Conclusions
Why did I ride 1800kms from Buderim to Shepparton? Was it a dare or challenge? I don’t think it was either, but whatever the reason I do know that it helped close my 8 year Balranald chapter and in hindsight probably helped set me up at an experiential level for the last day of my sustainability course subject on Friday 3 June.
My 3 night stop at Lightning Ridge was one highlight. I felt very comfortable and it was a pleasure to be in the company of Gale and Roger Collins and in the Black Queen environment and to stay at the Opal Caravan Park. I know a little about running good tourism product and the Black Queen and Opal Caravan Park are top class.
The 800 or so kilometre part of the ride along the Kidman Way helped me reflect on that very enjoyable part of my career in tourism working for Carrathool Shire Council and catching up with good folk from that time at Cobar, Hillston, Goolgowi and Jerilderie. I suppose this part of the ride was also my way of paying homage to the Kidman Way.
Would I take another job at Carrathool Shire Council or promoting the Kidman Way if it was offered (I’ve thought about that a bit along the way)? I would take a position like that if it was a job where I worked locally one week out of two and could base the rest of my working time in Melbourne.
Would I do the ride again? With a little more planning and good company, yes I would.
I also know that the ride was a ‘rite of passage’, as Karl Jung would have said, that has given me new energy and self-confidence for the next chapter of my life that I want to ensure I share with Jenny.
My arrival at the Opal Caravan Park Lightning Ridge at 8.45pm after riding 229kms from St George Qld.