Phil and Joyce Ogden, however, have other ideas.
The 74-year-old Tasmanian Rotary members from South Launceston Rotary Club have mounted their tandem bicycle to stage an epic fundraiser to support Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign.
And that fundraiser will bring them through Benalla.
They started their journey in Adelaide on April 3 and will travel about 3000km in eight weeks through South Australia, Victoria and NSW before arriving in Sydney.
They will arrive in Benalla on Thursday, May 2, at around 6pm.
A retired anaesthetist, Mr Ogden has witnessed the terrible legacy of the polio epidemic of the 1950s and the threat to children of the world until the Rotary-inspired campaign worked its magic during the past 30-plus years.
They have been Rotary members for more than 10 years and are passionate supporters of the End Polio Now campaign.
The Ogdens have planned and funded the trip with support from the Rotary Club of South Launceston.
“We feel that the enormous effort which has gone into turning the tide of the disease will be lost if pressure and fundraising are not maintained until the disease is totally eradicated,” Mr Ogden said.
“If we take our collective eyes off the ball, the disease will re-establish. So, we are still committed to harnessing another of our passions, cycling, to push things along.”
The Ogdens have ridden tandems since 1993, covering an estimated 100,000km.
They have enjoyed many tandem adventures together, including unsupported crossings of the European Alps, the Pyrenees and the Rockies — in addition to organised long-distance rides with Audax, culminating in a 600km ride over 36 hours.
You can donate to their fundraiser via raise.rotary.org/joyce+phil/challenge
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