Biking from Cape Reinga to the Bluff

WHAT:

I love to be challenged and am always looking for new adventures so, when my good friend, and cycling buddy, David West (Westie) called me to tell me he had a new adventure for us, my immediate response was, "I'm in. What exactly are we doing?" His reply was, we're doing TA. The Tour of Aotearoa (TA) is a 3000km self-supported cycling event that starts at Cape Reinga (NZ's Northern most tip) to Bluff (NZ's southern most tip). It doesn't sound that tough (LOL). The route travels backroads, MTB trails, farms tracks and gravel roads that take us to the less-travelled parts of the country. The term "self-supported" means you're not allowed any outside support and must carry anything you want during the ride or purchase it along the way. We will be carrying all of our clothes, tools, spare parts, first aid kit, toiletries, tent, sleeping bag, air-mattress, towel, pillow, etc.

WHY:

Originally, this was just another adventure. However, after telling a few friends over Christmas what I was going to do, they all asked the same thing; What charity are you fundraising for? My response was always the same: NONE. They all gave me a bit of a hard time and said I HAD to use the event as a fundraiser. My first thought was Dementia as I have had a close association with this disease as my father-in-law was diagnosed with it approximately 10 years ago. In July 2020 he turned 80 and is currently in the Dementia Care unit at the Ryman's Healthcare facility on Chapel Road in Auckland.

Once a young, tearaway flanker for the All Blacks (1962 - 1967) who was never in a losing side, he is now but a shadow of his former self.

My wife, our two sons and I, her mum, her two sisters and their families usually have a get together every couple of weeks at the facility and have a family catch-up. He is always with us and, while everyone is chatting, very occasionally, we see a spark in his eye and he manages a small smile. Even more rarely, he will utter a single word that lets us know, part of him remembers a fleeting moment in time. Apart from that, he just sits, listening to the family...

PURPOSE:

I am using this personal challenge to raise funds for Dementia NZ that can be used to help fund education, awareness, support and research for therapeutics and cures.

WHEN:

22 Feb 2021

Start time is 8:00 AM.

The following website is a live track so you can track us the entire way.

https://touraotearoa2021.maprogress.com/?bib=SWB&justme=yes&showPath=yes&showMarkerHistory=yes