Remember Richard Groom, this extraordinary Aussie I met on a Bikeway?

Well he is off celebrating his 85th Birthday. He wants to do the 160 kms Brisbane Raleigh Rail Trail https://www.brisbanevalleyrailtrail.com.au/ – heading out in the first week in June and back on the Friday, the day Stu, their son died in a car accident, as he and his wife go out for coffee every Friday to commemorate him.

He set off early on a Monday morning and the plan was to have done the trail by Friday in time to go and have coffee with his wife as they always do.

Well it was an adventure and a half and I am happy to report he is back in one piece and enjoying his well deserved coffee. Here is his report :

“Greetings Marina,

Not born with phone in hand….and worse still is the fact that in times passed I have sent photos by phone. 

Trip went well until Tuesday, day two when about 7 km north of Esk I stopped to take a photo of the big sky country…magnificent contrast with clouds, rolling low hills etc.

Bugger, where’s me phone…?  where’s me body belt with money , cards , etc…. yes back at ESK cafe!!!, so flat out back to the cafe to find that the wonderful serving wenches had picked it up

where I’d left it…not only that, checked the contents searching for contacts…found Lucy and Sue’s ph  number…rung both etc etc…Sue “not happy Jan”… “no more solo rides for you”

So the cheerful wenches called “have a good ride Darlin’ ..” as I slunk away…thankful for the honesty of country people.

Day two improved with magnificent horizons…interspersed with some really bone shaking track… and a mini disaster when the spare battery broke its mounts and shot off into the boondocks.

More to follow later today…Sue and I heading off to Indro for our Friday coffee

cheers for now, Richard.

Happy 85th Birthday Richard – you are a shining light to us all.