Lunch at Goolgowi

Buster and his new mates. Quick lunch stop in Goolgowi before the run to Hay. We wanted to make Hay while the sun shines. Sorry!

West Wyalong

Pitt stop for a coffee. Colin from the mens shed had given me a couple of sweet mandarins which went down well!

Leaving Grenfell

Mens Shed 2

The Mens Shed club house in Grenfell

The Mens Shed

A couple of us visitors "the Mens Shed" this morning in Grenfell where Colin runs a set of workshops where men canncome and tinker away on the wood and metal working gear. An awesome initiative and I wish there was one in Pymble! Their smoko room cum club house is an old train carriage which is pretty cool.

Day 1

Well it's goodnight Grenfell. We had a great presentation from Michael from
The Black Dog Institute. The locals were vocal in participating and some points really drove home. The highlights:
- country community counts alot in the care for schoolchildren I.e teachers have a vested interest in making sure the kids in their community are looked after
- there is a real lack if funding for support, particularly for mens, and especially indiginous mens mental health
- mental illness is not contagious! You are not going to catch it by helping or asking someone if they are OK.

Anyway the ride is off to a great start and it was amazing to have my wife, son and dad wave me off in Sydney. The cruise in convoy up the pacific highway over the Blue Mountains was awesome if cold. I was warmed to the soul when I saw my mum, sister and aunty waving and cheering from the pedestrian bridge over the highway in Blaxland. Awesomeness.

Someone even put a sign on a bridge we passed under saying " Good luck boys on the black dog ride".

People have been friendly and the other riders are all on their own missions and journey for many different reasons. In all a great mob. Fun to ride with, with many different bikes.

The scenery over the mountains and in particular between Bathurst and Cowra was beautiful. Fields of yellow flowers (canola?) and even a couple of rainbows made for some pleasant viewing even though it was raining and quite cold. The recent rains meant everything was very green and rivers and creeks full. Nice to be in the country.

Finally the people of Grenfell were very hospitable at both the motel and the pub with the Lions Club.

Very tired and a little achy from the ride. Time to sleep, another big day tomorrow.

Grenfell Lions Dinner

Lovely dinner and a meal with the Grenfell Lions club. Not sure what I am going to do when I win the raffle. A trailer full of wood. Maybe a bonfire?

Good meal and good people here in Grenfull.

I am going to sleep well tonight!

Grenfell motel

We have arrived safe and sound in Grenfell after 2 laps of Mt Panorama racetrack in Bathurst and the 'Harley stop' in Cowra.

We were to have a BBQ with the local Lions Club at the Bowling Club but it lost it's roof on the storms yesterday. Moved to the Railway hotel. Time for a quick nice warm shower (it was cold and wet from Bathurst to here) before heading off for dinner.

Cowra

I'm going to call these in between stops "Harley stops" because the Harleys all need to refuel!

Bathurst for lunch

In Bathurst for lunch. It was 7 degrees coming over the top of the Blue Mountains. Brrrrrr.

We are thawing out with a coffee and lunch. There is lots of talk of a lap of Mt Panorama before we leave which should be fun.

First stop Katoomba

Made it to first stop in Katoomba. All the Harley riders need fuel!

The Night Before

Well I'm packed and ready as I'll ever be.

An early night to see if I can sleep and wake up fresh and ready to ride. Not sure how easy that will be through the nervous excitement of the adventure ahead. Quite a mixed bunch of emotions right now. Excited at the prospect of a long ride and seeing some of Australias beauty, nervous that I'm about to meet 100 strangers on this journey, sad that I'll be leaving my wife and son for 7 nights, a little worried that I have forgotten to pack something essential and more than a bit humbled at all the support people have given me not only in the fund raising but also in my personal effort to raise awareness of depression. I am getting plenty of last minute SMS and emails from well wishers. Most of all I am extremely thankful for this opportunity and the support I have received, especially from my wife. Thank you P.

I woke up this morning to a bit of drama that could have been a disaster for this trip. Geoff from next door came over to tell us our garage (and his) had been broken into last night. Gulp, my bike, Black Dog Buster, is (was?) in there. For a few moments I imagine the worst and my heart sank as I thought the ride could be off. But no, everything Black Dog Ride related was intact and ready to go. Phew!!

So, I'm ready. Ready to spend a few days in my own little world within the cacoon of my helmet and focus of the ride. Ready to share my experiences with others and spread the word, that it is OK to discuss depression, just as it is another ailment or illness. Ready to try and raise more than my current target for the Black Dog Institute. Ready to absorb the experience that should be one to remember.

All righty, off to bed. Lets hope sleep comes and more thieves don't!

Only 2 sleeps till the Black Dog Ride

OK, now I am excited!

Anyone who has a bike and wants to ride with the group for the first few hours, or want to come down for the ride launch breakfast, please do.

We will be at Deus Ex Machina  98 Parramatta Road, Camperdown in Sydney from 7am till we depart at 10am.

Thanks again to all those who have supported my fundraising as well as spreading the word. I appreciate it all and will keep you up to date from the road.

My Black Dog Buster

What's in the title? I named my bike 'My Black Dog 'Buster''. Why? Well, aside than being a good name for a dog, my BMW K1200R is my personal depression Buster.

Other than being an amazing piece of technology and a great ride, it provides me with an outlet I parallel to meditation. When riding I have to be focused and 'in the moment'. It's all very zen and for those that don't ride, imagine having your head in your own personal caccoon that lets in the sights, sounds and smells of the environment around you. Welcome distractions unlike the phone, blaring radio and recycled air you would get in a car. So without further ado, me and my Black Dog Buster:

Also note my cool new Black Dog Institute t-shirt! Credit to my son H for the photo. Thank you my friend.

The Ride and The Journey

Three weeks ago I saw a tweet that linked to the Black Dog Ride to the Red Centre. It attracted me instantly as it supports a cause close to me. The ride is simply to raise awareness of Depression and to raise funds in support of The Black Dog Institute. As a bonus it involves a 3,000 km motorcycle ride with about 100 other riders.

Three weeks......yikes! With support from my lovely wife, I signed up for three things.

First, work to raise awareness of Depression. I decided to do this by sharing my experience with people who know me, even if not intimately. It was quite a scary prospect as I sent out emails to my family, friends, staff, mentors and business acquaintances. Hitting the send button on those emails involved plenty doubt and concern for the reaction I might induce. I was afraid the the stigma I had decided to try and help dissolve. The response was mixed although on balance it has been positive. It initiated several conversations with people who either understood through personal experience or sought to understand more. It has really taken me on a journey to face my own fears of the stigma around depression, stand up to it and show others it is OK to discuss the subject directly.

Second, to raise money for the Black Dog Institute. This I have been doing by asking anyone who will listen if they care to support my ride and the cause it supports. I have been humbled by the generosity people have shown. So far I have managed to raise $8,750 and I hope to achieve my target of $10k by the time the ride is complete. If you care to help you can do so here: www.fundraising.exerciseyourmood.org.au/nathan_gyaneshwar

Third, a 3,000 km ride from Sydney to the middle of Australia via Port Augusta in South Australia. Here is a map I have plotted with all the stops.


View Black Dog Ride 2010 in a larger map

The ride will take 7 days and will cover some beautiful parts of our great country. We will be stopping in several rural towns where, with the help of the local Lions and Ulysses clubs, we will not only have a great time, but share our stories and spread the word that it is OK to talk about depression.

Please join my journey beyond those 3,000 km on the road next week. Join my journey with the Black Dog.

Give the Black Dog a pat!
Nathe