Melbourne’s drizzle and darkness has been replaced with blistering sun and the steamy rainforests of Far North Queensland. This year’s Chain Reaction team of battle-hardened campaigners, seasoned soigneurs and fresh-faced newbies have regathered for a week of hills, fundraising…and a few more hills. The band is back together for another 1,000km week, and having already exceeded the $1m mark, spirits were high.
Walking off the plane, the humidity of Cairns was a welcome change for all Melburnians, both widening their grins and generating some healthy/sweaty apprehension.
Next up was the all-important kit reveal; and a few team captains were rightly nervous. Sweaty brows were soon replaced by smiles as the PWC team ran away as outright winners, resembling a pack of hot-pink flamingos.
The bunch rolled out and headed for the smooth tarmac and relative comfort of the rainforest canopy. There was plenty of opportunity to get to know those within the peloton and to talk about the stunning scenery that surrounded us. The first limb of the ride came to an abrupt end as a landslide from last week’s biblical downpours had smothered the route and shut down the first team photo opportunity. ‘Apparently’ this blockade was already known to Tour Manager and fastidious Route Planner Tim Chadd, promptly turning us around and pointing us back downstream.
