Three keen cyclists are dipping their back wheels in the ocean off Perth and 25 days later hope to dip their front wheels in the sea at Tathra on the NSW far south coast.
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The trio plan to ride about 4000 kilometres without support across the Nullarbor Plain to raise money for Canberra’s homeless.
Malcolm Leslie, a Googong project director, builds homes for work and helps the homeless in his spare time. Every second Friday he serves up breakfast to the guests at the Early Morning Centre in Civic, boiled eggs and toast and a fruit salad with yoghurt was on the menu this week.
He said people don't really get the real sense of how vast Australia actually is, and he wanted to tackle the country by bike to get to know the real distance. He decided raise funds for the Early Morning Centre after seeing the work they do for some of Canberra's most vulnerable.
"I've been volunteering here for about three years. They do really wonderful work in a really practical way. I feel really honoured to work here," he said.
Mr Leslie's colleague Johnathan Drury and twin brother Gavin are joining Mr Leslie on the “bucket list adventure”. The men have already raised more than double their target of $10,000 for the Early Morning Centre, which helps provide a homely space and a decent meal for vulnerable Canberrans.
Mr Drury said he and his brother had been keen riders from the moment they were allowed to ride round the block growing up.
'When Malcolm suggested we ride across Australia, I didn't hesitate. It didn't take any convincing," he said.
"And the idea to combine a passion into an adventure and provide some small assistance to a really worthy cause was a no brainer."
Mr Drury said he felt riding a bike was one of the purest ways to explore a country.
"You appreciate every inch, you get to feel the elements. Its probably the only way to capture the vastness of a continent. Doing it self powered will be quite an achievement."
The men are hoping to cover about 160 kilometres a day, with the odd 220-kilometre say thrown in.
Each man will carry a tent, sleeping bag, just two changes of clothes, about six litres of water and a day-and-a-half supply of food. They've been planning the adventure for about 18 months, and while they've hit a few speedbumps on the journey, the trip will begin on October 30.
"It's been quite a challenge to actually get to the start line with everyone in one piece," Mr Drury said.
"When we started planning, Malcolm had just had major shoulder surgery and was in a sling. Then in January my brother got hit by a car and broke his arm in five places, it's healed now but it's held together by screws and plates. I play amateur baseball and I caught a ball with my face in the last game of the season, split my face open and was fairly concussed for a few days. But that's barely worth mentioning," he said.
The setbacks will only make the ending an even greater achievement, with a few family and friends set to meet the men at the beach in Tathra, to dip their front wheel - and toes - in the water.
While they've decided that's the official finish line, Mr Drury and Mr Leslie will ride back to Canberra to finish the trip, stopping in at the Early Morning Centre to say g'day.
Early Morning Centre director Nicole Wiggins said the ride would make a big difference to the centre’s operations.
“Although we receive government funding, we are very reliant on donations from our supporters to
cover costs and enable us to introduce new programs and services,” she said.
“It is a fabulous effort for the guys to donate their time and energy and such a massive undertaking to support us.
“Canberra has the second highest rate of rough sleepers in the country. Single men can wait up to
two weeks for a bed. Many come from interstate and can’t believe there are no beds because this is
the capital."
To donate, visit Breaking the Cycle.
