1000kms TO RAISE MONEY FOR CHOLMONDELEY CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION
In January 2009 Scotty decided to ride 1000kms in March 2009 to raise money for Cholmondeley Children's Foundation. Here's a summary of his journey from Scotty's training blog...
Friday, January 9, 2009
little update
Thanks so much for dropping in! Well I just wanted to give you a training update and a donation update!
Training is going well, although this week is a rest week and the few rides I have been on have basically sucked. Legs are feeling DEAD! This could be because of the 900k week I did last week. While away on holiday I did some great rides, including the GRAPE RIDE coarse which is part of the 1000k charity ride in April. Then on the 29th I rode back from Waikawa. For those of you that dont know, Waikawa is just out of Picton at the top of the South Island.. it was 360kms. YES! 360km's. It took me 15hours-ish. I left at 5:30am on a crisp morning and got to Christchurch at 8pm that night. Fabulous weather. I got SO sun burnt! Had 2 or 3 VERY DARK moments of just mental hell, but riding round Kaikora with the seals barking, still blue sea, well... that was a highlight!
So yes, I am getting a little thinner. The plan is next week (12th) to do another 800-1000k week.
On the 24th December, I had a phone call from a woman who had heard of the charity ride through a friend! She said that it was a remarkable effort and that $100 simple wasn't enough to give for such an effort for the kids... she said her and her husband will give $1000! Although wanting to name anonymous, she said it was fine to tell of her generosity! This is the kind of feed back I am getting all the time. Steve Barry (and Michelle I'm sure) from Pro-Fitness is giving $1 per Km... another totally AMAZING gesture! Well Steve, I reckon you better get out a grand mate!
So remember this.... I was bloody numb after 360Km.... so an extra 600Kms is gunna hurt! Make it worth my while...... be part of this great adventure! Be part of this great cause.... feel amazing about yourself, that you have helped!
All the donation and gifting information will be available soon... I'll keep you posted!
Thanks for tuning in!
Scotty
Thursday, January 29, 2009
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!see a grown man cry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tonight I visited Cholmondeley (chumley) children’s home. I took a night off training. Justine took me over and I met with Mike Field (Eric hunter was there too). Mike sat us down and began to explain in a nut shell, the care given and a little about the kids in general. There are about 20 kids that come and go from time to time (respite care) and about 7 kids that are there, that will NEVER go back home again. There are many different stories and I couldn’t help but feel for every kid there. One way or another each kid has a story that makes the Cholmondeley story even more tremendous. I won’t use names, but Mike gave us some examples of the kid’s stories, from single moms with 6 kids that simple need some time off, to the tear jerking story that gave me goose bumps.... imagine this (but it's bloody real) a 6 year old blonde hair, blue eyed girl. 6 (yes six) years old. Taken into care, she had cigarette burns all over her arms, legs and body. Possibly abused in many different ways. Mike said he would introduce us to her. He left the room and led in this gorgeous little girl. Shy at first, he said to her to remember our names and to show us around the children’s “HOME”. Mike was crouching down beside her, I almost burst into tears. This little girl, shy and adorable had been totally and utterly used and abused, in ways that you cannot simply imagine. I felt tears welling up in my eyes and I had goose bumps on my arms.
This is not a story, it's not a TV programme, not an article in the paper. It’s REAL. She was right there in front of me, breathing, real and I just felt like saying “F$%K that’s just so unfair”. So if you ask yourself, why is Scotty doing this, or can I afford it, or how would my money help, even if your just thinking, “I get around to it”... then just imagine her standing in front of you now! A real little girl, blond hair, blue eyes. Abused with burns on her body. What would you give to help her? There are hundreds of stories like this. The 3 cups of coffee you give up for this, (30 if you can) will literally change lives.
