........ WOW...... ITS OVER!

I have been contemplating what to write here all day!

ITS OVER! One thousand kilometres!!!!! Wow! I have done some amazing things in my life, have met amazing people from all over the world and been fortunate to grow up with great parents and friends.... the most important thing I can write is my heartfelt thanks to you all. There are so many special people to thank... it would be hard to find time to do that. I hope that every one of you that have been special and specially involved in this EPIC, know who you are and know that I am so very very grateful.

My plan is to try and write, this week, a bit of a blow by blow story. It might be long, but I think what has been done by all is worthy of mention and it might just make great reading!

There were some terrible low moments for me. The guts to keep going came from the support around me and the kids that I was doing it for. It is amazing to think that what we have done is actually and truly going to make a difference to kids and families and could really help the future of our community. For every donation we have received, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. The bottom line is that the money, the shoes and the awareness that have been raised is almost priceless. You should really pat yourself on the back.... my job was for a few days... but the money raised will keep making a difference long after you have forgotten about this weekend. You are the ones that have made the difference!

I’d also like to thank the big fella up stairs and mother nature! OMG, can you imagine how impossible it would have been to complete this if I had to battle into a wind like the one that blew up yesterday! man o man.... Thursday was gorgeous, cold, but gorgeous. Friday and Saturday were also great. No doubt the wind was up... but the rain man stayed away and I think it’s fair to say, everyone enjoyed the great event that was the GRAPE RIDE!

I want to say sorry for the speech I made at the presentation. I was smashed... I left EVRYTHING on the road. I did the last lap in around 3 hours. I was possessed... I wanted to get home. I was tired, exhausted, sleep deprived and sore. I wanted to thank more people and wanted to say much more about Cholmondeley. I trust you'll understand that I was exhausted.

Lastly, I have been fortunate to experience something not many people get to experience. I have seen the warmth and generosity first hand. From my closest friends and family, to complete strangers. I have done over 9000kms since December 29th. I have given everything to ensure that what I said I would do I did..... AND I DID. At the lowest points I remembered the texts and the calls, the comments, the toots, the claps and the signs..... I am in awe of your spirit to get behind this.

WE HAVE MADE ONE HELL OF A DIFFERENCE!

Congratulations! WE DID IT! One thousand kilometres! Totally bloody epic!

My experience will follow this week.
You can still donate!

Love and best wishes..... And THANKS!

Scotty

www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/scottybrown

1000KM

Its done, not long ago Scotty crossed the line to complete his epic 1000km fundraising ride. He's understandably, pretty shattered, but he made it on schedule.
For those who haven't checked it out, take a look at www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/scottybrown

Tail Wind Home

Heading to Havelock for the last time and then tailwind to the finish line

Last Lap

He's onto the last lap, now less 100km to go, and i'm sure he's counting each one down as he gets closer to getting off the bike for the last time.

The End Is In Sight

Scotty hit the road again at 6 this morning with the final task of a 200km day ahead of him. He has made it to Havelock on lap 1, now with a tail wind to the start finish line and a final lap to complete the 1000km.
The 2lap racers set off early this morning to join the 5 lapers on the course and by 9 this morning everyone was out on the course enjoying the beautiful Graperide.

The Night Shift

Finishing in the very late hours of friday night/early saturday morning Scotty completed his 4 back to back laps of the Graperide course, taking his total KM's cycled to ove 800. With a few hours sleep he'll be back on the bike this morning with 2 more loops to go. Today at least he'll have the company of over 2000 Graperiders to help push him along, and knowing that he has almost done it

He Needs All Your Support

It's getting late into afternoon number 2, Scotty's been in the saddle for more than 35 of the last 40 hours!!
He's doing it tuff now with just under 2 laps still to complete tonight. Curently Scotty is on the Grove Track, somewhere bewteen Picton and Havelock, anyone in the area who can should get out there and cheer him on, right now he needs a big lift to his spirits to help him through

Grove Track, AGAIN

Scotty is about to hit the climb out of Picton yet again, this will be the third time today. His total time on the bike is up over 25 hours now and he is starting to feel it. There are a couple of guys riding with him trying to keep his spirits up and take his mind of his aching legs and body. He still has two laps to do today but we know he's going to make it

5 Lapper Begins

Scotty has made it to the start line, and is underway for the 3rd lap of the day, two down, two to go. Its still mint up there, and hes going good. Its so exciting!
im heading up very soon so Aidan will take over blog duties, he has big shoes to fill I tell you!

My Hero

Lastest pick, hes half way through the 2nd lap, and looking good! Machine!

lets try it this way round

Half Way!

Total kms so far 505kms! Hes half way! My Mum and Dad just had coffee with him in Blenhiem and hes just so happy, Johny has givin him a rub, apparently his arcillies are sore. Its all going to plan and he will be at the start line today at 2pm. The weather up there is amazing no wind, beautiful day, sunny, and hopefully warmig up!

