Best Job In The World

Cape York Motorcycle Adventures was looking for a new sweep rider. Adventure Rider Magazine put out the call to help find the right person. From nearly 40 applicants ready to drop everything and sign on as guide and sweep for one of Australia’s longest-running and most professional tour services, a short list of three were flown to Cairns and put through their paces. The aim was to find out who would get the Best Job In The World. The lucky rider? Read on and find out…

As the rain hammered on the roof of the Cape York Motorcycle Adventures’ (CYMCA) substantial work shop just north of Cairns the riders paid close attention.

Mostly they paid close attention to the dinner from the incredible spit roast the CYMCA folks had laid on to welcome the riders, but main man Roy Kunda continued on with his briefing anyway, seemingly happy with how things were going.

Adventure Rider Magazine wiped the delicious, fragrant grease from its chin and asked Roy to outline what it was he was looking for in a sweep rider.

“Obviously a good sweep has to be able to handle themselves on a bike,” said one of Australia’s most experienced tour leaders, “but they don’t have to be a world champion. They’re here to guide people, assist them through any difficult sections and be helpful.

“The sweep doesn’t need to be a mechanic, but they certainly need to be willing to learn and to get their hands dirty,” he continued while we wondered if there was any ice cream. “The mechanical side obviously includes dedrowning bikes, flat tyres and the usual things that can happen on these types of rides. The DR-Zs are very reliable, but even for a mechanic, some of the things the sweep has to deal with would be new and unique to our situation. So we teach that.

“The same goes with the cooking side of it, and what to look for with riders who might be having trouble. It’s important to be able to read the riders’ abilities.”

That sounded fair enough, and the three candidates all looked as though they fitted the bill.

Looks were all well and good, but how would they stand up to the deep-water crossings, the heat, the silt, and, in this case, the continuing rain.

Each was a given a brand-new DR-Z and the trial began.

A helping hand