A huge thanks to the Gold Coast Mail newspaper with a massive article on Jack on Friday.

The very creative front page story looks fantastic and gives a great overview of the ride that continued on to page 4.

Thanks guys.

It starts at 6 pm and features beer, wine, champagne & great finger food, raffles and a Lucky Door Prize.

Full details here (a PDF file).

Hope to see you there.

Ok, here’s the latest training update because a few people have asked us lots of questions about what we’re doing and how we go about it.

Saturday was an easy 100 km, 60 km being flat with a few easy hills at the end.

Sunday was a 140 km hilly ride up through Springbrook, down into Numinbah Valley, down through Chillingham to Tumbulgum, then home up Terranora Rd.

Jack still had enough left at the end to race up the final hills to home.

We had lunch at the 100 km mark - with our intake precisely controlled by mum (Mel) as to the best things to have. Once home we had massages, along with Recoverite and snacks.

This morning was an easy 50 km spin then some weights, followed by a massage (that massage was just for old man Brendon!).

Psychology & Eyes

Tomorrow is a fast 40 kms, followed by something we’re really looking forward to - a session with renowned Sports Psychologist Phil Jauncey.

In the afternoon we’re meeting with the folks from Oakley to look at sunglasses - we’ve searched long and hard for the best cycling sunglasses for the harsh Australian desert and Oakley’s fit the bill.

Jack was fitted on Thursday for another Trek Madone by Roger from Palm Beach Supercycle. As well as being a fantastic sponsor, Roger also came 8th in his age group at the recent World BMX Championships in China! (Roger makes me tell everyone that!)

Roger used to be the Head Bike Mechanic for the Australian Triathlon Team and knows more about bike set up than just about anyone - with the addition of aero-bars to jack’s bike, Roger took an hour to re-set Jack up on a 56 cm Trek Madone 4.5.

Brendon & Jack

Jack’s ride seems to have created a fair bit of public interest and he’s had another interview today with a photo session.

Trivia Night Nets Not So Trivial Amount

And thanks so much to everyone who turned up for the trivia night - we raised another $750 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Australia.

Great stuff!

Hi, Brendon here.

Over the years I may have made a couple of mother-in-law jokes….just the 2 I think ;o)

Well, today I’d like to apologise for those jokes and eat my words!

The lovely, beautiful and wonderful Gwen Cracknell (Jack’s Gran, my mother-in-law) has just deposited $500 with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Australia for the ride.

Gwen’s been fundraising vigorously with her friends in Tasmania through luncheons, craft days and more.

Thanks Gwen!

We’ve just had a few donations roll in tonight and I thought I’d give them a special mention because they’re special guys.

1. Peter Lawton (Jonah to his mates) donated $100 tonight on this site. Jonah is the very same guy who, last year, rode from Perth to the Gold Coast in a staggering 15 days for charity.

He’s the same guy who has provided oodles of help and advice to us about what to expect.

He’s a guy who has given us a ton of safety gear, radios and more.

But that’s not enough for Jonah! He then donates to the ride.

Very humbling to meet a guy like that who does so much for you and then just keeps giving. Thanks mate.

2. Terry Hands - Terry (left) is a friend of the family who has helped our efforts along quite a bit already.

Firstly, Terry was instrumental in getting a great sponsorship from the guys at Ess Engineering to reduce our expenses in Perth very significantly.

He’s also popped one of our graphics on his own web site and talks about the ride to all and sundry.

And then he goes and donates $100 tonight (when both him and I know he could be spending that on his beautiful wife Veronica when he whisks her away to Sydney on the weekend for a romantic time……..or is that trip just so he can watch the Socceroos?!!)

3. Paul Mathewson - Paul is the Melbourne chief of Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Not only does he do great work for this great cause, he comes along and makes a $50 donation. Fantastic stuff. Thanks Paul.

Thanks guys - really appreciated.

Jack and Brendon

Old man Brendon, Jack’s dad, has trouble keeping up with Jack these days on the bike and after being “smashed” on the latest 105 km ride to Best of all Lookout at the top of Springbrook mountain, decided that a little secret training was in order today.

Seeing as though it was secret training (and Jack would never find out), Brendon helped himself to Jack’s favourite pair of Tuff gloves for the ride.

Elevation profile for Best of all Lookout

Off he went at 1.30 today.

Down the hill, along a bit and there he is riding past the local school. Jack’s school.

130-1 Chance Jack Is There

There’s 1 PE class out on the oval near the road. About 10 kids out of 1,300.

That’s 130 to 1 chance one of those 10 kids could be Jack. There was only 1 kid looking towards the road at that time. Guess who that person was?!

All Brendon heard as he raced past was “Hi Dad……are those my gloves?”

That session is now called the “Not So Secret Training”!

Check out Jack’s promo video below - it features a great song too with very appropriate lyrics!

Yep, it’s our Trivia Night coming up on Saturday 21 June at 7 pm at the Elanora High Performing Arts Block.

Our great fundraising committee has organised:

• Great prizes
• Giveaways
• Raffles
• and much more

Entry is just $10 per head (as a donation to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Australia), with tea and coffee provided (it’s BYO drinks and nibbles).

Make up a table of 8 or come along and we’ll match you up with some smarties!

Look Smart & Impress Your Friends

To look smart and impress your friends all you need to do is please phone Mel on 5535 6292 or 0404 692 327 (or email mel@perthtoparadise.com.au) for a ticket!

Hope to see you there.

Look, I’m not saying ESS Engineering are the absolute best in manufacturing, installing and servicing conveyor sealing and cleaning equipment…….but they are!

They’re also very generous and have been kind enough to cover our accommodation costs whilst in Perth (right by the ocean in a lovely apartment).

The team heard of the ride through a friend of ours who works with them and wanted to help in anyway they could.

Thanks.