Kosciuszko Challenge 2015  Day Seven

Up nice and early for the last day of this years Challenge For Change. Yet again another cold morning for this bunch of warm blooded Queenslanders.

Today Team Twenty is off first. The plan for this last day of riding is for both teams to arrive at the finish together. A short while later, Team Twenty-Seven hit the road. Their first port of call is Bonnie Doon where some riders order a Serenity Burger. Next, a stop at Alexandra for coffee and a rest. Later, lunch at the town of Taggerty, relaxing by the banks of the river. At each beak, Team Twenty would roll in followed shortly after by Team Twenty-seven. These riders are tired and are ready to sleep at each stop. The stops today are a lot longer and both teams are enjoying the breaks together. It is as if they trying to make the most of this last day on the road. Or is it that they are not looking forward to the last 20 or so kilometres? The last stage of todays ride is another mountain climb. The finish line for Kosciuszko Challenge 2015 is at the top of Lake Mountain, a gruelling up hill climb. The two teams met up at the bottom of the climb. Then they began the accent. Strong riders to the front, slower riders behind. Sheer will and determination push these riders to the top. When they reached the end of the ride, there was the whole crew waiting to cheer them in. Every rider made it to the top under their own power and completed the challenge. Congratulations to the strong and courageous riders, strong legs, strong will and strong heart. Each rider suffering the pain of endurance just as the children they are riding for in Zambia suffer the pain of living in absolute poverty.

So ends the ride. Bikes and riders are bundled in to vehicles for the drive down to Marysville where warm dinner and warm beds await. Tomorrow we celebrate with a breakfast in town, receiving certificates and congratulations. Then we go home. Get ready families, your loved ones are returning to you with stories of their adventures.

Please be generous and and acknowledge the hard work these cyclists have put in by either sponsoring  or donating to Eagles Wings. ew.org.au