Mike showed us the “clothing room”. A room filled with donated kids clothes. Most kids who arrive only have the clothes on their backs. When the kids leave they leave with clothes from that room. They may even leave with a tooth brush (many kids have no idea how to brush their own teeth!!!!!!!!!!). The one thing missing there is shoes. The kids need shoes! So in the next few weeks we will be embarking on the biggest 3-12year old shoe donation NZ has ever seen. We will be asking “everyone” that has kids, or friends with kids to give up ANY unwanted shoes and to drop these off at a few locations around ChCh, or we will even go pick them up.
Yesterday, I was doing a ride for the kids at Cholmondeley, now I'm doing for the kids I MET a Cholmondeley! So I am riding a thousand K’s! Big deal, you would ride 2000kms if you had the chance to visit this home.
Mike, you and the staff are amazing. How you do it, I have no idea. Possibly an almost thankless job at times... but mate, do me the favour of thanking EVERYONE there for me. In the short time I was there I was deeply touched. No one I know, who took the time to visit you and the kids there, would feel any different than I do.
Kids, I promise I’ll do everything I can to make this work for you!
Monday, February 9, 2009
You'll need five minutes.. it's a blimin novel!
Well what a weekend! The big call went out from me... (Me and my big mouth) that I was going to try and ride 1000k over the 4 days I had off!.... let me start with Friday! (You’ll need 5 minutes)
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!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
BOOM!
Well after a few easy weeks I got back into it on Saturday.
It is really important to build strength and power as well as doing long miles to get used to the insane amount of time I’ll be in the saddle. So on Saturday I did short bays in the big chainring! I'm going to need that at about the 600km mark... the old legs need to be able to remember so I can battle through the hurt.
I was all prepared on Sunday to do 4 (or 5) laps of long bays. So I set my alarm for 4:30 got all my gear ready and hit the sack........ at half 4... I hit snooze..... DUMB MOVE! So after a mega effort to roll out of bed, I was on the road by 7:30. I had a pretty good first lap. The sun had come out and it was pretty mint. After a coffee and bagel in Sumner, back on the rig. In Tai Tapu... KA BOOOOOOM, my rear tyre blew! I was feeling tired and to be honest was getting cold chills and having huge pain in my left leg.. .the sort of pain I was getting at the 300k mark on my ride from Waikawa. Jonny P came to the rescue and dropped a wheel off to me. So an hour after my tyre blew, I was back on it. I rode most of the way in my big chain ring, knowing I was only going around twice today.....
THEN BOOM... not my tyre this time... the body! I blew big time. I was riding a huge gear from Sumner, into the damn NW wind... I was shaking and totally smashed! It would have been a hell of a sight. I stopped at a dairy in Woolston and got a diet coke and some twisties! 170km’s and I got home more smashed than my Waikawa ride..... It was horrible. It's funny that now when I do a 150km+ ride it feels like I’ve been a bit lazy!
Charles massaged me tonight and gave me ICE treatment... I feel like a million dollars! Probably the best massage I have had! You guys that need a massage... call and book... I assure you, you’ll be a new athlete. Here’s the number: 385 0544 My legs feel bloody amazing! Thanks Charles
Massive weekend this weekend... I know you’re dying to read about the universe of hurt I go through.... I hope to give lots of fun stories about my pain and suffering!
PLEASE KEEP DONATING AND TELLING EVERYONE.... AND REMEMBER.. DONT SAY “ILL DO IT SOON”... PLEASE DO IT NOW! BEG BEG BEG
Sunday, March 22, 2009
NZ Prime Minister involved!!!!!!!!!!!
Not long to go before my pain starts!
This time 14 days away, I will be sleeping my 1000kms off! It's amazing to think that my mission is almost over. 29th of December 2008, was the day I rode 360kms from Waikawa bay to Christchurch... the day my training started and I started to make this a reality!
The support from you all has been tremendous to say the least. I'm often asked,"how can you do this"? But I say... how can all of you do this! It's my ride... but it's your money, time, donations, support etc that are making the actual difference. Don’t underestimate your effort... you are the ones that need to be thanked!
