Write down:
I am an Arab
Robbed of my ancestors’ vineyards
And of the land cultivated
By me and all my children. – Mahmoud Darwish
The Very Big Ride for Palestine, held on this Saturday, 20th August, is part of the program of two weeks of activities for The Big Ride for Palestine (Australia) 2022. This is day 8 of TBR22.
We set out at 7 am, each from our own houses in Brisbane. Omar, Amin, Lachlan and Ian and we met under the Captain Cook bridge at 7.30am. After a brief discussion about the route we headed south along the V1 towards Eight Mile Plains and then onto Rochedale and Sheldon. We were due to meet up with John at Runcorn but he couldn’t make it so we pressed on to link up with Mark near Redland Bay Road. We were being challenged by big trucks bringing dirt from a quarry to a new house in this salubrious part of outer Brisbane, five acre blocks, mansions, were their owners oblivious of the plight of the Palestinians without land or freedom?
Now we were five, and on to Victoria Point Jetty for a photo.
We repaired to the Driftwood Cafe for much needed sustenance and drinks. Here we discussed the plight of the refugees in Lebanon, the Lebanese civil war (1975-90) and unremitting power of the IDF and persecution of Palestinians by Israel.
From Victoria Point to Cleveland Point and then to drop Omar off at Cleveland station where the train was about to depart. Omar had covered 70 kms and had done his bit.
On to Wellington Point to join with Trevor and for a lunch organised by Susan at the point. And then we were six with our thumbs up for Palestine. ‘Exist, Resist, Return‘ for the people of Palestine. We were informed that we had ridden a distance roughly equivalent to the road from Beirut to Damascus. No Road to Damascus for us; onwards to Jerusalem (al-Quds)!
Nothing is left for us and my grandchildren
Except these rocks…
Will your government take them too, as reported? – Mahmoud Darwish
Onwards to Wynuum Pier. Everyone was out enjoying this marvellous day. Our jerseys received positive glances. One little boy beside the bikeway called me a ‘spikey ant’ because of my helmet protection against swooping magpies. Spring is nigh but a winter chill is still in the air.
The afternoon breeze was getting up and Trevor left us to return home clocking up 40 kms on his mountain bike, sore but not sorry.
Onwards to the gateway bridge after a tough climb at Murrarie. We savoured the cool breeze as we looked down on Aquarium Passage that used to house a real Aquarium and a zoo in times gone by.
Therefore,
Write at the top of page one:
I do not hate people,
I do not assault anyone, – Mahmoud Darwish
Well we made it. I covered nearly a 140 kilometers in all getting up in the dark and returning in the dark. It was a dedicated bunch; there was Amin, Omar and Lachlan; then we were joined by Mark, Trevor and Susan. What a great day and what a good ride. Surely people would like to join us? We number 80 people nationally and we’re hoping that people will be out there in the second week of the big ride for Palestine raising money and informing people about what’s going on in that neglected land.
We’re supporting the Palestinian women’s humanitarian organisation in Beirut; they are organising educational and sporting programs for refugees particularly young women, girls and the disabled.
This is the end of the first week of riding or walking and you can still register and join to participate in the big ride. See https://bigride4pal.raisely.com/
Register at https://bigride4pal.raisely.com/
Thanks very much to participants and sponsors for all the work, riding and walking that you have done so far for The Big Ride for Palestine. It is greatly appreciated. Thanks to Lachlan for his strong riding and great photos. The ‘Very Big Ride’ is outlined in this Strava map
We hope to see you all at the finale at 10.30 am on the 28th August at Baladi Coffee Cart on the corso at Yeronga. The Al Zayton Dabke Dance Troup will be there, lots of food and coffee. Omar Ashour from Falesteen Inc will speak. See our facebook event page for details.
Ian Curr
21 August 2022
But…if I get hungry,
I eat the flesh of my usurper.
Beware…beware…of my hunger,
And of my anger. – Mahmoud Darwish