Monday 28th January - Cathy flies Qantas from Mexico while David flies air ambulance from Wangaratta

David is going to be OK. He was riding up near Bright with the Audax group. Due to bushfires the route was changed and he tried to complete 250km with some other mates from MDBC. They were on the last leg home and going about 30km/hr on flat (from what I can tell) when he clipped wheels with Andy and came off landing heavily on his right side and knocking his head. About 5 minutes LOC and a seizure then woke up to ambulance and police. He can't remember exactly where it happened but somewhere near Porepunkah so almost home to Bright. Perhaps he was tired and not concentrating well. He was taken to Wangaratta Hospital and the Audax people contacted Irene, his mum, who happened to be at Leigh's place. She and Max went to pick up gear from Geelong then left there at 7pm to travel to Wangaratta to see him. Halfway there, he called them to say he was being transferred to Melbourne. They got there 11pm and saw him for about 1/2 hour before he was airlifted to RMH as he had skull and rib fractures and needed close observation. They stayed in Wang overnight then went early to Bright and cleaned up where David had been staying. Max drove the Troopy back and Irene their car and brought it all back home for me. Tom broke the news to me so nicely on the phone when I arrived in Melbourne airport and turned on my phone - gave me the fright of my life when I read text that he'd been hurt, then transferred to Royal Melbourne ICU. Tom gently reassured me that he was sitting up and talking with black eye and sore ribs and a bit dopey on medication but OK. Leigh and the boys picked me up from the airport and drove me straight to the hospital. I spent most of the day there. Erin and Steph came in to visit and Irene and Max brought in his clothes and specs from home.

He has an orbital fracture but I doubt any surgery will be required. He has broken right collarbone and ribs 2nd-9th on right. He had small bleed in brain which looked better on today's scan but they are talking about daily scan at present. He is getting great care at RMH - even though he asked them to take him to Monash. I'm home and have had something to eat so should sleep like a log.

Will keep you posted. He's still in ICU but mainly because they haven't got a ward bed to transfer him to rather than needing ICU.

Thanks for your prayers and text messages today. His bike is OK with only a few scratches. The helmet looks a bit battered though.

I will add Mexico posts soon - had a great week there with family. Much nicer pictures!