Day One – A Wild and Wet Start to Our Adventure!
Queensland is known as the Sunshine State, with the motto “Queensland
– Beautiful One Day, Perfect the Next!” Our intrepid group of
travelers found more adventure than they expected yesterday however,
arriving in Brisbane and traveling by boat to Tangalooma Resort in the
worst rain storm in 35 years.
Half of our group arrived on Tuesday, and enjoyed a lovely afternoon at
the island resort, with massage, walks on the beach and even quad
biking! Rosa showed she would be no slouch on 4 wheels in the van with
her biking skills giving her the edge as she carved her quad bike along
the sand dunes. Lynda, Rhonda W, and Meredith all had their quad bikes
flying, with their rain ponchos streaming out the back like caped
crusaders – and the smiles on all four women’s faces haven’t faded
yet.
By Wednesday the weather had closed in all together and it was a
slightly bedraggled group that met for the first time in the conference
room. We went through the ride schedule, group riding rules and then
took time to get to know each other, before heading off to a fantastic
buffet dinner at the resort restaurant.
All day we were busy with contingency planning – on Thursday we had
been due to travel by ferry back to the mainland first thing in the
morning, travel to the Mt Cotton riding training centre to pick up our
bikes and practice riding, before riding back to the ferry terminal.
The rain was coming down so hard at the resort that in places there was
flooding 12 inches deep and reports from the mainland were even worse.
By midday the resort told us they were cancelling all ferry services to
the mainland on Thursday, so we had some busy reorganization to do.
The news last night was that a State of Emergency had been declared in
South East Queensland with the worst flooding since the 1974 deluge that
flooded half of the city. The rain didn’t dampen spirits on the
island though – after dinner it was off to the main resort common
area, where it was Karaoke night!
Quite a few of the girls showed off singing skills we would never have
imagined, not to mention dance moves that had the whole room up on their
feet.
This morning the rain clouds had cleared, although Brisbane is still in
the process of repairing damage and waiting for flooded roads to clear.
Most of the highways we are due to ride on our first day tomorrow were
underwater this morning, but are expected to clear by this afternoon so
we are confident of leaving town on Friday without delay.
Although gale force winds are still sweeping across the region (up to
100km per hour), the resort is on the sheltered side of the island, so
we are settling in for a day of mostly sunshine, calm winds and enjoying
the resort.
Hi to my Amazon sistas, sorry the weather has turned nasty down there. Maybe you should consider coming north??? Am wishing I was there with you all but I will follow the blog and be with you in spirit. take care and ride safe. luv Leanne
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Wishing all of you wonderful inspirational women a safe, dry ! and joy filled journey heading down South.
Enjoy it as much as you can in this wild weather.
Stay safe and party on.
Mark (Marie Fox's ex partner).
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Good luck girls! Watch out for the big potholes and see you for a pizza on your return
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Hi girls its Carly here Jo Trace's Daughter, i have seen the crazy weather reports on the news for QLD and northern NSW and sounds like you might be in for a bit of a rough ride but its just another life experience and i am sure you will all have a ball! can't wait to meet you in Sydney next week!! ride safe and have FUN!!!! Carlz xo
P.S LOVE YA MUM...FAT BOYS RULE!!!!
kisses for Grandy from Riley xxxxxx
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Why does it not surprise us that our Miss Lynda would be flying on the quad bikes. Hope you are all having fun, stay safe and dry (at least try to), and drive safely
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Hi Mom!
Sounds like you having the adventure of a lifetime. 100km winds and all. You are making us all very proud. May the African drum in your heart guide you safely home.
You go Mamma!
All my love
Ian
(Annelie Sakers' eldest son)
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Hi to all you wonderful women especially Karen (Squirt), Lizzie, Nancy and Sydney Donna have a fantastic ride and enjoy this life changing experience. Karen we will be following you all the way and will be waiting to hear your stories when you return. Love you heaps.
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You go girls!!!! ride between the raindrops.... xx essey
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Hi Shaz and girls, hope you enjoy each others company and have lots of fun.We are very proud of you Shaz and all of you. Travel Safe. Love always Deb Adrian Casey Joel and Trent.X x X x (sharon mills sister)
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hay girl i bet you wish you were a duck about now but we know your be fine thinking of you all the way hope you are having lots of fun keep it upright love and kisses
alpha and duckie xxx
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Hi Michele K and girls
Hope the bad weather won't stop you heading our way, looking forward to seeing you all as you ride into Lennox Head today.
Kim
PS Good luck with the rest of your trip
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Hi Lynda thinking of you hope you are showing that gorgeous smile off have a great day my pixie love Tony
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Bandit,
I am glad to hear that you are having a time of it. Glad that you are making some friend that will be special for a lifetime. Ride safe adn think of what Harley you want when you get home. I love you,
dan'l
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Hope all you girls are having a ball sending you heaps of great hopes from over the ditch in Kiwi Land
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Hi Sandra.
I am watching the weather, the news and reading the blog. What an adventure - it looks like you are all having a brilliant time. Missing you loads and can't wait to see you at the finish line. All the best to everyone involved and all my love to you.
Nigel
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What an adventure!!! congrats for all making it across the little bridge - these are road bikes not trail bikes girls!!! don't let a little rain dampen your spirit.... xx essey n cam
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Diane, You even make grandpa cry. You go Girls.
You will make a difference.
Love and keep safe,
Love dad and mom
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