THE EXPEDITION OF HARDY & GALLOWAY
We joined in on the Rapha Explore ride out into the heart of the fire affected regions of the Adelaide Hills.
We can only truly begin this story by introducing you to the two heroes of the day – the fearless and handsome exploratory duo:
Captains Max Hardy and Patrick Galloway.
On this warm, but not hot Tuesday morning they would be leading the Rapha Explore ride, otherwise known as the Wahoo Roam Ride. It would serve as Adrian & Kip’s first proper journey aboard two wheels since arriving in Adelaide on Saturday evening.
This explore ride would take us along familiar territory for the most part, with a few gravel sectors through pockets of the Adelaide Hills we had never encountered before.
The most familiar parts came first, with a long, extended drag up and out of the Adelaide CBD, through the suburbs and towards Gorge Rd. It was a route we’d travelled so many times before we were blessed with the opportunity to switch autopilot on, and take the chance to make some new friends within our bunch of 20 or so – a handful of which seemed to be making their maiden trip to the Tour Down Under.
THE EXPEDITION OF HARDY & GALLOWAY ROUTE: WAHOO ROAM RIDE
Distance: 92.6km / Elevation Gain: +1570m
I: SAFE PASSAGE
It was much the same story as we passed through the Gorge. We had gotten to learn its twists, turns, each undulation and each crevice in the road during past expeditions. What made this particular journey different was the presence of other, very similar groups making the same strides towards the upper regions of the Adelaide Hills.
Passing through Cuddlee Creek is where we would see one of our brave companions succumb to the conditions, penned by Kip it was a simple letter home.
“Going to do my own thing. All g?”
Received via Wahoo Telegram. The message was received loud and clear right as the main expedition party made a right hand turn onto a gravel road, where the real exploration began.
II: ALL THAT REMAINS
That particular gravel road in regard to surface and topography seemed innocuous enough. Our expedition captains assured us 25mm tyres on a road bike would be suitable, albeit listed as the bare minimum. A few corners later things began to change in all kinds of ways. The pitch of the road steepened, the small rocks let their presence known a lot more emphatically, and sandy shoulders meant that lines actually had to be picked up the little rises.
The other notable change was the ever intensifying smell of charcoal filling the air – those who were asthmatic began feeling the effects almost immediately. It was a very evident, physical reminder of the bushfires that had moved through the area just weeks before.
We had taken a road that was sat in the bottom of a gully, snaking its way around local farmland, before rising steadily, and then more rudely to a ridgeline that was flanked by vineyards, orchards and homes. Some stood, others were razed, some had blackened earth right up to their front door step. As we began our descent we were looked down upon by charred trees, bleak orange leaves all that remained on their branches, stark forest landscapes all that we could see ahead of us.
We were spat out of the charred bushland to a tarmac road that led us into Lobethal, a stones throw away. The confronting scenes of the last 10km along the gravel road weren’t done haunting us yet, as remnants of the fires crept their way right up to the fringes of the Lobethal township.
Road closures because of construction and recovery efforts meant Captains Hardy & Galloway had to think quickly, opting to descent down to near where we had come from, and climb up through another region heavily affected by the fires.
MEANWHILE…
Our aforementioned lone companion was traversing the climb the rest of the group would arrive at soon after. Instead of taking the road less paved, Kip had chosen to make his way directly to Fox Creek, a mountain biking haven, a road with a short but sharp climb, and the gateway between Cuddlee Creek and the Ranges of Basket & Forest.
At the crest of the Fox Creek climb, just as the blackened ground seemingly began to dissipate, the main expedition party turned right onto another section of gravel – this time a road that didn’t bother in hiding the fact it was rudely up hill from the get go. From both sides you could see the blending of black and brown scenery, but for the first time in almost half an hour of riding, looking to your left – which would be to the south, you could catch glimpses of green, and untouched fruit trees fluttering in the breeze, taking in the mid-morning sun.
III: CLOSE CALLS
It would be along this stretch of gravel road that Captain Hardy would nearly come to grief with some local fauna – more specifically: a Kangaroo. When retelling the story to absent companions from the morning expedition, he was asked to refer to colour association when recounting exactly what had happened, as the blur of the entire incident meant specific details were hazy. What we do know is that a 45º angle skid and other evasive manouveurs prevented an almighty accident on the road.
“At first it was definitely a dusty brown, all for the Kangaroo and our surroundings. Then I would say it was all about blue, as in ‘Keep it Cool’. I was a bit hesitant to use the brakes as they actually work in the sense that they bring me to a complete stop on the spot, and I didn’t know if I wanted that at the time…”
– CAPTAIN HARDY
IV: ON NOT BLAMING THE TOOLS
It would be along the ridgeline of the second gravel section where our other companion Adrian would come to terms with the gravity of the expedition. Already left teary eyed from the first journey through charred bushland, the past half hour had been incredibly eye opening and confronting.
Another aspect of the expedition that seemed quite difficult was the terrain, and the toll it took on Adrian’s tyres. He was down 3 tubes and counting, now fresh out of spares, stocks of patience even lower. Fixing his third for the morning he cut his losses, returned to the tarmac and made his way back towards the city.
And that’s where we must leave you. Harking back to the opening passage of the retelling of this mid-week expedition might have you wondering, what gave Captains Hardy & Galloway the respective titles of “heroes”? It’s quite simple.
With experience on such expeditions, Captain Galloway was able to assist in the first of 3 punctures, whilst maintaining contact for the second and third, ensuring safe return home. All of which was much appreciated.
As for Captain Hardy, well to come face to face with a Kangaroo and come out the other side unscathed is no easy feat, but a particular aspect of his heroism comes through his encouraging words in getting us to join this particular expedition – as what we saw, smelt, and the emotions we had felt during that morning won’t be forgotten any time soon.
