Cape Reinga to Bluff supporting Mens Health

$4,180 donated

Given by 86 generous donors in 9 weeks

I'm riding 3,000 km's in under a month. I'd like to raise $2 for every km we ride... $6,000. Please help support a good cause.

Wellington

+98 images

With a few good friends, I'm about to tackle Tour Aotearoa, which is riding 3,000km from Cape Reinga to Bluff... the length of NZ. If you're interested you can track our progress from Feb 17th at this link: https://touraotearoa2020.maprogress.com

Feb 17 2019, I was still recovering from my 2nd Angioplasty to sort out the plumbing after my heart attack. Some might think that the heart attack was a wake up call on life, but the reality for me was that it was just another event. No life flashing before my eyes, or epiphanies, etc...

I suspect the reason for that may have been the challenges of the last 2 decades around mental health. Both in supporting my lovely wife and dealing with my own baggage that is still a work in progress.

Tour Aotearoa is something new for me in riding terms. Ultra long distance, where the focus isn't on watching the clock, but more focusing on the journey day-by-day and the challenges that arise along the way... much like life really.

It is also an opportunity to fund raise and when looking for an organisation the Mens Health Trust is a group who's story and goal I find a really strong affinity with. If you want to see a little more about them, here's the link: http://menshealthnz.org.nz

Darryl Gray's involvement (page creator)

Their story is something that resonates with what I want to support.

Day 24: Mossburn to Bluff 12 March 2020

Last Day! A bit surreal really.... Back to regular living tomorrow. Kicked off at the usual time just in case we copped some head winds. This morning was probably the 2nd coldest start all tour, after the Camp Epic morning. The cool temperature encouraged just to pedal on and we had cut out the 70k leg to Winton by 9:30.

Into the Adagio Cafe for my last cooked breakfast with a milkshake and when the order arrived it came with a complimentary Speights ale to crack at the finish line. After breakfast, we also stopped at the bakery for a doughnut and another shake and a chat with a group of roadies from Invercargill. Once on the road again we rambled onto Wallaceville when the roadies cruised by on their way down south. I had a wee play with them drafting until it was time to turn off, before stopping at a milk bar on the edge of Invercargill for my 3rd shake of the morning. The day is grey and cold so as I was coasting until Fenella could fly down, I stopped in at Macca’s for a cuppa tea. No shake this time. Thought I should start adjusting back to normal food.

I started cruising slowly down towards Bluff, but after letting a couple of e-bikers get a head start, I couldn’t help myself and chose to chase them down. The roadie in me was too strong. That meant I had to pull up to wait for Fenella to get from the airport, but that’s fair play.... she’s been living thru the planning, prep, cost and the actual event. We still involve each other in our activities and celebrations so it would feel weird finishing this gig without her there.

As it was, my ride buddy for the last week Chris was still there, and his wife had surprised him by coming down, which was really awesome for him. Also the Raleigh 20 boys had also just finished. Those guys were bloody legends and total respect for their achievement of completing TA on R20’s... (you thought I was nuts).

With a few hugs and handshakes it was all over. We simply packed bikes into cars and headed off to regular life waiting for us.

Job done.

Share this update

Read 23 more updates