Nick's Epic Ride 2009/10

The original plan for this,my third Epic Ride,was to once again try and raise some awaerness and hopefully some money for the charity Athletes in Kind which is a small British Columbia based group who raise money for families of kids with cancer.During the ride and the months post ride I did indeed raise a modest amount and forwarded it on to Athletes in Kind.After little contact from the organisers of my chosen charity I decided to cut ties with them and continue future rides focussing instead on an illness which, while increasing in it's impact on western society,is still very much a hidden illness and one that tend to be talked about in very hushed tones...it is depression!

During this ride my personal experiences with depression are highlighted from time to time and toward the premature end of this trip the dark shadows of this horrible illness came to claim me once again.

I was to ride from Cairns in Far North Queensland,Australia,down the east coast to Sydney and then across Australia to Perth before heading off to Asia to continue the adventure.Sadly,ten days or so west of Sydney I received the news that my sick mother was getting worse and my ride ended in the middle of the bleak,winds wept expanses of the Hay Plains.Within five days of stalling the ride my eldest brother died in China and seven short weeks later my mother also died.This put an end to my ride as I focussed my attention on my fathers welfare.

I am not sure what will happen next but if I'm sure whatever happens from here on in,it will not be dull.