Training ride to Blenheim anyone?

http://www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/scottybrown/

Yep, wanted a big training day... what better than a training ride to Blenheim! I decided that I was going to pack my pockets, take a credit card and ride to Blenheim, if all went well stay the night and ride back Monday.

I left at 5:58 Sunday morning. It was crisp and cool. Just before I got to Greta valley, I saw a lonely figure coming the other way... it was the grand daddy of long rides, Shane Aitken. After a chat and best wishes he went Sth, I went north. After stopping in cheviot for a coffee, I continued onto Kaikoura. It was raining most of the way through the Hunderlees, although the sun would show through and the roads heated up so that I was riding through hot steam! It was awesome! Was climbing pretty well through there actually! When I got to Kaikoura, I was a bit smashed, as the wind was not being kind. It was 2pm. I could see really nasty weather in front of me, but when you’re by yourself, no support cars, just you, and ya credit card... well you just keep going right? It's fair to say the next 6 hours were hell. The wind started to blow really hard just minutes after Kaikoura. It was NW so I was riding right into the guts of it, then the clouds were rolling in. It rained SO bloody hard just out of Kekerengu you have no idea. I was riding with my hands in front of my face because the rain was killing me, I had to stop under a tree and wait for it to pass, then it did and the sun was intense! The weather was insane. The next 4 hours were some of the most crap I have ever experienced. The wind was SO strong I was basically riding at 15Kph for 4 hours. It was breaking me. I was talking to myself, was yelling at the wind out loud (you do these things at about 250k!) The sound of the wind in my ears got so intense, just that noise alone was cracking me! When I finally got to Blenheim I had decided to stay at Yvette’s parents. Kay picked me up and took me through to Waikawa bay. She had blankets to keep me warm and was just a darling! Thanks Kay. Xxx Steve lent me his shorts and a tee shirt. I literally only had the clothes on my back. The ride took about 2-3 hours longer than I thought it would take. I'm so bruised, so raw. It's hard to sit down. Mentally while on the bike I had to push myself so hard. So many times I thought F#@* this! But I wanted to get to Blenheim! My goal was to ride back Monday to ChCh, but I drove back (in steves clothes-see pic) and did short bays today.

So 309.65KMS from my door to Blenheim! 14 hours 30 minutes. I arrived in Blenheim to a breath taking sunset. First 6 hours were great, the last were hell. I mean it... I was broken. I was ready to cry for the last 3 hours and the last 6 were just horrible! But it's so character building!

People ask me often, “What do you think about”? Want me to tell you? Bob Scott told me “always say hello to horses”! That always sticks in my mind, so I always look for horses! Dumb! Yesterday I counted how many rental cars from my darling friend Nicki’s rental company (about NZ rentals/apex) went past. Nicki... there were 18! (...and one today up evens pass) I talk to myself about hurting and talk myself out of it. Yesterday a dog ran up a fence tine for about a Km so I was talking to it and trying to make it bark. Yesterday, I was trying to not think about how raw I was and how sore my knees were, so I would ride the white line and try not to look ahead and see how far I could go without looking up. Yesterday I thought about my mom too! Sometimes I dream about the finish of the ride and imagine how it will feel. I think about why the hay bales smell a certain way? I always find a ride over 150k makes my senses REALLY strong. I always think about mirrors of cars clipping me and knocking me off, it's really morbid huh? But I really do (that nasty head space of 250km). I definitely sing “OUT LOUD” and totally talk to myself “OUT LOUD”. I also wonder why when theres only me and 2 cars for miles, that they pass each other at the same time as they go past me. I spend hours wondering why this happens! Do you get what I mean? Yesterday I was also thinking about my mate Pavlos. Pavlos owns GOLDEN HOMES! He had texted me to say “hope your ok” and “I have some great news”. Pavlos has been working very hard with his loyal suppliers to get a package of prizes for the donators of the charity ride. Once we launch and tell you about this you will be blown away! It's times like this, that peoples true colours shine! Pavlos, you and the GOLDEN HOMES team are STARS! If you pull this off, the kids and I will be over the moon! So that was on my mind too!

Sorry this was a big one. It's been an insane couple of days. Short bays was great today and I felt really good. It's VERY exciting, as this was my first real test of how my body will hold up on the second day. It is bloody hard to believe though... that when I got to Blenheim yesterday, I would have to turn around and bike home... then turn around and bike back to Blenheim... that’s the distance of the EPIC ride. I must be bloody mad!

Keep the donations rolling in! Wynn Williams and co! You absolute ROCK STARS! Matt Jones, you made that happen.... $2500!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Words can’t express mate!

Lastly, it's you guys reading this, it's the texts, phone calls, donations, emails, the toots, the waves that keep me going. I have to do this. I mean I WANT to do this, but after yesterday, want just isn’t enough. So your support and encouragement is the driving force behind this. I wish I could thank everyone individually. But know I appreciate it. I need you behind me on this ride for the kids!

Tell all your friends, infect the world by email and texts and have everyone you know donate. That’s the key! Donate!
Love Scotty

http://www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/scottybrown/

:)