I left home at 6am. I said I’d never ride to Arthurs Pass again! I should have kept my promise. 41kms down the old west coast road and all hell broke loose! The Nor West! OMG, I have to say, that was the nastiest struggle I have ever had! Literally 180kms into a head wind, not a breeze... WIND! Yuk. It was F%&*in horrible. Up porters pass was even harder than last time, the hill is one thing but the wind was the icing on the cake! A car pulled to the side of the road about ½way up... it was Jeff Staniland and a car full of people (couldn’t see who else sorry)...You were bloody awesome guys! Calling “GO SCOTTY” out the window. How can I thank you guys? It's SO unbelievably inspiring for me... when I'm hurting and asking myself “why?” that people go out of their way to shout or wave some encouragement! Unbelievable! Thanks so much.... while on this subject... Mike Pero, Rachel and the kids also did this. 20k up the road, they stopped, filled up my drink bottle (More to come on that) and shouted “go Scotty” as they drove off past me! Just awesome! Thanks to all of you for the “help out on the road”
Ok, so when Mike gave me some water I said “that’ll do mate”.... dumb bloody move! 10k’s down the road I ran out of water.... my mind was doing flips, it was a dark moment. I knew I was 10k approx from Grassmere lodge.... but wasn’t sure if they were open or even served food! But I was dying, I turned off. It's about 1km from the road up to the lodge. I was riding at 8- 11kmph... yes 8- 11kmph. The wind was INSANE and it's up hill. Sounds crazy right? But as I was riding, I was almost ready to pull the pin! I got there, it was deserted! I thought, “I’ll find a tap and fill my bottles”... then a loan figure came to greet me. I said to her that I needed water and food... but, they don’t do “off the street meals”! But the girls were awesome! 6 chicks, ready to cook me a meal and let me drink all the water I could get. I was almost embarrassed, but I declined the meal offer, filled my bottles and they all waved me off. It was a really great moment. Another case of “great people in NZ”!
I finally got to Arthurs pass. I got 2 big fat sammys, a denheath custard square and a muffin. I was so hungry and just totally beaten mentally. I can handle wind, but I have to tell you, it broke me. I was so bloody sore, my legs and knees were just aching and I knew I had a fair way to go till I got to the coast. I went good after some food and crusied up the hill. To give you an idea of the wind (and going 90km down evens is no prob for me) I was going 47km down Otira! The wind was SO bloody strong. And I was riding deep 66 wheels, it was a hair raising descent! I finally got hold of Yvette (driving over to collect me) and told her I was near the Brunner turn off and that I would be near Kumara when she came through. I got to kumara. I finally got to the coast, 220kms later, my knees aching and totally ready to just give up cycling. Bob Scott did this ride the other week on a VERY windy NW day and said it was the worst ride he’d ever done. (Bob holds the cape Reinga to Bluff record!). I see what he meant. That was without question the worst ride I have done. I will NEVER ride to Arthurs again, I HATE it!
We then drove to Punakaiki. What a beautiful place. You HAVE to go there if you haven’t been. Take my word for it, stay at the Punakaiki resort and spend a few days riding your bike there. Thanks so much to the team at the Punakaiki Resort! They are amazing, the room was awesome and the restaurant there is to die for. Yes I loved it! The roads and the views are spectacular. But my knees were in a really bad state! They were so sore that I rode 40kms then had to get in the car. I hate being beaten and was gutted to feel this way. Of course I could keep riding, but then the fear is that I do damage to the point I can’t ride for a week or weeks. So the “sensible” part of my personality said “give it a rest Brown’! So we drove to Waikawa! This was the day that would have made the difference to the kilometre count. So about 160kms less than I wanted!
I decided that because of the easy Saturday ride I was going to ride back to ChCh on Sunday so that I could still have a big day on Monday back in ChCh. I could still get 800odd k’s in if I did this. So with an early night and alarm set for 5am, I was geared up for the ride home.
