A Spent Force

I'm spent.

On Friday the Gary Harvey show made its final stop in Melbourne. This was the last leg (apart from his official charity ride on Sunday) of his cross Australia fundraiser. All told over $100K raised to date...by one person...WOW!

I remember Melbourne fondly for, among other things, its fantastic lamb souvlakis. Sadly the kebab house I chose didn't rekindle those memories. I fought back the urge to purge by enjoying several cleansing ales with Shalome at The Espy (sensational Aussie pub rock, also where Rockwiz is filmed each week). For good measure, a few martinis in a nearby cocktail bar saw us through to the early hours of Saturday morning.

Saturday was a rest day for Gary...and I.

Sunday started at the un-Godly hour of 5am shooting Gary at the start of the 250km Around-The-Bay-In-A-Day charity ride. My (paid) brief was to get shots of him at three points - The Start, The Ferry crossing and The Finish. While being in a car had its benefits for the most part, the final few kms had me pulling my hair out. Stuck in St Kilda Rd gridlock, I received a call from the client at the finish line. Gary had phoned her saying he was five minutes away. "Where was I?" she asked. Ten minutes away at this rate. Here i was, having followed this guy across Australia, stuck in traffic and about to miss the money shot. Decision time. I grabbed the camera bag, jumped out of the car and sprinted the last kilometer just in time to see him sail past the finish post. Damn...Good thing i was positioned perfectly and looking through my viewfinder at the time. Hero shot - check. Home please.

see ya,
Minas.