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"Live Your Life with Passion"

Thursday 20th June
Alternate Thursday Ride
Stud Rd to Berwick and Return - 10.30 am start at Stud Rd

This week we will be repeating a popular ride from Stud Rd to Berwick and back. The ride will start at the Dandenong Indoor Sports Stadium (enter from Stud Rd, near Monash Freeway) at 10.30 am sharp. There is a huga varpark here and it is right on the bike path. We will then follow an interesting colelction of (mostly sealed) bike paths to Berwick. That's where we will stop for lunch before the shorter ride back. When we ran this ride last it was agreed by everyone that it was great fun and gave a good variation to our regular rides.

Next Sunday 23rd June
Newport to Point Cook and back
Bike Paths ride - start at Newport at 10.00 am

This Sunday we will be exploring the other side of the city when we ride from Newport to Point Cook and back again. The ride will start at Newport at The Strand car park at 10.00 am. This is the same start point that we use when we do the Maribyrnong River ride except this time we will be heading in the opposite direction towards Williamstown and around the bay. The ride follows a mixture of great new sealed bike paths to Point Cook. That's where we stop for lunch before the alternate route back to the start. The ride is FLAT and therefore suitable for riders of most levels of fitness. It also gives a fascinating look into this rapidly changing side of our city. Riders would be encouraged to car pool to save petrol for this ride. To assist with planning all those who are planning to take part are asked to let me know beforehand. This would also be a great ride to invite along friends or family members.

Monday June 10th - Inner City Bike Paths
Now Completed

How fortunate we were that this year's Queen's Birthday ride was completed in perfect winter weather. After some record rainfall in Melbourne in the previous week it was a relief to see the clouds part long enough for us to enjoy a wonderful day on the bikes. With a good contingent of riders from the MOB cycling group we had a total peloton of near 30 riders (it would have been even bigger if a couple of riders had not got lost at the start). It was a great chance to explore a side of Melbourne that many are completely unaware of. The ride was also conducted without punctures or incidents. Thanks to all those that took part.

Ghostriders 2013 Bhutan and Thailand Cycling Adventure
Now Safely Completed!

I am pleased to say that the last of our participants have now returned safely to Australia following the completion of our 2013 Bhutan and Thailand Cycling Adventures. This trip was memorable for all the right reasons - we had a fantastic group of participants, the logistics went without a hitch, our support staff were amazing, the hotels were much better than we expected, we survived the world's most dangerous landing (and take off) at Paro airport and we had no cycling accidents in spite of cycling hundreds of km on some of the world's worst roads. We all LOVED Bhutan and counted it a real privelege to have had the change to visit one of the world's few remaining unique cultures. The heat of Thailand was a challenge but we all prevailed in spite of the 40C and high humidity. I have returned approx 5 kg lighter than when I left so I will have to work hard to put back on the weight I have lost. As soon as I have had a chance to go through my pictures I will start posting some images of our trip.

Ghostriders Scandinavian Ride
June 2014 - Join us as we cycle our way through Sweden and Finland

Plans for our first Scandinavian Ride are now well advanced. The plan is to start in Stockholm in mid June and then spend 3 nights there before spending the next week enjoying some of the best cycling that Sweden has to offer. Then we fly to Turku in Finland to begin our week of riding there. The trip will finish with three nights in Helsinki. The total length of the Scandinavian Cycle will be approx 3 weeks. After that you can return to Australia or join us on an optional extension ride in the UK. The Coast to Coast ride will take us through the famous Lakes District of the UK and will give you a chance to put your improved cycling skills to the test.

There has already been a huge interest in this ride so, if you would like to be a part of it, you should let me know of your interest now. I plan to hold an Information Evening on this trip within the next few weeks and that is when all the details will be made public. Watch out for updates !

Tuesday Night Rides
These are now in recess till the beginning of Springtime

These rides were introduced at the start or 2013 on a trial basis. Theye were originally only intended to run until the end of February however they proved so much fun that they were actually continued right through to the end of May. They have now been put into recess until the start of springtime. Watch out for updates in three months time.

