I have known Mark Woods for around 3 years now through working for the BCF store at Taren Point and he would have to be one of the nicest, calmest most easy-going guys that I know. He is always out to help out where ever he can no matter how tough it gets.
When he told me that he was going to fly over to Perth with his push bike and ride all the way back to Sydney, I thought he was nuts. I have done it a number of times in a car and a few times by plane but on a bike. No way!
So, on the 10th of April 2022, Mark set out on his journey from Perth to Sydney on his trusted push bike with only his tent, sleeping bag, puncture repair kit, a few clothes, mobile phone and a few other essentials.
Help Mark raise much needed money for a great cause.
He is going to be cycling 4000 km across Australia unsupported to raise money for
Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). Mark aims to raise $4200 ($1 for every km I cycle) so they can continue to provide emergency medical aid to people desperately in need in places such as Ukraine.
At the time of putting this article, Mark has already raised $5772.00 and is now trying to reach $8400.00. You can donate
here.
Mark is currently still making his way across Australia and has just arrived in Hay on day 47 and has had to endure days of rain, floods, road trains, roadblocks, mossies, march flies, chased by a cattle dog, a couple of hiccups bike computer and even not enough room on the roads to ride a bike when two vehicles are passing each other.
I have done this in a car or a plane, but never by a bike. Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
Then there is the mental and physical fatigue, the sore rear end, the heat and the strong headwinds. Let alone the cost of a 1.25L bottle of coke for $5.50 was cheaper than buying a 600ml bottle of water for $4.
Marks trusty steed. Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
On the bright side, Mark has had the chance to meet so many other amazing travellers who are also exploring the wonders of Australia. Like the couple who have been on the road the last 12 months touring around Australia with their motorbike and sidecar, a self-funded legend, who is out on the Nullarbor on his own collecting rubbish from the roadside and the owners of the caravan park at Burra, who even though the park was fully booked they made room for Mark and on top of that they ordered me a pizza and gave him a lift to pick it up.
To give you a bit of an idea I have listed below a bit of a daily kms update of Mark's travels so far. As you will see, there are a number of days where no bike riding took place as there were either rest days or days when he took the chance to look around at our amazing country.
You may not think that 130km is that far to travel from Perth to Wandering. Sure, in a car it would take about one and a half hours. It took Mark most of the day to get there and then he had to set up his tent, have a shower, a feed, get some sleep and then do it all over again the next day.
Mark you are amazing!
Day 1 - Perth to Wandering (130 km)
Marks first small road block. Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
There will be a lot more of this ahead. Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
Thousands or kms ahead for mark. Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
You don't need a hammer out here when you have plenty of rocks. Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
So much to explore here. Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
DINNER OF CHAMPIONS. Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
Lucky Mark set up on the high ground. Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
First puncture. Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
On a trip like this you need to recycle. Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
Are we there yet? Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
They breed big march flies out here. Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
You even have to watch out for planes. Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
Need to recharge. Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
Those cattle grids are a bitch to ride over. Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
So many road trains. You have to keep your wits about you. Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
What an amazing site. Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
Time to get up.Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
The tree needs a couple more pans. Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
Mark even took his own chari. Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
Where's the meat. Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
They breed them big out here.Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
Those mountains look so far. Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
Now that's what I call a lunch. Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
Are there any fish in there? Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
One thing less to carry. Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
Don't worry Mark you will burn off those carbs. Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
Hope there is no rain tonight. Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
Marks gear got so wet he had to set it up on the concrete and under some shelter. Image courtesy of Mark Woods.
So, if you would like to get behind Mark and help him raise money for
Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Mark has a new initiative.
Courtesy of my workplace,
BCF - Boating, Camping, Fishing, he has a raffle for 2x $500 gift cards. For every $10 you donate towards my fundraiser for Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) you will receive 1 entry into the raffle.
This will include anyone who has already donated. If you want to enter, make sure you leave your details rather than making an anonymous donation.
