Day 8 - Big Kahuna for Ella Bache

Today was a monster! 4 degree morning start with 160km start on the menu from Taree to Newcastle.

First of all, a 1km to the local Vittoria Coffee shop, Raw Sugar, for some coffee and breakfast kindly donated by the owners. It should be noted that our catering van, Comfort Inn Marco Polo and Comfort Inn City Centre provided full breakfast and coffee not 10 minutes earlier. This didn't stop the crew getting stuck in again.

Anyways... on to the ride. We had one sick rider in the name of Craig "Choppy" Cairnduff who was looking at tackling the 160km with raging flu. Like a total stud he dosed up on all manner of medication and hit the road.

The route was mainly focused on the Pacific Hwy with rolling hills, strong headwinds and dodgy road shoulders to contend with. The TdC crew staunchly punched along incident free until Andrew 'Max' Walker veered off the incorrect exit ramp and went from leading the bunch to chasing to get back on.

We were all rocking along until hitting an 8km climb at Buladelah that split the bunch and saw many of the riders digging deep. Once this challenge was meet another 40km was tackled and lunch at Karuah was ready to be nailed. The catering girls knocked out a superb Mexican feast that was scoffed by the riders in the sun. Followed up with chocolate bread and butter pudding - but that's ok because we'd already done 117kms.

Not long after lunch with tired legs we tackled the last portion of the ride to Newcastle via Stockton. Some of the friskier riders fired up for the daily sprint, with the vague finish line being the Stockton ferry. Positions were strategically being planned 20 kilometers out but the break was initiated by Team Lexus - Denver being the decoy lead out man who lured team Ella Bache's Adam into the chase - some 5kms too early. Much confusion ensued with the early jump but line honours went to Rick 'The Champ' Horvat. The Stockton ferry gave a well earned break to some weary legs. Once back on land it wasn't long until we were able to de-bike at our gorgeous accommodation, Noah's on the Beach.

After a couple of hours rest, we were treated to an awesome dinner reception at Quality Hotel NOAH'S On the Beach with the local Newcastle Prostate group and a few family and friends. Although the star guest of the night was Drew McAlister. He treated us to a live performance of the Tour de Cure theme song, "Along for the ride". After dinner category jerseys were awarded with much laughter to the following:
Attitude: Yellow Myer/Camp Quality to Gary Bertwistle
Support: Pink New Idea/NBCF to Denver Bevan
Guts: Blue Pratt Foundation/Prostate Cancer Foundation to Craig Cairnduff
Focus: Polka Dot The Intelligent Investor/KOM to Steve Johnson

A long day done and dusted.

Posted by Team Ella Bache.