Little Dragon went on the Big River Ride

Well, not really,  I just decided to tag along with the Big River Sailing Club's annual week long fundraising bike ride. I thought it would be fun to combine a spot of behind the scenes help to the hard working club organisers with socialising with my Byron friends and offering twilight sails in Little Dragon.

I almost gave up on the idea when the first day was pouring with rain and I reckoned - correctly - that the site would be a quagmire. However it dried up on the Sunday and the sun came out. I knew the site is sandy and drains quickly so I decided to give it a go.

I stayed for a couple of nights in glorious weather, sunshine, light breeze and it is the brief time of year when the temperature is just right. To the surprise of the bike riders, most of whom were roughing it in tents, I enjoyed the comfort of my gently rocking berth in Little Dragon while securely stern anchored in front of the clubhouse.

After the Sunday bike ride Keith Mountford and Dennis Spring, stingray swimmers and bike riders, came out for a short sail up to the bridge and back. I enjoyed it and I hope they did as well.

 Dennis is a dark horse, he hadn't told me that he has done heaps of sailing in the past. Maybe he feared that I would try and rope him in to help with maintenance.

 The following day Jamie and Vicky gave it a go. I was amazed that they had any energy left after a very long ride. Finally Richard Kelly, who hails from Sydney and owns a Sonata 25 hopped aboard just as the light was starting to fade. He wants to downsize and pronounced himself very impressed and wonders if he can find a Farr for sale.

Just for the record 9 Stingray Swimmers had abandoned the ocean for a week in favour of the bike ride, Richard, Maria, Sharon, Max, Rob, Keith, Dennis, Jamie and Vicky. I invited them all aboard. Richard pronounced that "messing around in boats" was not his thing, Maria and Sharon are landlubbers who were keen to come aboard when Little Dragon was safely back on her trailer on dryish land. They learnt a bit of nautical jargon and in exchange I picked up some cycling jargon. I now know what a "sag wagon" is and who is awarded the "polka dot jersey" each night.

I left on Tuesday afternoon just as the sky was darkening and by the time I reached Ballina the forecast thunderstorm broke over me. I fear that the bike riders were having an "interesting" time on their evening dinner cruise up and down the Clarence River. Never mind, as long as the bar remained open I expect they all enjoyed themselves.