Recently Michael Davey rode into Mt Isa on his pushbike ride around Australia raising much-needed funds for the Kids With Cancer Foundation.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Riding through Sydney, up the Princes Highway to Brisbane and then to Rockhampton Mr Davey, along with his wife Barbara, turned left and rode along the Capricorn Highway to Longreach and on to Mt Isa.
So far, the Daveys have raised almost $8000 for the foundation.
Mr Davey continues to be interviewed by local news networks, 2SM in Sydney and on ABC radio, as well as weekly interviews with Pete Brampton on 2ST.
A remarkable thing happened only last week just before Barcaldine when Mr Davey was stopped by a courier who rang Ray Hadley on 2GB in Sydney. Mr Hadley was excited about what the Daveys are doing and is now following the journey, with regular interviews along the way.
“It is great to get on Ray Hadley's program. Being a nationally broadcast radio show the publicity is phenomenal,” Mr Davey said.
“We've had numerous people make online donations saying they heard us on Ray's program.”
The adventures continue for the Daveys.
In Duaringa, a small town in central Queensland, they were sitting on a verandah of a pub having dinner when a local sitting near them took off one of his thongs and ran at the couple.
“I was in a panic thinking this bloke is going to smack me around the chops with his thong,” Mr Davey said, “But no, he slams his thong on the head of a copperhead snake, just millimetres from my foot.”
Not long after this, the Daveys had another interesting experience a little further inland.
“We were in Longreach, the outback capital of Queensland and went to this restaurant called The Woolshed. But the only food they serve in this restaurant is Thai food,” Mr Davey said, laughing.
There are many challenges that Mr Davey has faced including riding in 40 degree heat day after day and into a hot headwind which continually blows down from the north in the warmer months.
In high temperatures such as this, dehydration is a real and ever-present concern.
“Riding from Longreach to Cloncurry, a distance of over 500km in 40 degree heat, really hit me hard. When I reached McKinlay I was seriously dehydrated. But the wonderful people at the Walkabout Creek Hotel made famous by Paul Hogan in Crocodile Dundee, put us up for two days in a cabin for free. I spent one of those days in the air conditioning sipping water between naps,” Mr Davey said.
“And my wife has been a great help regularly stopping in our support vehicle with watermelon, grapes and cold water all from our Esky.”
Spending so much time on the road with numerous trucks can be hazardous, especially in central and western Queensland with many road trains.
"It’s amazing," Mr Davey said.
“The road trains can have five carriages towed behind them and all up the road train can have 90 wheels. They are just so long and the rear carriage moves sideways a great deal making it a dangerous proposition for a cyclist.
“I have been passed by thousands of trucks since leaving home and only had two very close calls, both with road trains.
“About 10kms before Mt Isa, a road train squeezed me off the highway and down a very steep embankment. I went over the handlebars but incredibly, I landed on my feet. With no injuries and the bike still in one piece, I had reason to smile,” he said.
The Northern Territory is now only 200km ahead and Darwin should be reached in a little over 14 days.
To make an online tax-deductible donation or to follow the Daveys on their journey please go to www.journeyofcharity.com.au and follow the links.