Brenda Noonan - On My Bike
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    • About Me
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  • 2017 - AUST-3
  • 2016 - USA
  • 2015 - UK
    • Overview
    • Ride Supporters
    • John O Groats to Helmsdale
    • Helmsdale to Tain
    • Tain to Inverness
    • Inverness to Kingussie
    • Kingussie to Pitlochry
    • Pitlochry to Kinross
    • Kinross to Dalkeith
    • Dalkeith to Jedburgh
    • Jedburgh to Ponteland
    • Ponteland to Guisborough
    • Guisborough to Scarborough
    • Rest Day - Scarborough
    • Scarborough to Barton-upon-Humber
    • Barton-upon-Humber to Thorpe-on-the-Hill
    • Thorpe-on-the-Hill to Ibstock
    • Ibstock to Stratford-upon-Avon
    • Stratford-upon-Avon to Cambridge
    • Cambridge to West Huntspill
    • West Huntspill to Crediton
    • Crediton to Bodmin
    • Bodmin to Camborne
    • Camborne to Land's End
  • 2014 - AUST-2
    • Supporters
    • Accommodation Supporters
    • Scarborough to Dee Why
    • Dee Why to Toukley
    • Toukley to Heatherbrae
    • Heatherbrae to Bulahdelah
    • Bulahdelah to Taree
    • Taree to Kempsey
    • Kempsey to Nambucca Heads
    • Nambucca Heads to Repton
    • Repton to Mullaway
    • Mullaway to Grafton
    • Grafton to Broadwater
    • Broadwater to Hastings Point
    • Hastings Point to Labrador
    • Labrador to Northgate
    • Northgate to Scarborough
  • 2013
  • 2012 - NZ
    • Participants
    • Getting to the Start
    • Fund-raiser for NZ Gynaecological Cancer Foundation
    • Zonta
    • Our Wonderful Supporters!
    • Bluff to Clinton
    • Clinton to Dunedin
    • Dunedin to Oamaru
    • Oamaru to Winchester
    • Winchester to Christchurch
    • Rest Day
    • Christchurch to Cheviot
    • Cheviot to Kaikoura
    • Kaikoura to Ward
    • Ward to Picton
    • Picton to Mana
    • Mana to Foxton Beach
    • Foxton Beach to Mangaweka
    • Mangaweka to Turangi
    • Turangi to Tokoroa
    • Tokoroa to Huntly
    • Huntly to Orewa
    • Rest Day
    • Orewa to Whangarei
    • Whangarei to Coopers Beach
    • Coopers Beach to Cape Reinga
    • After completing the ride
  • 2011 - AUST-1
    • My "Crew"
    • My "Bike"
    • Preparation
    • Poems
    • Supporters
    • Scarborough (WA) to Northam
    • Northam to Kellerberrin
    • Kellerberrin to Southern Cross
    • Southern Cross to Coolgardie
    • Rest Day
    • Coolgardie to Norseman
    • Norseman to Balladonia
    • Balladonia to Caiguna
    • Caiguna to Cocklebiddy
    • Cocklebiddy to Madura Pass
    • Madura Pass to Eucla
    • Eucla to Nullarbor
    • Nullarbor to Nundroo
    • Nundroo to Penong
    • Penong to Ceduna
    • Rest Day
    • Ceduna to Minnipa
    • Minnipa to Kimba
    • Kimba to Port Augusta
    • Rest Day
    • Port Augusta to Peterborough
    • Peterborough to Olary
    • Olary to Broken Hill
    • REST DAY
    • Broken Hill to Dolo Hill
    • Dolo Hill to Emmdale
    • Emmdale to Cobar
    • Rest Day
    • Cobar to Nyngan
    • Nyngan to Warren
    • Warren to Gilgandra
    • Gilgandra to Coonabarabran
    • Coonabarabran to Narrabri
    • Rest Day
    • Narrabri to Moree
    • Moree to Goondiwindi
    • Goondiwindi to Lake Coolmunda
    • Lake Coolmunda to Warwick
    • Warwick to Kalbar
    • Kalbar to Doolandella
    • Doolandella to Scarborough (Qld)
    • Rest Day
    • Week 1 - Scarborough (WA) to Balladonia (WA)
    • Week 2:- Balladonia (WA) to Penong (SA)
    • Week 3:- Penong (SA) to Peterborough (SA)
    • Week 4:- Peterborough (SA) to Cobar (NSW)
    • Week 5:- Cobar (NSW) to Moree (NSW)
    • Week 6:- Moree (NSW) to Scarborough (Qld)
    • Heart Foundation
    • The "Media Tart"
    • Competitions
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All funds raised during my ride across Australia went to either the Australian or New Zealand Heart Foundation depending on the donor’s wish.
​ It was a thrill to be named Best Individual Fund-raiser for 2011 by the Queensland Branch of the Australian Heart Foundation.
​Special thanks to EVERYONE who supported my ride. 
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Day 39 - May 8th, 2011
Warwick to Kalbar
83.8 kms
 
