Across Australia record broken by 3 weeks!

(credit for all photos to Andrew Kerec/The Spine Tingling Ride)
​
On the 27th of June Canberra rider Andrew Kerec set off from Steep Point in Western Australia, on only the second ever Across Australia record attempt. The first person to make the record was Caroline Relyea in 2021 at 83d 21hr 27m.

Having experienced a bout of covid before the start, it took some time for Andy's body to adjust to the hefty workload of traversing WA's rough and remote tracks.

While struggling along the brutal corrugations of the Gunbarrel Highway in the Gibson Desert, a carload of locals travelling the other way came across Andrew and, astonished to see a cyclist in the desert, told him "we thought you were a white emu!"
​

19 days after leaving Steep Point, Andrew reached the Northern Territory border, and two days later, Uluru.
​

Across the bottom of the Northern Territory, and then into South Australia, Andrew was set for perhaps the most intimidating part of the journey, the sand dunes of the Simpson Desert.
​

Among the expected sand dunes and spinifex, Andrew and his crew came across two very unexpected sights. Victorian runner Blake Bourne on an unsuccessful attempt to break Pat Farmer's record for crossing the desert on foot-

​

---

And flooding on Eyre Creek, at the eastern edge of the desert-
​

Andrew completed his crossing of the desert in just over 5 days, and after a short rest in Birdsville he headed on to a police escort and warm welcome into Eromanga.
​

His determination to ride as little bitumen as possible lead to substantial detours off the beaten track, and some particularly adventurous station tracks in the vicinity of Cunnamulla.
​

After another week of riding the red dirt of the outback gave way to the lush rainforests of northern NSW, and at 5pm on August 27th, the bike came to rest at Cape Byron.
​

Andrew's priority for the ride isn't breaking records, but raising funds for charities Hartley Lifecare and SpinalCure Australia, and with over $160,000 raised so far that goal is certainly a success!
In addition to being the first man to complete an Across Australia record ride, his time of 61 days, 2 hours, and 40 minutes takes an astounding 22d 18hr 47m off the previous record.

What's more, after riding nearly 5,500km Andrew has turned south and is now riding back to Canberra!

You can follow his continuing journey at  https://www.facebook.com/thespinetinglingride, and donate at http://www.thespinetinglingride.com.au/menu.
​