2011 Day 12

Today was a gorgeous sunny day. Likely the best day we have had so far on the tour. We started our day at a brand new school, Northumberland Hills Public School. This school is new, and amazing. It's big, it's bright and the kids were excited to see us.

My day didn't start off great, while waiting for the team to get bikes ready I was coasting down the road, unfortunately for me I hit a patch of gravel and down I went. It was a slow speed and I felt like I was falling in slow motion. I did manage to do somewhat of a side somersault while rolling around on the ground with my shoe clips still locked into

the pedals. It was a funny way to start the day, but I didn't know then, was it wasn't going to be the only time I found myself on the ground today !!!

Once inside we cut 3 ponies and shaved 10 heads and at the end of the assembly Pedal For Hope was presented with $3050.00 plus some hard earned money from the grade 3/4 class. They helped out by having a bottle and can drive. Great work !!!

One of the nicest moments of the day happened today at Northumberland Hills, as I walked into the gym I noticed a card on the table where we set up our P.A system. The hand made card was from Olivia and she wanted to let the team know that she was a champion last year in our obstacle course and brought her medal to school to show us. The letter went on to say

that she had the time of her life and she never got the chance to thank us for making her so popular in school. Well Olivia, I now have your card and I am putting it on my desk

in the Pedal For Hope headquarters. Thank you so much for your awesome kind words. It's students like you who keep us going day after day, kilometer after kilometer.

Our second stop of the day was in Baltimore, and for me it was the second wipe out of the day. As we were approaching the school you make a left turn and go straight up hill, way up hill. As I was out of my seat really hammering on the pedals, I could hear my gears having some serious problems. As I turned into the school driveway I tried to gear down so I was in a nice easy gear to be able to high five the students, unfortunately right than and there my chain came off and wedged in my pedal, and once again being clipped into my pedals, it was not a good time to come to a complete stop. Once your at a complete stop

with your feet locked into the pedals, theres only one place your going........DOWN !! I did manage to laugh that spill off too, but not as much as my team mates were laughing about it.

Mrs. Beale had Baltimore rocking as we cut 7 pony tails, shaved 6 heads, and of course dyed Mrs. Beale's hair bright red. This isn't the first time she has been subjected to this punishment by her students. Mrs. Beale is a great supporter of Pedal For Hope and we appreciate all her sacrifices for the cause.

The students presented us with $4543 that the school raised, plus we were presented with a cheque from Dance For Hope, which is a charity dance to remember Kim Hope, daughter of Carolyn and Tom Heffernan. We are honoured that the Heffernan family choose Pedal For Hope to be their charity of choice in remembering their daughter. Carolyn stepped up to the front of the school and presented the team with a cheque for $5206 !!!!

It didn't stop there, we also had an envelope presented to us containing $51.37, which was raised by selling bracelets to the students. Great work to Janessa, Adam, Nick, Kaylee, Drew, Colleen, Lexxi and Amy for being creative and having great initiative in your fundraising efforts.

Our final stop of the day was in Plainville, the only problem with that is once you leave Baltimore and turn onto Dale Road, it's all up hill. In fact we measured one hill that stretched up for over 6 km's. Now you might not think that's much when your in a car, but on a bicycle it feels like it's never going to end.

When we arrived at the school it was a sea of blue and yellow streamers, the kids were waving them all over the place like pom pom's on a cheerleader. It was a great sight in the gym as they waved them to the beat of the music.

Plainville Public School used our assembly as a kickoff to their fundraising campaign. We cut 7 ponies and shaved 2 heads. What made it special was the fact that the 2 head shaves were girls. Congrats to Mackenzie and Claire for supporting the cause. The Women's Olympic Team would be proud of you. Plainville definitely showed that 'Girls Rule'.

After the assembly we were back on our bikes travelling south towards Coburg, but this time we got to ride down the hill we struggled to get up, and it was fun and it was fast !!!!