into the city. I saw the Tasman Bridge and remembered back to the first day when I'd struggled to pull the bike up the steps onto the walking track. Scenes from the months between then and now flashed through my mind. The first golden sand of Bass Strait, the sun setting on Mt Bogong, flooded NSW paddocks, insects hitting the tent fly in northern Queensland, the long grass of the Gulf, red rocks in the Pilbara... a list too long to continue. Then to Campbell Street Primary, as we swept across the road and saw the gathering classes waiting outside. Jordan raced up to open the gate and I said, "How about that mate, back where we started."
And just a few of the many thankyou's that I owe; the YTBC (Nicola), Dad and Mum, Bec and James (who brought you the updates when I couldn't), Sue and Robert, Damian at the Mercury, Sarah at the Advocate, Australian Geographic, UTAS SET, Webmistress, Solution paddles, Snowgum Hobart, and especially the teachers who let this adventure enter their classrooms, and the students who made it all worthwhile. Just a quick super special acknowledgement to Mr Enniss and the students at Miandetta Primary School who I couldn't visit in person today (because they're on the other end of the state), but who I'm hoping to see soon. I'll pop out a last newsletter next Monday and keep this page updated with news every now and then until the next adventure learning project kicks off later next year.

14 October 2009- Pontville
Distance: 92 km
Word of the Day: Penultimate (Is this word used to describe really excellent pens... or something else?)

Would you believe it, a puncture on the penultimate day. I suppose it was due since the trailer tyre has been deformed with a lump for a week. It wore out with a POP just as a raincloud closed in from the south. The wind was average to awful as we rode from Ross to Pontville. Three major hills had to be climbed up and rolled down, St Peters Pass, Spring Hill and Constitution Hill. The YTBC rolled faster down hill and I rode faster up hill, so we ended up in the same spot by the end of the day.
When I left Tassie in March the paddocks up the east coast were dry and brown. At the moment everything is soggy and green. It's great to see the changes in the land, but perhaps there was just a bit too much? Tomorrow we have plenty of time to reach Herdsman's Cove Primary for a mid morning visit before riding to Campbell Street Primary before the final bell rings. Both of these schools, and a few besides who I will thank later, have been wonderful support throughout the year. We're looking forward to what the day brings.

Read older dispatches...

Adventure Learners

This journey will take us from the southern extremes in Tasmania, across the treacherous Bass Strait, through the alpine mountains in Victoria and New South Wales, right up to the tropical north where crocodiles and snakes abound. If we're going to meet the challenges of this expedition we'll need to find out more about the places we cycle through, climb up and paddle across. That's where you can help! Join the forum and share your ideas and what you're learning in class. Contribute to the Learning ZONE where your knowledge will be posted for eternity. Australian geography is NOT boring, it's just massive!

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