I ended up leaving at 6am. It was a crisp morning; wind blowing NE so at least the wind gods didn’t hate me today! I went to have a drink at the Blenheim Bridge........... FARK!!!! I forgot my bottles! A stop at the BP and 2 H2go bottles later I leave Blenheim bound for Kekerengu! (KK) I got to KK in good time. I ordered my bacon eggs, and coffee. I know, it seems a little “non athlete” but that food keeps me going! A guy came up to me and asked where I was going. His face dropped when I said ChCh. Then he said “have you just started”?... I said no, I have just ridden from Waikawa! His face dropped further! It was a great moment! He took his wallet out and handed me $10 towards the charity! What a great guy. I said for him to put it back and go on line (look out for his donation...will he do it?) he also does charity work and had a great fundraising idea, which we might use ourselves in upcoming weeks! But here’s a guy, that 5 minutes before didn’t know me and handed over some cash! What a bloody great spirit. I was buggered and forgot his name! Sorry pal... but thank you SO MUCH!
The ride to Kaikoura was mint. Traffic was really heavy but the sun was out and the roads were super fast. In Kaikoura I stopped and had a huge ham sandwich and caramel slice (non athlete food) from the fudge store there. That place rocks! On my way again, it was starting to get really hot! Aidan had told me the night before that it might get to 40 in ChCh, but I thought.... forecasts... pugh!
Well let me explain something.... it was VERY VERY VERY hot! 5km from the Hunderlees, I saw Sam and Nat. Great supporters of my ride for charity! I waved out, they had been swimming! Greta day for it! Again, “GO SCOTTY” is something that when I hear it, it just fires me up! So thanks so much guys!
As I started the climb a car pulls up side me, and a FRUJU was handed to me! OMG I LOVE YOU GUYS! So the start of my hill climb, it was probably 30 degrees and a pineapple fruju was melting all over my hand! I could see people staring at me as they went past... and I didn’t care! Sam, Nat, kids..... THANKS! I got to the top of the Hunderlees and it was boiling. My insides were cooking. 20Kms on and I was exhausted! I was getting close to running out of water and I knew Yvette was still a while back behind me in the car. 10km from Cheviot I was roasting. I was finding it hard to breath, sweat dripping off my nose and I officially ran out of water. I was dry and every turn of the pedals was hurting. When I saw the 8km to cheviot sign I was ready to stop. I had had enough. The NW was blowing from my right, it was SO hot and I was just throwing my toys. I was actually yelling out at the animals! So funny. I said to myself, think of something else....... talk to the animals! “HELLO HORSE, HELLO COWS, HELLO DEAD POSSUM, HELLO SHEEP ETC ETC” I must be insane!
I got to Cheviot and actually ran in to the shop and got a drink! The girls said it was about 40 degrees... and it was... I texted Yvette to see where she was. She was almost there. She got there and I drunk 2L of water in like 2 minutes. It actually felt like my insides were cooked. I'm serious! Her picture of the “39.5” shows it was just that! I sat in the car and gave in!
I decided to take a cheat, and get dropped off in Amberley. It was just way to hot and again I needed to be a little sensible about this. After all, it's only training! So from Amberely, Yvette motor paced me for 10kms. This freshens the legs for me, and I felt amazing. (Motor pacing is sitting behind the car and spinning the legs, 50kmph) I then decided (it was only 28deg now) that I’d bike to Sumner then home. I wanted to get to 300+. So I rode out to Sumner. I clicked over 300kms just before Ferrymead. Loved seeing that! It's was 318kms for the day! And what a day! Looking back, wow... it was really hard. The heat was insane, but this is all building character right? LOL
Today I should have ridden..... But ya know what... I couldn’t be bothered! Haha
Thanks for reading the novel! It's midnight, I better go to bed! Just over 600kms. Fridays ride killed me. My knees are still really sore. But this week will be another nice week to help recover before my next insane ride...... I’ll keep you posted on that one! To all of you donating money, donating shoes, donating time and most of all, caring... I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
If I had a choice I too would love to be enjoying a drink in the sun with my friends, or going to the movies.... but I'm in deep with this. It's the passion and drive that I have along with the thoughts and the compassion from you all that’s making this worth every personal sacrifice. Also, Yvette, you rock. Thanks for driving the car and giving up your personal time. It's hard, but you’re truly amazing! Xx
Have a great week... tell all your friends, and please DONATE!
DONATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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