Day 1

Arrival Wed, then Day 1 Charlotte's Pass, Thursday.

Many of us arrived on Wednesday but some of the young ones had been down at Jindabyne since Monday 19th Jan. We arrived to find the young ones a little tired after a morning ride. As usual, the young one's room, which we refer to as "the Animal Room" was tidy as usual as the picture left depicts. For the main bunch however, most of whom arrived Wednesday, the first ride was the following day Thursday. For that reason Thursday 22 Jan will hereafter be referred to as "Day 1".

Thomas "The Magnet" Murdoch, dead to the world. I initially thought this was "Big Bird" Murdoch as one young Murdoch looks very much like another. Obviously if I were a girl then I would have instantly recognised "The Magnet", his nickname being short for "Chick Magnet". Only problem is that only Tom thinks that he is a chick magnet. Then again, people often forget that magnets also repel as well as attract.

Tyron, that must have been an interesting Cycling magazine.

"Spongee" looks like he has been hit by a truck. They don't make these young blokes like they used to.

Finally Thursday morning and we are all raring to go. Stage 1 Jindabyne to Charlottes Pass. Stage 2 - Charlotte's Pass to the coffee shop at Nugget's crossing. Enjoying the fabulous fitness that I currently possess I was dropped on the way back and so couldn't play with the lads on the high speed descents. There was a huge tail wind down the mountain which proved very interesting at certain locations when we copped it from the side. It really tested the riding skills. I don't know who won Stage 2 as I was a long way behind suffering but Matty Lucas later told me that with the huge tail wind he clocked 93kph down the mountain. This was in fact faster than the best speeds recorded down the infamous Dalgetty descent. So unless anyone else claims a higher speed I am awarding this year's black jersey (fastest descender) to Matty Lucas.

Talking about Matt, he arrived Wednesday evening complete with his Saeco coffee machine and Vittoria coffee. It was an immediate hit amongst the Cafe Late set.

Speaking about the Cafe Late set, here is Matty, Ritchie and Maria Jenkins in the Three Way Inn kitchen, giving it a test run. They put a few "kilometres" on that baby.

Not too many pictures of Day one's action unfortunately but here are the lads enjoying a quite one after a hard ride to Charlotte's and back. The over 18's of course. One does not have to twist Scotty Callum's arm to far to entice him into enjoying a cold one.

That evening we threw back and enjoyed a relaxing evening. Here's Jacko, the picture of contentment. (His beer is just out of frame). Jacko was our ride captain again this year and just about wore his voice out singing out for the young ones to settle on the climbs. I didn't mind as another phrase also got a lot of mileage, "Settle Bucko is off the back !"

The "Rat Pack" also kicked back and enjoyed friendly banter first evening. We don't know what they were talking about because "Old Farts" were off limits.

Arrrhhh, the Old Farts section. I would be sitting there as well only someone had to take the picture. That's Jacko's beer which we couldn't see in the previous shot. Mark and Janette Murdoch are also enjoying a quiet ale.