I just wanted to put up a post thanking everyone for coming down to Margs for the SPR Easter Camp. Overall, I think the camp was a success as there has already been a fair bit of positive feedback received. This camp, being the first one we have held, was always going to be a bit of a ‘tester’ and I think there are a few tweaks we can make next time to make it more enjoyable for everyone.
Here are a few highlights from my perspective.
1 – The rides
It was sensational to be riding down south amongst the trees and the vineyards. Being guided by the SWCC guys made it more enjoyable as they were able to advise us on a few different road choices which offered better surfaces, scenery, hills etc.
We became familiar with a few different sections of the weekend including the Ellen Brook Rd ‘Trench’ which was a super little narrow road which was great fun to blast along on the way back to Caves Rd.
We also had a variety of different companions joining us along the routes including riders, but also the local horses which galloped along the fence lines with us. Very TDF pro – actually we also a helicopter follow us for a while on Monday morning. P.R.O.
The traffic was not heavy and we made a concerted effort not to be on any of the main roads for too long. Having Paul in the follow car each day also made the riding so much more relaxed. A follow car is luxury we don’t often have – but I miss it already. Thanks Paul so much for your time and patience.
One puncture. Thats rights – Mark H had a puncture on the way back to camp on the Monday morning, and that was the only mechanical of the whole trip. Smooth sailing indeed.
2 – The Shed
The Shed is no 5 Star facility, but it does make a camping trip a complete breeze. Showers, kitchen, pool tables, table tennis, TV and heaps of room and bunks. May not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I thought it was pretty cool.
3 – The Stag
If you weren’t there – you won’t know. But if you hear some strange sounds in the bunch over the next few weeks you might just work it out.
4 – The Easter Egg Hunt
Kudos to Kate and the other parents for putting on a super Easter Egg hunt. The kids were as decorated as the eggs and all had their own handmade baskets for egg collecting. I have a video of the hunt which I will try and post here.
5 – The People
It was fantastic to get to know a whole load of people in the club that I haven’t had the chance to meet before.
6 – The Coffee
Jordan bought the coffee love with his posh Isomac and high quality beanage. Very nice – I think The Shed had the best coffee in the South West over the long weekend. Thanks Jordan.
Overall I think we did a pretty good job. Experiences like this are just another example of why our club is different from all the others, and why we stand head and shoulders above the rest.
I guess the only remaining question is … do you want to do it again next year?
Yes for next year.
Here is a write up mostly about the rides themselves.
https://southperthrouleurs.com.au/2011/04/spr-easter-camp-2011/
On the Sunday morning ride we also had a few kangaroos bounding along in the paddock beside us. We were watching them carefully, and then one of them started heading in our direction. The “Slowing” call had a bit more urgency than normal as the big fella went straight across the road in front of us, to be followed 15 seconds later by a second one. Not something you get too often on the Swan River loop.
Big thanks to @Toby for doing all the organisational work, and for making sure the weekend went as smoothly as it did. Definitely looking forward to the next camp 🙂 And also many thanks to the SWCC crew for coming out with us, even on the windy and wet Sunday ride, and cheerfully and expertly showing us what fantastic riding they have down there.
Glad you had a great time, the young kid is AJ Steggers 14 years of age, watch out or him, nice work Brendon, good of you to let the stag out, how about a spring camp !!
A fantastic weekend, I really enjoyed it. I’ll certainly come along to the next one. Great to meet the guys from SWCC and also those from other SPR groups that we don’t always get to interact with.
Maybe next time I’ll try not to:
Have a puncture
Hurt myself (playing frisbee)
Lose my tent to the wind (thanks for the help Toby…)
Do other things that should stay on tour 😉
But you were great entertainment value 🙂
Many thanks for organising the weekend Toby, good fun,super venue (for those of us who kept our tents dry and in place…) and great to meet different SPR folk. Yes to doing it all again.
A great weekend away. Well organised – thanks Toby. Nice to meet some other obsessed people that I don’t normally get to meet on Sat morning rides. The weather was beautiful – able to stay dry and warm every day – even during the rain and wind. Ride routes were scenic and felt relatively flat, in fact, I hardly even felt the hills – more “mole hills” than “mountains”. The big roo added interest to a wet morning.
Can’t wait for the next camp – might even ride my bike. But, watching from behind and then looking at the speedo, I am a bit in awe at all of your skills, fitness, stamina and speed. I need to do a lot more training.
Thanks SPR and everyone at MR.
Paul, I think you deserve the biggest thanks. You came down and helped out even though you weren’t riding, keeping everyone safe by driving behind us (beeping the horn to let us know that a car was coming past was a great idea). It made the weekend all the more enjoyable. You did an excellent job and epitomise what SPR is and always should be about.
A big thanks from all of us.
Hello SPR,
I am pretty new to this club (might even still technically be a NDCC member), but I enjoyed this camp immensely, everyone was very friendly and I had a great time meeting so many new people. So thankyou SPR members
The camp was really well organised, no the accomodation was not 5 star, but it did the job, had a spa, and deer for entertainment. Thankyou Toby, thankyou deer
The rides were super fun, and the scenery was awesome, and the SWCC guys were very cool. Thankyou southwest region/inhabitants.
The follow car was the best thing ever! Thankyou Paul!
Even though John didn’t ride, something about post UCI depression, and well me.. .. I’d still be finishing the first ride, it was very relaxing. It could of course have something to do with leaving the kids behind….. actually I don’t think the kids noticed we had left!
By the time I’d prized the eyes open each morning the more enthusiastic had already cycled 60km, though sleeping in might have something to do with the nocturnal gruntings of the stags…. heaven help in the spring time!
Wineries, restaurants (Flutes… heaven), taste testing all Margs had to offer….and getting to know more of the SPR addicted.. it was worth it.
Thanks for organising the trip…. it exceeded my expectations Toby
maw that so sweet – thanks Carol! 🙂