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Hi Paul and co,

My dear friend Michelle alerted me to the website, as we are yet
another group of adventure seekers awaiting the call for the next
GREAT RIDE.  I have been on all three rides, riding on the first two
and assisted with the Mpumalanga ride as a volunteer and yes I would
be interested firstly to ride but otherwise to get together and pursue
the concept.  If need be I can get my hands dirty again as long as the
beers are cold at night.

Regards,

Charl Geyser

Sounded like a neat route suggested and for what it is worth – I would be keen
to help a team of folk get together and pursue the concept.  Flying over and
back to organise the thing was never the idea and is kinda silly.

Again for what it is worth some random comments I would make are
• The most important mistakes are generally made on the very first day.  These
gigs are not easy and there have been lots try around the world and some
succeed.  I would suggest respect and interrogation of those that have and have
not is a fair starting point.
• I liked the keep it simple to start with – many have begun this way – and it
will need some big thinking and risk taking later
• I have typically worked with and for NGOs and this feels like a much better
fit than other models.  And I like the words of Bill who organises the Woodford
Music Festival – “every music festival must aspire to save the world first…”
• If the team of people organising the thing are having fun and enjoying working
with each other, they are more likely to do it again.  So if the going gets
tough on a gig – it is almost never helpful to point out what someone is doing
wrong.
• I reckon South African’s were as easy as any to deal with and found people
very appreciative.  I do confess to still being constantly confronted and
affronted by the legacies of South Africa’s history.
• I have great faith in the concept and reckon the key from here is to have it
managed locally and avoid the remote management
• We have a list of many thousands of cyclists in Sa that probably has a half
life of a couple of years or so.  And a little black book of people we have met
who have shown interest.

So sing out if you want to get together and think I can help.

Paul

Hi Everyone

I tried sending this off last night but I suspect that it didn't go off.   My apologies if you are receiving this a second time:

I think Richard has a good idea here and we could start fine tuning it to bring it into reality.   I also agree with Richard that we should not close down this fantastic emailing system which reaches so many people of like mind.

Another thought:   All told, from the three rides which Paul and his guys organised, there must be over 1000 SA cyclists who participated.   Out of that large number is there not one person or group of people who is prepared to organise something similar?   As good - if not better - than what the Aussies showed us?   Whether it be for profit, a club set-up or even some kind of fund-raising for charity event - won’t somebody please step up to the plate?

Surely one thousand South Africans aren’t going to let this thing die because a handful of Aussies who showed us the way originally no longer appear to be so keen.  

Come on guys, let’s do something to organise another long ride!

Colin Pritchard

Hi folks,   Before you all sign off, is anyone interested in the idea of a small, privately organised ride from George to Swellendam via Oudtshoorn, Calitzdorp, Ladysmith, Barrydale.  My idea is to use B & B's.  First, drive over the route, in reverse, from Swellendam to George, dropping off small parcels of clothes at each B & B.  Then park the car at George and ride to Swellendam, stopping each night at the B & B's.  On arriving at George, either park the bikes and ride by coach back to George or use the Bazz bus which, I think takes bikes.  This is just an idea, nothing fixed yet, maybe November this year?   Anyone interested??   Regards  Richard Warnes. --- On Wed, 9/10/08, <paulm@greateventcompany.com> wrote: From: <paulm@greateventcompany.com> Subject: [GreatCycling] pauls response To: GreatCycling@yahoogroups.com Received: Wednesday, September 10, 2008, 11:58 PM Hey Christo et al, Yes the website has been quiet and I have been having a lovely break from constant travelling – doing some pedalling (sometimes on my gorgeous new tandem/triple) http://picasaweb. google.com/ paultmckay/ WhereIsJulia# 5234559566911558 290 (as a tandem in South australia) (http://picasaweb. google.com/ paultmckay/ LilydaleWarburto nTrip on single bikes In germany http://picasaweb. google.com/ paultmckay/ WhereIsJulia# 5208565676040130 706 As a triple http://picasaweb. google.com/ paultmckay/ WhereIsJulia# 5208565785443342 066 On my favourite road in Aus http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=VjkjLaDcIRI and and spinning some plates on cycle projects in Aus. The Mpum ride did take place (here are some pics http://picasaweb. google.com/ paultmckay/ ChrisSGmpBRPics. Had about 100 peddlers and was a jolly nice trip – no floods and everything worked. We don’t have firm plans and dates for the next gig in SA yet (personally I liked the pedal I did along the coast a couple of years ago – mossell Bay, still bay, Witsand, Aniston, Gans Baai..). Initially, I not intended to be flying over and pulling the events together – rather to show another person or group how to do it all. (We reckon we know lots about the rides but trying to run them remotely is fraught – particularly given the vagries and unique history and culture/s of South Africa). That hasn’t eventuated to date and I have resolve not to schedule the next event/s still we have identified the right person/people to support. I remain confident that this will happen within a year or so. So I reckon its ok to ditch the list and when we reactive – we can resurrect it. Thanks Christo for all your help with this – you have been fantastic (and I have a smile of appreciation in my heart when I recall your whisper at the wine shop with the brocken bus and I arrive all concerned and trying to sort things out – you called me aside and said “this is not a problem Paul” amidst increasingly rowdy and lubricated revellers). Thanks for that and all your help and support Christo and others on the list. And in the meantime – if any of you are popping over to Melbourne and want to know where to ride – sing out eh. Paul McKay (and apologies for the delay in responding - had to make a new password to be able to sne dvia the webmail cause my mail server didnt like it)

