After weeks of relentless headwinds and demanding days in the saddle, 82-year-old Bob Montgomery was grateful for the welcome change in conditions as his extraordinary cross-country journey passed through Bourke.
Bob and his 18-year-old grandson, Tom Malcolm, spent Monday night in Bourke before continuing south towards Nyngan on Tuesday morning.
The pair stopped briefly at the Mulga Creek Hotel in Byrock, where Bob spoke with Rod Corfe on Outback Mornings about their 5,290-kilometre journey from Broome to Bowral in support of motor neurone disease research.
“We’ve been averaging about 130 or 140 kilometres a day, which is quite hard in itself,” Bob said.
“We’ve certainly been blessed with no rain, but we’ve had these southerly winds blowing and they’ve been very, very tough.
“Physically it’s okay, but mentally, when every day you wake up to another howling wind in your face, it becomes very hard.”
Bob and Tom left Broome on June 22 for the challenge, known as Miles for MND: One Last Ride.
It is Bob’s sixth major long-distance charity ride and his fifth in support of people affected by motor neurone disease.
His commitment to the cause began after watching a cousin’s health deteriorate following an MND diagnosis.
Bob was preparing for a ride to Port Douglas to mark his 70th birthday when he decided the effort should also be used to support a charity.
“I thought I’d approach a charity rather than waste the effort, and I picked MND,” he said.
“I’m pretty used to raising money and taking lots of pain now.”
The goal of the latest journey is to raise $500,000 for MND research and support, with Bob saying the cause helps motivate them through the most difficult days.
“One of the mottos with MND is ‘never give up’, and this ride is a bit like that,” he said.
“You just keep plugging along. Every day brings a different story. The wind changes, the roads change and the trucks change, but you just keep going.”
The journey has also provided a rare bonding experience for Bob and Tom, although Bob acknowledged that spending weeks together while exhausted can bring its challenges.
“We have our days, of course. Anyone does when they’re tired and cranky, but we’re great mates,” he said.
Bob said his grandson was learning the importance of preparation, organisation and discipline throughout the ride.
“You can’t put things off until tomorrow. You have to do them today,” he said.
“I think he’s learning that discipline is one of the greatest things you can have.”
Cycling has been part of Bob’s life since he competed as a junior club rider in Sydney. He also worked as a professional squash coach and has remained active throughout his life.
Despite describing this journey as One Last Ride, Bob was reluctant to completely rule out taking on another challenge.
“At this moment, I’d probably say it is the last ride, but I’m bound to do another challenge of some type. Who knows?” he said.
Bob said meeting people with personal connections to MND had been a constant reminder of why the fundraising effort was so important.
“The amount of stories we come across on the ride is surprising,” he said.
“When I did my first ride, not many people knew much about MND, but now everyone seems to know someone — a friend or a relative — who has been affected.
“It’s the most insidious thing. This disease is terrible, and we just hope that one day they’ll find a cure.”
Bob and Tom are expected to complete the journey at Bowral Golf Club on Sunday morning, where supporters are planning a community welcome featuring food and live music.
People can follow their remaining journey or support the fundraiser through Bob Montgomery’s official Miles for MND website.
Listen to the full interview: