Day 9 - Moe to Melbourne

Posted: 13/11/2007 11:19:41 AM

There could have been any number of sounds that the ride group would have been happy to hear at 4am the morning of the final stage ride from Moe to Melbourne – rain was not one of them.  Rumor has it however, ride manager Steve Plakotaris was spotted and overheard having a rather pointed discussion with the sky, in the rain, at about 4.30am.  Now, we’re not making any suggestions of divine intervention or anything like that, but the rain did stop around 4.45 and by mid day (despite all the forecasts) the skies cleared and a beautiful spring day paved the way for The K4K’s triumphant ride home.
 
The day’s route was straight down the Princess Highway, flat and fast despite having to go a few rounds with some nasty headwinds.  But with 870k’s under their belts, the group was riding and working together like a well oiled machine.  Every one of us happy if not anxious to be riding for the finish line.  Before making our grand entrance at Erdi Plaza, we took control of Beach Road for about 5ks, en route to Café Racer for a well deserved coffee in our first of three finishing events.  As always Danny Colls and the Café Racer crew took superb care of the riders, who were then ready for the final 7k parade to the Sandridge Bridge at Erdi Plaza.  With appropriate fanfare, thanks to Michael Deverall and the Vic Police, we welcomed our police escort and proudly made our way to the finish.   
 
And what a finish it was.  No less than 100 people turned out to welcome home The K4K.  Family, friends, sponsors, media and invited guests impatiently waited at the top of Sandridge Bridge as the ride grouped made their last climb (and there were plenty along the way) of the ride.  Needless to say there was no shortage of emotion as it finally hit us – we made it.  Just over a thousand kilometers of hills; heat; sun; rain; wind; traffic; mechanical problems, lousy sandwiches and countless other hazards all behind us, we were home and it felt great, it felt better than great, it felt like home.  That feeling was made even more special by the generosity of The Grand Hotel and its staff who pulled out all the stops with their food and beverage catering, fit for the VIPs we were.  While we ate, drank, laughed and cried we had three final bits of business to attend to in the way of presenting our last two grants to Hannah Maynard and Esther Overton and through Les Erdi we were also due to meet with Mayor John So at Melbourne Town Hall who would officially welcome us to Melbourne, present Esther her grant and close the event – with style.

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