Ghostriders Kiwi Adventure
Cycling the South Island in March 2014
Only 2 spaces left - don't miss out !

Although the Ghostriders have cycled and trekked all over the world, up to now we have never cycled in another English speaking country. Next year we plan to correct this oversight when we undertake our first New Zealand trip. This will take place in the second half of March 2014 and has been carefully planned to provide us with the best best cycling opportunities that the South Island provides. It is NOT a catalogue trip but has been specially put together for us by Adventure South (a division of World Expeditions). The trip will be about 11 days in duration and that includes 7 days of cycling. Along the way we will be completing the famous Otago Rail Trail and several other scenic rides. The package includes all accommodation (twin share), most meals, bike hire, guide, support vehicle and entry fees. The group size will be limited to between 12 - 16 participants.

	Images from our proposed 2014 Kiwi Cycling Adventure. But rather than look at someone else's pictures, why not join us and take your own pictures along the way ?

Big Breakfast Ride
Thursday Jan 10th

Riders gathering at Wandin for the start of our Breakfast Ride (7 am 10th Jan)

After the ride we gathered for a relaxing hot breakfast at the Carriage Cafe in Seville

On Thursday Jan 10th we started the new year with our first Breakfast Ride for 2013. It was encouraging to see so many riders triumph over the demands of sleep and present themselves at Wandin for the start at 7 am. We had perfect riding conditions and the breakfast at Wandin gave us a great chance to chat and make plans for the year ahead. Approximately 25 people shared breakfast together (and heard a couple of very good jokes as well). We also had the privelege of welcoming Leonie de Lacey as Ghostrider number 118. Leonie was introduced to our group by Pascale and has completed quite a number of rides with us over the past twelve months. I hope she shares many happy rides and adventures with us in the years ahead.

Ghostrider 2013 Calendar
FREE Download !

The new 2013 Ghostrider Calendar is now available for immediate download in pdf format. Simply click here to download it to your computer. The new calendar features a set of stunning colour images from our 2012 adventures in Africa, Turkey and Greece. It not only shows all public and school holidays, but all planned Ghostrider activities for the new year ahead. Why not download it now and print it out for future reference ? You may also like to print it out to give to friends as a talking point.

You will notice that we have introduced a number of new rides and activites for 2013. One exciting new addition is the inclusion of Summer Night Rides each Tuesday evening for the months of January and February. If you have suitable lighting for your bike this will be a great way to enjoy a ride on those lovely warm summer nights. Watch out for more details on these rides.

Ghostriders Turkish Delights & Greek Odyssey Adventures
Now Completed !

I am pleased to announce that our 2012 Turkish Delights and Greek Odyssey Adventures are now completed with all our our participants now safely back home in Australia. Like all our previous adventures, these latest two were full of highlights (some of them planned). In the next few weeks I will share some images and stories from our amazing experiences. Our next overseas adventure is schduled for May 2013 when we will be heading off to Bhutan on an exciting bicycling journey through the hidden kingdom in the Himalayas.

Ghostriders in Cappadocia, Turkey in September 2012.

Yarra Junction to Noojee via "The Bump"
Sunday 18th March
A Very Enjoyable Ride for all

With fine and cool conditions this ride was enjoyed by all those who took part. The only one who had a puncture was me, but that was the only blight on a great day in the saddle. This undulating ride is always appreciated by the light weight whippets of the peloton. For those of us who have been blessed with a more substantial physique, gravity is not always our friend.