Mike Pero has donated some amazing hot laps in his Holden race car. He will do a bunch of hot laps with you in the passenger’s seat! Wow, this is freekin awesome! You can hardly put a price on that! These have been reaching $8-900 at charity auctions. He has donated 3! Yes 3. Mike, thanks so much! These, along with other amazing items, including a FULL domestique by your side in the grape ride in 2010, along with the use of race wheels, full support and free entry! A signed jersey by CSC TEAM rider Hayden Roulston, a signed jersey by Prime Minister John Key, and 2 other GREAT things, will be up for online auction on TRADE ME by Wednesday! I’ll post the link on Wednesday. Also we have had an amazing offer from DEFLUX design who have been doing all our design of logos etc for our VIP tees. Guys THANKS SO MUCH for your donation of design time! Also, Mark at SCREEN CONCEPTS has donated 75 tees for our VIP’s at the SCOTTY BROWN GUARDIAN ANGEL tent at GRAPE RIDE finish line. SCREEN CONCEPTS and DEFLUX have done all our printing and design for 10 years now... they are loyal to us and this cause! Support them!
Also, the team at MUDFISH cafe have also come to the party! When you're out riding make the effort to stop in and get your coffee fix from them. We all stop in sumner... but just down the road in Ferrymead you can get a great coffee fix from a cafe owned by fellow cyclists! More so, they are donating $1 from every coffee sold and have started a $2 “guess Scottys LERACE time” sweep stake. Up for graps is a pair of $600 RUDY PROJECT sunglasses. You can also enter the draw at SCOTTY BROWNS.. but stop in and have a coffee at MUDFISH. I did not solicit these guys, they came to me and said “WE WANT TO BE INVOLVED” and the least us cyclists can all do is give something back.
I would also really like to thank SCHWALBE tyres and REYNOLDS wheels. They have given me hundreds of dollars worth of tyres for my training and race... so thanks a million guys! They are the best tyres for New Zealand conditions, without question!
Lastly, John Key (Prime Minister of NZ) made a very significant donation this week. I’d just like to say that that was a real surprise and totally amazing! John, thank you SO much. I was lost for words to be frank! Cholmondeley Childrens home needs money every day. It's struggles to get funding and relies so much on the kindness of fellow New Zealanders making donations etc. So every donation is important, every persons dollar is important, but I would like to say this... when our Prime Minister gets involved, I can’t help thinking that the future is bright for the kids at Cholmondeley. I embarked on getting money and shoes... but just as important was getting this amazing home etched into people’s minds, to promote and make aware to Cantabrians that this is right on our doorstep! The words getting out! We can all take pride in the fact that each of us has done this. More people than ever will remember the name Cholmondeley and associate the name with need, help, kindness, compassion and care!
Ok, training: 3 days off cause of my back. short bays Wednesday, summit road Thursday, Saturday I did summit in morning and short bays in afternoon, and unfortunately the weather on Sunday really put me off, just rode up to kiwi... pretty sad training really!
This weekend I have LE RACE. I'm doing a team (but I am riding the first half as training-with my team mate) then racing the second half... then, i'll bike home. This will be my last big day before my epic 48 hours!
Love to you all!
Scotty
Saturday, March 28, 2009
3 days to go, my schedule, Le Race.... THANKS
Saturday was a gorgeous Christchurch day! Le Race was great! Jonny and I did it in a team... I rode the first half as a warm up... JP went really great on freshness. After the tag in Little River, I headed off for my first experience of the hill top summit! YUK... that is one hell of a ride. After a bit of food and rest I baked back to ChCh. My time was 7:27:41 to my front door. For those of you that donated to win a pair of $600 RUDY PROJECT eye wear... the winner will be called tomorrow!
