 An Update from Maura
 SATURDAY 15th May, Glendale Merino Stud to Wellington/ Yeoval.
Well I didn’t quite make the 9am start. I rode away from Glendale at 10.15am. I am delighted to have met Pip and Norm and their wonderful kids. I felt like I’ve known these guys forever. This morning over breakfast we discussed some very exciting fundraising possibilities. Watch this space! Also Norm and Pip are helping me out with friends of theirs along the route I’m taking for paddocks/beds etc for us Crew! After the camping episode and -3 degree experience I’m happy to stay with people whenever possible.
 I’m staying with Alf and Sharon Cantrall of Yeoval tomorrow and Monday. Yeoval is the birth place of Banjo Paterson. When I was coming into the town there’s a heap of bikes hanging in trees, on signs and in the strangest places. I now know they are representative of Banjo’s famous poem Mulga Bill’s Bicycle. Each July they have the Mulga Bill Festival and last year had Jack Thompson as their special guess and he recited poetry to thousands at the sight of Banjo’s homesite. Also at the moment Alf Cantrell is attempting to have the biggest billy collection in the world and is doing a trade in on old billy’s. He’s taken my sorry looking billy that has a hole pierced in the bottom of it where I put the pack down on a sharp rock and punctured the bottom, I’ve been using it for a feed dipper, has no lid now (got mangled), took the handle off to use as a make shift tool for a job! It’s a very sorry little billycan addition for the Yeoval Billy collection.
Alf and Sharon are very generously lending me a vehicle to drive to Dubbo to visit the Grammar College to present “Mela-What?” and I also have an ABC interview. I’m also definitely visiting camping shop for new sleeping bag and also on the hunt for a canvas waterbag. In the 70’s we had a heap of them that used to hang on the bullbar of the truck. I haven’t seen one for 20 years. It’s a very practical way to carry water. I used about 3 litres a day for drinking water and tea. I have two days of camping when I leave here, then another 3 or 4 nights between Parkes and West Wyalong.
 I’m thinking of how much work this little team of three Meg, Wrangler and Billy have done, they have now walked a good 750-800 kms and I couldn’t be prouder of them. Today is a ‘rest day’ however I’m off to church in Yeoval soon, am currently doing a load of washing, updating the blog, then try and get cleaned up a little for church, then a lunch with members of Yeoval Pony Club.
Tomorrow by car to Dubbo for a school visit and an ABC radio interview, then back tomorrow afternoon and prepare for the ride on Tuesday from Yeoval to Parkes (2 days to cover 68kms). At this point praying for a warm frost free bed and a paddock half way along! Have a few people with feelers out for me. People are amazing though, have met heaps of people through the Pony Club networks and they’re so helpful, not to mention livestock producers, agents all putting their hands up where they can.
 So unlike the bike ride in Oct/Nov last year where I had my trusty family with me with back up vehicle etc, this time my back up crew emerges as I ride. Definitely an exercise in trust and patience, the road unfolds ever so gently in front of me each day as I ride. The right people seem to meander in at the right time and I’ve learnt to be bold and ask for what I need.
My apologies for no photo’s had a few rippers on my iphone but can’t download them? Anyone out there have any idea why when I download onto computer the photos are black? Maybe my good friend Jill Nolan is right and I froze my phone the night I camped out. When I got back in range there was a ‘very supportive’ message from her asking if I was out of range or had me and my phone froze! Both right Jillie!! LOL
You can read Maura's entire blog at www.ride4acure.com.au
Maura is looking for farms to stay at on her journey, if you can be of assistance could you please email Maura. Click here for her itinerary.
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