This ride begins in Yarra Junction and follows the road to Powelltown, about 20 km away. Powelltown is an old timber town that appears to have seen much better days but it does offer a convenient rest break before the serious climb begins in earnest. Soon after leaving Powelltown the road kicks up sharply to around 7% or so as you climb up to the highest point of the ride - the aptly called "Bump". Once over the bump we enjoyed a very fast descent for several kilometres. It was in this section that I became conscious that my front tyre was rapidly deflating and had to pull over to repair it. By the time it was fixed the main group was miles ahead and so I continued the final leg to Noojee with David Brown. At noojee we enjoyed a nice lunch in the sun, although the unexpected rush of new business apparently palyed havoc with the ordering system at the general store as several rders would have missed out on their coffees if they had not gone back in to remind the owners of their unfilled orders.

On the return leg the road again climbs steadily once you leave Noojee. By this time of the day some of our riders (including me) were reminded of the fact that we have not done much hill climbing in recent months and each new rising incline was met with feelings of dread. The climb over the Bump, however, is not as long from this side and, once you are over the top, you know that the worst is now over. By this time the grey skies had cleared to a beautiful sunny afternoon and we were able to appreciate the final 20 km back to Yarra Junction. At the end of the ride several riders were commenting on their tired legs but all agreed that it had been a beautiful ride.

Riders gathered at the summit of "The Bump" on the way to Noojee - Sunday 18th March 2012

*********************

Overseas Adventure Challenges
Q. What's Next ?
A. Bhutan - the hidden Buddhist Kingdom of the Himalayas

Question: What do the places Kunming, Kathmandu, Delhi, Bangkok, Munich, Dali, Li Jiang, Jaipur, Yangshuo, Vienna, Budapest, Guilin, Paris, London, Agora, Hong Kong, Dubai, Pokhara, Passau, Santiago, Lima, Cusco, Arequipa, Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Walvis Bay, Livingstone, Swakopmund, Johanessburg, Pretoria, Prague, Dresden, Ulm, Istanbul, Antalya, Athens, Thira, Delphi, Ephesus, Wangaratta and Warburton all have in common ?
Answer: They have all been visited by the Ghostriders in the past 6 years !

OVERSEAS ADVENTURE CHALLENGES - PAST AND FUTURE
2006 Tiger Leaping Gorge - completed
2007 - Tiger Leaping Gorge - completed
2008 - Limestone Trail - completed
Mar 2009 - Annapurna-Dhauligiri A- completed
Mar 2009 - Annapurna-Dhauligiri B- completed
Apr 2009 - India Discovery Tour - completed
Apr 2009 - Cambodia & Angkor Watt - completed
Sep 2009 - Danube Ride (Europe) - completed
Sep 2010 - Peru Cycle & Inca Trail Trek- completed
Oct 2010 - Argentina & Iguassu Falls - completed
Aug/Sep 2011 - Extended European Ride - completed
Sep 2011 - Czech Surprise - Elbe River Ride - completed
April 2012 - Under African Skies - completed
Sep 2012 - Turkish Delights- completed
Oct 2012 - Greek Odyssey - completed
May 2013 - Ghostriders Bhutan by Bike - full
May 2013 - Thailand - Burma Railway Cycle - full
Sep 2013 - Loire Valley Ride in France - full
March 2014 - New Zealand South Island Explorer - only two spaces left
June 2014 - Scandinavian Cycle - Sweden & Finland - bookings open soon
June/July 2014 - UK bike ride- bookings open soon
Sep 2014 - Adriatic Adventure - details available soon
2015 - let me know your suggestions

All overseas adventures are open to men and women who are fit and active with well developed senses of adventure and good sense of humour. You do not have to be an experienced cyclist but you will need to be prepared to complete a realistic training program to adequately prepare for the challenges ahead.

You can either stay at home and think of a hundred reasons why you can't go, or else you can take a step at fulfilling some of your dreams. Once the decision is made, the details have a way of taking care of themselves.

I can also arrange to meet with your cycling group to give them more information on these trips. Ring me on 03 5968 3307 for details.

In the interests of keeping this page to a manageable size I have archived some ride stories to another page. If you've got some time to spare you can read dozens of previous adventures by clicking here. E-mail messages should be sent to Dennis.