A ROUGH RIDE AND MANY HARDSHIPS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6804, 7 January 1929, Page 3

A ROUGH RIDE AND MANY HARDSHIPS

CYCLING- ROUND AUSTRALIA Round Australia, in record time was the aim of Geoff Muuro and .Eric Haines, when they set out from Sydney some months ago on Ariel motor cycles. Eric Haines had to retire from tiie attempt very early, owing to a crash, when he injured his leg so badly that he had to return to Sydney. Geoff Munro decided to carry on alone. Since then he has nearly died .of thirst, has been in hospital on four occasions. His first full stop was at Blackali, Queensland, where he was admitted to hospital suffering from dengue fever. The hospital authorities, fearing that he. would attempt to carry on with the ride, commandeered his clothing and kept him under observation for six days. After a, fearful ride from Blackali to Newcastle Waters, via Camooweal, he was again admitted to hospital, suffering from a relapso from his previous trouble. After another week in hospital here, he pushed on to Darwin, where he arrived in a stats of collapse. Before leaving Sydney he liad been under an operation for appendicitis, and due to the very rough riding, this wound had opened, and ho was rushed to hospital in Darwin, where ho was for a fortnight under observation and aonther week recuperating. Crocodile Terror. By far the worst experience of tho trip was that, between Barwin and. Broome, and ho is very lucky to be alive at tho present time. Crossing the tidal river, t’itzroy, at Yeeda, ho stuck in the middle of tho stream, which was absolutely alivo with alligators. After almost dismantling tho machine, ho managed to get out with a whole skin. Most of the kit of the machine had by this time been abandoned, owing to the very heavy sandy track which had to be traversed. All the food ho had was a ‘ handful of dried fruit, and half a pound of dry biscuits. Twice during this trip the machine fell on Munro, and ho was badly burned on both legs. Ho arrived at Deepwell at sundown having ridden 25 miles in the day over very bad country, without food or water. The main consideration at this point was to obtain food and water, and instead of giving necessary attention to his machine, he set out on foot for Roebuck, 20 miles away. On t-liis journey he came across a black whom he asked for food. The native indicated that there was a water bore camp gff the main track, and indicated the distance with two lingers. ( Taking this as an indication of only a couple of miles to travel, Munro set out with a lighter heart. He walked for a few hours, and then had to lay clown because of the intense heat and his great thirst—he had already been 24 hours without water.

1-Ic started off agaiu about sundown, but could not follow the cattlo track in the darkness, and ho again waited for the sunrise, firing shots from his revolver during the night in an endeavour to attract attention. He set out again with the first rays of the sun and managed td get within sight of the camp where he collapsed. Firing more shots he attracted the attention of tho boro workers, who rushed to his assistance, and carried him into tho- camp, absolutely without clothing, with the exception of his boots. Hospital Again. As is usual with those maddenen by thirst, Munro had discarded all his clothes. Ho was on tho verge of collapse for nearly the whole of the time after seeing the black. When the abo held up his two fingers he meant to indicate that the camp was 20 miles away, not two! Munro was taken from the camp to the Broome Hosiptal, where he was treated for about another week. When he arrived at the hospital it v.-as found that his lcg3 were covered with cuts and burns, which were in a terrible state, owing to'the intense lieat he had been through and the lack of attention since he left the last hospital. Munro feels that he owes his life to the bore workers and the townspeople of Broome, who could not do sufficient to show their goodwill towards him. Some of them even went as far as to suggest that he should give up tho idea of getting back to Sydney by road, and offered to pay his fare back on the boat, Munro stuck to his task however, and the news of his safe arrival will be welcomed by his many friends and also motor cycling euthusists. Around Australia Alone. Cabled advice has been received by The Shell Company of New Zealand, Limited th:it Mr. G. Munro completed his motor cycle journey around Australia on December 29th. The total distance covered in the record time of 155 days was 10,045 miles and it is the first time that such a feat has been undertaken alone. On arrival at the outskirts of Sydney Munro was met and escorted by 100 motor cyclists into the City.