Mr Ralph will pack his bike — a 2002 ZZR1200 that he’s owned for five years — with the minimal and compact camping equipment he’s gathered for the epic ride and depart Shepparton on October 8, bound for Sydney, to meet up with his mate, David Baker, where the two will ride to Medowie together.
From there, they will join their starting group of seven riders, jump in their saddles and head west on their steel horses.
The two Daves went to Shepparton’s Bourchier St Primary School together in the 1970s and Shepparton High School before both joining the military; Mr Ralph, the Australian Army; Mr Baker, the Royal Australian Navy.
Mr Ralph later joined the police force, while Mr Baker transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force. Both are godfathers to each other’s kids.
Mr Ralph’s excitement was tangible ahead of the 13th — his first — seven-day fundraising ride that was founded by RAAF veteran Chris, and Gail, Dunne in 2004.
Riders will travel more than 470km and up to 750km each day, staying in a different town each night, with celebrities visiting them en route to their Western Australian destination.
Once riders disband after their two-night stay in Esperance, the two Daves plan to make their way back home more slowly, taking three or four weeks to explore.
“There’s no need to rush home, the trip itself is part of the whole journey,” Mr Ralph said.
“There’s things I haven’t seen out there.”
He estimates by the time he’s back in Shepparton, he’ll have added 10,000km to his Kawasaki’s odometer.
The motivations for the semi-retired biking enthusiast are many.
“It’s a good cause, an epic ride and veterans run good events,” Mr Ralph said.
“Everyone is doing political stuff; this is not. This is raising money and awareness.”
Around half of the riders in the cavalcade will be veterans.
Each participant in The Long Ride is encouraged to raise at least $1000 in donations or sponsorship, with every dollar donate to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian men, with more than 25,000 men diagnosed each year.
For more information on The Long Ride, visit the website.
