Rain halts Treadlers
Friday, 13th July, 2012
Cyclist June Files.
By Kurtis Eichler
Thunder, hail and the odd downpour has conspired against the Silver City Treadler’s charity bike ride.
The 18 riders had to turn back 115km north of White Cliffs on Wednesday after striking bad weather on their way to Tibooburra.
More than 18mm fell in the area, closing roads and making it impossible for the cyclists to continue.
Since yesterday, they’ve been stranded at Questa Park Station, 60km north of White Cliffs, unable to move.
The wild weather is a major setback to the group’s Broken Hill to Tibooburra leg of their Royal Flying Doctor charity ride.
If the wet weather fails to clear, they’ll be picked up at White Cliffs by car and taken back to Broken Hill until the roads are open.
But if the roads dry out, they’ll continue on.
Founder of the Treadlers, June Files was surprisingly cheery about the group’s unplanned setback.
“It’s all fun and games... an adventure,” the champion fundraiser said.
The cyclists had planned to be in Tibooburra by yesterday. After staying four-nights, they would start the second-leg of their 316km trek to Innamincka on Sunday.
“We just can’t move... we didn’t expect an inch-and-a-half of rain,” she said.
“We have to sit the rain out and hopefully we can head back to White Cliffs.”
After Innamincka they’ll do a 17-day round trip through Birdsville and other small towns.
But for the time being, they’re staying put.
“This is the time when city people learn you just have to learn to wait it out.
“They wish they’d bought some cards.
“Everything’s just up in the air.”
The Treadlers left Broken Hill on July 1 and have so far ridden through Menindee, Wilcannia and White Cliffs.
They aim to raise $25,000 by riding 2200km over seven weeks.
