A few years after a terrible heatwave in NSW that struck Bourke people very badly, one of my great-uncles, Walter John NORTHCOTE, and three of his mates decided to ride pushbikes from Bourke to Sydney at the height of summer in January 1899. Walter ran a bike shop in Bourke so at least he would have had good access to suitable bikes. It seems the purpose of the ride was "to see the country". Talk about a tough ride!
Source: The Bourke Banner, 18 January 1899
Why did they choose January for their excursion???
ReplyDeleteVery good question! I don't know the answer:)
ReplyDeleteWere they nuts?? The temperatures would have been ridiculous!
ReplyDeleteWas there a follow up story when they returned?
ReplyDeleteThere were a few stories along the way and afterwards but they were mainly about a brand of bike called a Speedwell which apparently didn't fare too well on the rough trip. I'll have to write another blogpost about it:)
ReplyDelete