Today, about 30 of us met at the MUDFISH cafe, for great coffee and a photo shoot for the GOLD Cholmondeley kit. Thanks to everyone that rode. We had a great ride out to Halswell then to Sumner. Fair to say, riding in a 20+ group doesn’t make friends with car drivers! (sorry cars)
3 days to go!
Here is a basic plan of my thousand kilometres! Thursday, is 400km then 6 laps of the GRAPE RIDE
Thursday: 5:00am-ish Start at Cholmondeley children’s home-Governors bay, ride to Blenheim, then ride another 60km (approx) to reach the 400km I need to get on day one. Should be finished 11pm
Friday: 5:00am Ride lap one of grape ride course. Approx 4 hours. Then ride another immediately after that. (My second lap today is the first of the 5 I must do for the 5 lap race.) Grape Gonzo has let me do one lap prior to the 2pm start of the ultimate 5 lapper. So at 2pm, I will be on the start line, with 4 laps to go. Then I will complete 2 more laps, finishing approx 10-11pm Friday night.
Saturday: 4:30am Ride lap 5 of my 6 laps. My goal is to be on my sixth and final lap approximately 9am, about the same time as the 1 lappers leave. The reason I wanted to do this is to finish around the 2-3pm mark. The fact is, if everything turns to custard, I might very well finish much later... as late as 6pm!
1000+ kilometres! DONE
For all of you wanting or waiting to donate to the kids of Cholmondeley...
www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/scottybrown
Lastly, MANY people have asked about the VIP tent... you can be part of the crew by simply paying $20 (or much more if you want) to the VIP volunteers at the tent (which is right on the start finish line in the GRAPE RIDE finish area!) For the first 70 people, you will receive an amazing VIP 1000km tee shirt. You will also get to drink COKE and VITAMIN WATER, eat our BBQ food from PAK N SAVE MOOREHOUSE AVE and drink a wine or two from the GREAT TEAM AT FORREST estate wines. All for $20 bucks! There will be seats there and great people hanging out with you! Every cent goes to the kids!
The TEES have been designed by the amazing team at DEFLUX DESIGN, this would have cost us hundreds of bucks, but DEFLUX did the design for free, LOVE YOU GUYS! and the tees were given to us by Mark and the bloody great team at SCREEN CONCEPTS. They are the best in the business... use them... plain and simple! Both of these companies have been sensational... THANK YOU SO SO MUCH!)
I am shaking with nerves!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
20 hours to go!
It is 8:15am Wednesday morning, this time tomorrow I would have been on my bike for 3 hours or so.
There simply isn't much else to say now..I can't "wow" you with a new epic ride, tell you about an "animal" moment or even beg you a little more to donate to the kids.
Do me a solid though please, think really positive thoughts... My tooth is blimmin sore, iI have the beginnings of a cold and I need to pull from your strength! While you are sitting back and relaxing... think of my sorry little butt and legs.. go on...please! :)
THANK YOU everyone! sincerely!
I leave at between 5-5:30am tomorrow from Cholmondeley children's home in Governors Bay. Ride the hills through to Sumner and should be there around 6-6:15am. I ride through ferrymead, to marshlands road and then over the waimak bridge..... to my final destination... Blenheim... arriving in around 10pm. 400km tomorrow! Then 4 laps of Grape Ride Friday and 2 laps on Saturday! ONE THOUSAND KILOMETRES!
The VIP tent will be up at the start/finish line. please wander over and buy you VIP pass for the finish. I know you'll all be there...
To all of you racing or riding... GOOD LUCK! My thoughts will be with you and I am REALLY excited about seeing you up there.
I am nervous, worried, excited and most all hungry to not let you all down.
SEE YOU ON THE ROAD
Scotty
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
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
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
Thursday, April 2, 2009
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
Thursday, April 2, 2009
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!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
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
Posted by Scotty at 7:29 PM
Thursday, April 2, 2009
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
Posted by Scotty at 8:47 PM
Friday, April 3, 2009
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
Friday, April 3, 2009
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.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
........ 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