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DAILY PREVIEW:-

Today I will leave the lovely town of Warwick and head off on the Cunningham Highway (now 15) across the Great Dividing Range. I will climb to the highest point of the trip at around 800 metres above sea-level. That will be a terrific feeling - cos its all down hill from there!! And quite steeply so - I should be able to coast for quite a few kilometres before arriving at Kalbar.

It is a pretty busy piece of highway with a good deal of truck traffic, so I will have to go carefully. I often hear of "accidents" on the Cunningham Highway at Cunningham's Gap - so all care needed!!
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Warwick to Kalbar

Distance travelled:- 83.75 kms
Highest speed:- 53.30 kph
Average speed:- 21.90

Mother’s Day!! And I hope my dear mum had a good day. I was pleased to speak to her before I set off for the day!!

Yes, I know at one stage I had this as a rest day, but I have to admit, this was part of the ride that had not been resting easily on my mind. One reason was the amount of climbing to be done early in the day, another reason the amount of traffic on this stretch of road (particularly trucks) and then also concern that significant roadworks were being carried out due to damage during the recent Queensland floods.

All these thoughts spun around in my head, so I decided to tackle it today and not wait another day!! I also thought the trucks could be lighter on Sunday compared to a week day.

Off I headed on a very crisp morning – the radio said it was only 7 degrees – brrrrrrrr! While the outside of me was cool, the inside certainly heated up with the continual uphill drag. It was pretty hard work, and I couldn’t make particularly fast progress. I took on plenty of fuel and drinks and decided that lunch would be taken at “The Crest”. The sad thing was – it was being used as a base for the roadwork that was going on, so we decided to push on until the next rest stop.

After all the climbing, I was looking forward to the 9.9 km descent – I must admit with both excitement – and fear!!

I didn’t really need to worry – the massive roadworks meant there were 2 “stop/go” spots. The guys were terrific and said they would let me be the last “vehicle” through so I wouldn’t have to worry about traffic behind me. The speed limit had also been fixed at 40 kph – so all in all – everyone descended at a very sedentary pace!! I didn’t have to pedal for ages – but both hands got a bit tired with the workout on the brakes!! I wouldn't mind a crack at descending this hill once the road works are finished!!!!!

Initially I was following a furniture removal truck which was great, but at the first descending “passing lane” – he overtook the truck in front of him – leaving me to follow a cattle truck!!!!! Not so great!! At the second descending “passing lane” I was able to overtake it – what a funny feeling that was!!!

The next  “rest area” was at Aratula so we took lunch even though only 10 kms from our destination for that night.

After lunch it was off the Cunningham Highway to a place I admit I had never heard of – Kalbar – and we are settled in at the Showgrounds for the night.

Just received a big surprise - Facebook buddy "Liz" and her husband "Phil" called into the camp to say hello and outline plans for tomorrow. Liz and her cycling team member Peter will be cycling towards Ipswich with me. Great stuff - I am really looking forward to that!!

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Warwick
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Through the roadworks at Cunningham's Gap. Downhill for 9.9 kms!
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Cunningham's Gap
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Following the "travellin First Class" stock truck - you can't smell the smell from a photo!!!!

I won! I won! I don't have to go to school anymore.
Eddy Merckx - After winning his first bike race.

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