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Hey Christo et al,

Yes the website has been quiet and I have been having a lovely break from
constant travelling – doing some pedalling (sometimes on my gorgeous new
tandem/triple)

http://picasaweb.google.com/paultmckay/WhereIsJulia#5234559566911558290 (as a
tandem in South australia)
(http://picasaweb.google.com/paultmckay/LilydaleWarburtonTrip on single bikes
In germany
http://picasaweb.google.com/paultmckay/WhereIsJulia#5208565676040130706
As a triple
http://picasaweb.google.com/paultmckay/WhereIsJulia#5208565785443342066
On my favourite road in Aus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjkjLaDcIRI
and and spinning some plates on cycle projects in Aus.  The Mpum ride did take
place (here are some pics
http://picasaweb.google.com/paultmckay/ChrisSGmpBRPics.  Had about 100 peddlers
and was a jolly nice trip – no floods and everything worked.

We don’t have firm plans and dates for the next gig in SA yet (personally I
liked the pedal I did along the coast a couple of years ago – mossell Bay, still
bay, Witsand, Aniston, Gans Baai..).  Initially, I not intended to be flying
over and pulling the events together – rather to show another person or group
how to do it all.  (We reckon we know lots about the rides but trying to run
them remotely is fraught – particularly given the vagries and unique history and
culture/s of South Africa).  That hasn’t eventuated to date and I have resolve
not to schedule the next event/s still we have identified the right
person/people to support.  I remain confident that this will happen within a
year or so.

So I reckon its ok to ditch the list and when we reactive – we can resurrect it.
Thanks Christo for all your help with this – you have been fantastic (and I have
a smile of appreciation in my heart when I recall your whisper at the wine shop
with the brocken bus and I arrive all concerned and trying to sort things out –
you called me aside and said “this is not a problem Paul” amidst increasingly
rowdy and lubricated revellers).

Thanks for that and all your help and support Christo and others on the list. 
And in the meantime – if any of you are popping over to Melbourne and want to
know where to ride – sing out eh.

Paul McKay

(and apologies for the delay in responding - had to make a new password to be
able to sne dvia the webmail cause my mail server didnt like it)

Yahoo! Canada Toolbar : Search from anywhere on the web and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now!

***  You can ignore this message  ***

This discussion group is by its very nature seasonal: between cycling tours not
much is discussed here and it gets very quiet.  Too quiet for its own good, in
fact.

This message is sent out automatically once a month to prevent the group from
being deemed inactive and made dormant by the powers that be.   :)

***  You can ignore this message  ***

This discussion group is by its very nature seasonal: between cycling tours not
much is discussed here and it gets very quiet.  Too quiet for its own good, in
fact.

This message is sent out automatically once a month to prevent the group from
being deemed inactive and made dormant by the powers that be.   :)

***  You can ignore this message  ***

This discussion group is by its very nature seasonal: between cycling tours not
much is discussed here and it gets very quiet.  Too quiet for its own good, in
fact.

This message is sent out automatically once a month to prevent the group from
being deemed inactive and made dormant by the powers that be.   :)

***  You can ignore this message  ***

This discussion group is by its very nature seasonal: between cycling tours not
much is discussed here and it gets very quiet.  Too quiet for its own good, in
fact.

This message is sent out automatically once a month to prevent the group from
being deemed inactive and made dormant by the powers that be.   :)