Wildside and Tasmania February 2004

Other Canberrans competing in the race (not all, some) were Heidi Flaxman, David Morgan (Morgs), Andrew Rowe, Sam Reinhardt, Ben Crabb, Jim Trail, Katrina Roper, Andrew Thomas, David Sutton, Chris and Kate Miller, Jason Chalker.

Anyway the race is muddy as heck, and one of the most fun events I have done, really an incredible race through gorgeous terrain. I am keen to return.

Holiday photos are at the bottom of the page below the race photos.

Wildside Photos

1600x1200 Maxine getting ready to drive from Devonport to Cradle mountain. Who needs to see over the dash anyay. 1600x1200 When we arrived at Cradlle Valley we decided to spin our legs a bit up the 10KM to Dove Lake. 1600x1200 Andrew and Dave. 1600x1200 Me in pickle gear. 1600x1200 Before the first competition leg started we all crossed this stream, from this point on I dont think anyone had dry feet for the rest of the race. 1600x1200 One of the groups starting to race. 1600x1200 Andrew's group racing (Andrew is in black at the left) 1600x1200 Morgs group getting ready to go, Morgs is just to the left of the guy in the pink shirt. 1600x1200 Morgs racing 1600x1200 My group starting, I am on the left of the photo with the pickle gear on. 1600x1200 Sam and Heidi's field racing, Sam is in the centre of the photo to the other side of the track. 1600x1200 A Long shot of me approaching the finish of the first race stage, the mud is indicative of the conditions for the whole stage. 1600x1200 Slogging through the mud. 1600x1200 Heidi heading straight through the mud. 1600x1200 Eating one of the fantastic lunches catered for us during the race, from left to right. Morgs (cut in half), Steve, Morgan (standing), Jason (sitting), Heidi. 1600x1200 Andrew finishing the Que river stage. This had a river crossing up to waist height, with roots to trip people as they crossed. 1600x1200 Me finishing off the Que river stage. 1600x1200 Heidi finishing the stage, the guy in front crashed on the corner there right in front of her. 1600x1200 And through the finishing chute. 1600x1200 After the cruise into Tullah, sitting aroud with beers. left to right, Morgs, Heidi, Steve 1600x1200 Heidi was insisting Morgs had a really muddy face and that we needed a photo of it. 1600x1200 The carpark with lots of riders. 1600x1200 Obviously me riding in Gadget gear, and during the really fun Stirling Valley stage, not sure exactly where Jane got this shot though. 1600x1200 Dave, some random dude and Me chatting after the stage. 1600x1200 Heidi finishing the stage. 1600x1200 Andrew starting the next stage, Montezuma Falls, a 5 KM bitumen climb to get us going. Andrew is on the right of the photo.

1600x1200 My group starting this stage. 1600x1200 Giving a wave as I go past. I made the mistake of hammering up the climb in this stage, I paid for it later with cramps and being passed by many many people. 1600x1200 Maxine waiting for Daddy to start the stage. 1600x1200 Sam and Maxine cheering them on Ben is the second rider from the front on this side. 1600x1200 Heidi was also in this wave, at the back in this photo. 1600x1200 A Lot of very muddy people at the end of the stage. 1600x1200 Dave and Ben chatting, this stage was a good example of why front mudguards are good, Dave and Ben didnt have them. 1600x1200 Me having just finished the stage, chatting to Morgan. The last 5 Km of this stage was a bing ring crank downhill with mud flying all around us. 1600x1200 Ben chatting with Morgan's friend Greg. 1600x1200 Jim had dissapeared by the time Joe showed up, so Joe asked me to do some interviews, Jim is bloody good at this thing, I found it difficult, making up questions and stuff. I did about 8 interviews, this one with Heidi. 1600x1200 Heidi enjoying the mudpack or something. 1600x1200 And another example of why front mudguards are good at wildside, I had one Heidi didnt. 1600x1200 Jim getting into time trial mode at the start of the next stage. 1600x1200 Morgs getting ready to go. 1600x1200 And he is off. 1600x1200 Andrew starting his time trial, with the rain falling. The cruise following this stage was pretty dismal, and wore out everyone's brake pads. 1600x1200 This is the finish of the final stage in Strahan the next day, Andrew following dual world junior champion Lisa Mathison accross the line. 1600x1200 Me, Morgs (looking a little worn out) and Dave. 1600x1200 Heidi after crossing the line. 1600x1200 Sam was not far behind Heidi. 1600x1200 Dave, Andrew, Ben and Maxine (getting sunburnt legs) 1600x1200 Morgs trying to recover from the worn out look. 1600x1200 Dave, Maxine (obscured), Ben, Andrew and Niki (obscured) 1600x1200 Gradually... 1600x1200 leaving the race... 1600x1200 and Strahan behind. (those guys maybe starting their swim back to the mainland)

Holiday Photos

1600x1200 On the way over to Cradle Mountain Jane and I stopped at the town of Penguin, Tasmania 1600x1200 They really were everywhere in the town. 1600x1200 again. 1600x1200 again. 1600x1200 Jane standing on the shoreline near Bicheno 1600x1200 The so called Blow hole and Rocking rock at Bicheno, I think the rock has fallen over. 1600x1200 Walking back from the blow hole we saw some penguins about 2 metres from the walking track. 1600x1200 Due to low light conditions and not having a tripod I was unable to keep my hand steady enough for a good photo so they are all blurry. 1600x1200 It is however still hell cool to see live penguins in the wild this close to you. 1600x1200 There was even a nifty road sign near by indicating there may be penguins around. 1600x1200 Near wineglass bay, the rock formations that make up the hazards were bloody impressive. 1600x1200 As was wineglass bay itself. 1600x1200 'Twas a hot day and a good walk to the lookout. 1600x1200 So we got to the water thinking lets go swimming, Jane checked out the water, after which she reported there being thousands of blue bottles. We didnt swim, about 20 minutes later we saw a bunch of about 12 sharks hanging around near by. 1600x1200 As we drove away from Coles Bay I thought to try and get a photo of the Hazards that are so imposing over Coles Bay. Didnt work to well.

1600x1200 On the drive twards Hobart we saw this really cool convict constructed bridge called "Spiky Bridge" I had to stop and have a better look. 1600x1200 They named the beach next to it Spiky Beach too. 1600x1200 Me on one of the walking tracks near the carpark at the top of Mt Wellington. I must say Mt Wellington was really neat. a sea level to 1240M rise in one climb, damn I want to do that on my bike. 1600x1200 Jane up around the top too. 1600x1200 Looking down towards hobart, I reckon they should let us have Mt Wellington in Canberra, they can have Black Mountain or something if they want, wouldnt it be cool having such a big climb so handy. 1600x1200 Looking at the bridge that collapsed or something (not while we were there) 1600x1200 Cataract Gorge, the eastern side of Tasmania had been having floods not long before this, there was a lot of water here, I thought Morgs and others who enjoy kayaking would like to see the photos. 1600x1200 One of the suspension bridges. 1600x1200 There were a whole lot of peacocks walking around, many with little babies such as this. 1600x1200 Camoflage peackock babies. 1600x1200 More white water. 1600x1200 and again. 1600x1200 Jane sitting next to the dog shaped rock. 1600x1200 And more photos of peacocks. 1600x1200 You can see the little feather tufts startign to grow out of their heads. 1600x1200