J

Goss..........

The big man is one lap down, and he did it in 3.15! On his own in the freezing cold! He has been delived coffee on the course and is positive , and very happy I have been told.

I did hear a rumour he was moter paced a wee way to help warm his legs up..........mint

Dont forget the auctions we have running on trade me, search scotty browns on trade me and start bibbing!!!! We need money people, thats what its all about! The fundraise site is almost up to $26,000!!!! Amazing, thanks to all those who have put some cash on.

J

Photos

I managed to get the photos on! Yay!

1st photo is of Scotty this morning brrrrrrrrrr
2nd Heading into Blenhiem
3rd Somewhere on the road

J

MACHINE

Morning Team

Scotty Brown is a F$%#en MACHINE, oh my god!!!!!!!!!

He arrived in picton last nite at what must have been 9.30pm ish, and had done 375km, so he had to turn around and pedal back to Blenheim to make up the 25km he needed for the 400km of day 1. I think I would have cried, i think he almost did, but after a talk from Johny it was all on to make the 400km.

I have got some photos to paste on here but I need Adain to help me do it. Computer and me, no go! Im lucky to not have messed this up! The pics are amazing, thank you Scotty Wilder.

Today they were up at 5am and hit te road at 6.30am for lap one, it looked so cold I have a photo of him from 7am this moring and he is wrapped up like a Mt Everest Climber, hes tired and possibly delerious bacause he is laughing at Johnys bad bad jokes, Scotty is running on 5 hrs sleep, 400km to do today.

If your heading up to the Grape Ride today, the Ultimites ( 5 lappers) start at 2pm form Forest Estate, Scotty will be there after already having done 2 laps! and biking 400km the day befoe! Its making my two laps look very little compared to what hes up to. Any way he loves Chocolate Thins, grab a pack today on your way up, find him on course and hook him up!

I will post more today when I can, I accually spoke to Scotty last nite and he sounded good, happy, and he thanks everyone for the good wishes.

Sorry for the speeling mistakes too, not my strongest point.....

J

120KM TO GO

So its 5.45 pm, scotty has been riding scince 5.30am this morning, over 12hrs on the road, and he has 120kms still to go. My Mum and Dad have just seen him and say he is looking amazing! He now has Johnny and Scott following him, the plan is to ride to waikawa.

So far he has ridden 280kms! By him self too, not in a bunch getting pulled along, its amazing!

As for the goss, i still got none, someone needs to ring me at the shop with some ASAP

J

The Store

Scotty will be at Kekerengu Store at 5.30pm tonight, The feed in kaikoura has worked a treat and he going strong again!! Go Scotty

Im sorry its not more exciting maybe i will make up some goss for the next blog

J

Inside Word..............

They are at the Kaikoura Fudge Factory!!! Scotty blew just before and is now refueling, fudge and coffee!! There is a gang with Scotty now, Eric Hunter is there and he will ride with Scotty at some point, Justine and Ross (Scotty Dad) are there too, And there is a few others on the way.

J

We Getting There

Scotty is through Kiakora!!! and is going strong, hes looking good, and most of all he hasnt gone to the dark side.............yet! he he he

J

Parnassus Here We Come Baby!

Scotty is almost at Parrnassus! And the weather is mint! No wind, the boy is in good spirits, they stopped in Cheviot for a feed and coffee, and a rub. Bring on the Hundalees, hills hills hills.........

J

Greta Valley And Coffee

Yo

Have just spoken to Scottys dad and they are almost at Greta Valley, Its an amzing morning but bloodly cold!! No wind perfect conditions

The big man is looking good, but pale apparently, i think he is just cold.

I will post another update later on,

J

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Morning Team

Day one aye,and its a goodie, so Scotty left governers bay at 5.30am this morning in the pitch black, but thank god had a police escort round the bays and up and over the hill to shine some light...........Richard Scott you're a legand!

About 6am he hit Sumner and Chris and Toney and Lynn and Mary-ann, Shandy, Kevin and me were there to meet him and wish him luck, Kevin and I jumped on and starting riding with Scotty.........it was amazing, chilly but amazing.

So as we were riding through Redcliffs just about to hit the cause way we saw this runner flashing his bottom at us! It was Phil Costley! Outa Control! Phil ran with us down the cause way, he was running at 20km/h! He wasnt even puffing! Unreal!

There were lots of people out to wish him well, it was amazing, Sam and Nat thanks, and Brenda Fortune, and lots others.......i'm not good with names, sorry!

Last I heard Scotty was at Pegasus Bay, hes looking FAST and FIT, Its all in the PINS, and that boy has a mean set of pins!

Jess