POSTIE bike adventurers Martin Murray and James “Macca” MacKenzie expect to finish a 4300-kilometre charity ride sometime this morning when their epic journey brings them into Broome, Western Australia.
The boys decided in April to ride postie bikes from Moree in NSW to Broome to raise money for Aussie Helpers, a charity formed in 2002 to help fight poverty and lift the spirits of farming families severely affected by drought in the outback.
They left Moree June 16, passing through a range of different farming systems from the fertile cotton growing regions of Northern NSW and Southern Queensland to the rich channel country and into the scenic cattle country of Northern Australia.
This week they completed the punishing 1000km-plus Tanami Track in a little over two days - "whoever named it a road was being generous," Martin said - and enjoyed a relatively easily ride down Highway 1 from near Halls Creek to Roebuck on Tuesday.
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Once again severe corrugations, deep ruts, and dust tested the boys as they left Alice Springs and crossed from the Territory into Western Australia.
"Only the odd horse, dingo, camel or donkey broke the monotony but we kept pressing on," Martin said.
In scenes reminiscent of the ABC TV's Bush Mechanics, the hardy souls have kept their severely shaken bikes together utilising fencing plies and duct tape.
The trip has seen both bikes break countless wheel spokes and countless flat tyres, but with the end in sight the boys’ spirits were high.
A long road ahead.
Getting the bikes prepped.
Macca and Martin are very close to meeting their fundraising target of $10,000, which will go to the farmer aid organisation Aussie Helpers.
After a brief break in Broome the boys are looking forward to making their way - not on their trusty 110cc posties - back to resume their studies at the University of New England, Armidale, in NSW.
- Donations can be made via Everyday Hero. Follow the boys on Facebook here.
Click photos to see more pics in our online gallery.