Otto Christiansen and Art Terry on one of Art's cycle rides. This trip was from Clarkefield to Bachus Marsh and Melton. Taken on the road to Lerderderg Gorge, 1978.
Ken MacMahon

trips. However interest revived and they were resumed about a year later. They continued to be well patronised until about 1988, when the last trips attracted only seven riders on one and six on the last.

Shortly after this, Denis became very ill and had to retire from his position as the Bushies' official van driver - the end of an era for the Melbourne Bushwalkers. This brought an abrupt end to the van cycle trips as it was not possible to run them without Denis for a few reasons. The van trips ranged within a 90-100-mile ( 160-kilometre) radius of the city and the distance pedalled was up to 50 miles, some riders retiring after 30 miles; with Denis only 2 or 3 miles behind, they could easily be picked up. Occasionally a bike would break down and both rider and cycle could be bundled into the van; this happened on more than one occasion. Again, in case of accident, Denis was there: two riders, as a result of falls, had to spend time in hospital.

At times Jim Hedstrom would lend Denis his cycle for an hour or two and Jim would drive the van.

I enjoyed leading these trips. It was grand to be out riding free from the traffic and a pleasure to introduce a large number of Bushies to the joy of country cycling.

Art Terry