Thursday 17 September 2015

Post NZ wrap up

'Sup

Back in Perth - safe and sound.

NZ was fabulous, gorgeous countryside surrounding Napier and we got to know the towns within a 50k or 60k radius pretty well.

As was to be expected we had a fair few hot weak flat whites to accompany our sossy rolls in some great cafes. 

My sister and I shot around the corner to a cafe near my house earlier this morning. Below is a tat a girl in there had - which she kindly gave me permission to reprint here...


" Death before decaf", 
- that's a barista who takes her job reasonably seriously ...

Back to the ride - we collectively raised US $110k. A fantastic effort by all concerned.

 Fordy  raised almost half of that himself which warrants a special mention. He and Subhash did a 214k day on the Thursday which was also pretty large! 

Massive congrats and well done to our fellow guys and girls who did the ride in Cambodia - quite a few of whom for the first time - a real achievement. 

Fordy is going to send me a few thoughts about the Cambodian experience which I'm going to cut and paste. Obviously I'll sabotage it a little if it reads too well coz he doesn't need to over perform here as well surely.

I've previously mentioned the most creative relationship in the history of music - namely Michael Stipe from REM and Natalie Merchant from 10,000 Maniacs - then an incomparable solo career.  I haven't ruled out Whatsapping her for a catch up. 

Every whisper
Of every waking hour
I'm choosing my confessions
Trying to keep an eye on you

Losing my Religion
REM

Back shortly




Friday 11 September 2015

Day 5 Cambodia in NZ 120k




Last day. First 40k straight into a fierce head wind. Hard work.

My di2 ran out of charge just before we got to our first hill only 11 or 12k in to our ride leaving me in my big chain ring for the remaining 110k or so - but ride virtually flat so all worked out ok.

Iain navigated our routes and did a magnificent job.

Stopped in at the Cllifton cafe again for a brew


Whilst Bully and I were out riding Grizzy went out on a date with Joey. They at least had the decency to take Harry with them. After a few wineries ,cafe's and general romantic scenic spots they pointed the hire car for home but not before coincidentally spying ( and photographing) two weary travellers en route



Riding quite big k's  for five days with my brother in law in NZ wasn't where either of us thought we'd be this week. As a family we were just rapt Iain was here with us. It was also great to continue with our Cambodian cause and adventure albeit in a place 30 degrees cooler. 

Looking fwd to hearing in more detail how the Cambodia ride (the one actually in Cambodia ) went from the guys themselves.

The Clarkes have just headed back to Singapore. Grizzy has just headed back to Perth. Big love to him for making the trek over, a truer and more generous friend you couldn't find to me , Mike and our whole family.

Everyone regrouping then hot pools this arvo

There will be a wrap up blog by close of business Tuesday

😄😄


Thursday 10 September 2015

Day 4. Cambodia in NZ. 127.5k





Great day. Very few head winds, mostly cross winds couple of drops of rain but barely noticeable.

Whilst the guys and girls in Cambodia may be getting around in Tuk tuks we've found the place where the local version originated from.


Iain was certain he spotted a freshwater trout - I reckon I missed it by a split second.


I mentioned the big Grizzy boys here in NZ and bunkering down with us. He had the decency to scuttle out first thing and see Bully and I off before heading off to Cape Kidnappers Golf Course ( which he'd coincidentally seen on Getwaway just a wee while back. 

 Here's the big boy now


Two items of kit you can't help but look very street in are jarmies and cycling kit

One days cycling to go..

Wednesday 9 September 2015

Day 3. Cambodian in NZ.

Awesome. Huge fun. Really scenic.



Went to Cape Kidnappers from home, as scenic a place as I've seen in a while.
Despite only having travelled 25k from home we had to stop and have a coffee and muffin. We actually didn't time it too badly ...they were pulling the muffins out of the oven as we were handing over our cash. 



Here's the muffins...



I've only put this photo of the open fire as the guys in Cambodia probably couldn't comprehend the concept of a fire at this time of year. 

Didn't take a photo of it but we headed to Bridge Pa. It had a Deerstalkers Association next to their Automoblle Club. I took the time to drop in and put an idea into the suggestions box. Suggested they almgamate the two clubs, run the deer over with the cars and save some money on rifles. The bit about the two clubs side by side is factual.

We've fought the (rough) roads and winds so far , all a bit more digestible today and we averaged 29kph or more, combining pretty seamlessly...
Hasn't been easy here keeping on a decent average speed.

Called in and saw Audrey (Dawdsy) ..my Mum, at about 90k in to our ride - she lives less than a k from the Mission Winery ( get there if you can it's pretty good)

Ok. Mum's here and there's an open white, red and rose. In a first in our life times Mums having a Gatorade and we're all having a wine. 

Gotta shut this down - I'm underperforming on the group contribution front.

Stay well 




Tuesday 8 September 2015

Day 2. Cambodia in NZ


Day 2. 1 degree when we started. Ridiculously scenic out there today.


 


Stopped in at the Berry cafe. Bacon and egg sandwich, sausage roll and hot weak flat white each. Met the owners who were just delightful and really looked after us. 


Fabulous navigating by Iain (Bully). You see so much more moving round the country by bike (versus your car). People on the roads have been giving us plenty of room and have been really friendly.

The big Grizz man has just arrived ( from Perth) and we're two Peroni's in..Mums delighted to see him. Grizzy used to get up to our house for Xmas from when we first met as 10 year olds. Mum wasn't 10 obviously. Mums massively touched. 

We're all going to scuttle down to  the waterfront precinct for a bit of nosh and maybe a mid strength whilst there's still a bit of sunshine. (Three Peroni's in now - Grizz is talking leaving the Bentley at our hotel and cabbing it) 

What's uppppppp. 

Everyone is getting pretty chipper ( including my lovely mother) - who knows ...I might even jump back in and update the blog later tonite...



Monday 7 September 2015

Day 1. Cycling in NZ in lieu of Cambodia.



Well...
Alarm off at 4.45am. Quick cup of tea and then out to Auckland airport. Teeming down and windy.
Two quick bacon and egg mcmuffins each (coz that's what elite athletes do.)
Napier an hour later .
Cool but clear.
Assembled the bikes - googled hard man routes over 100k and viola up it popped. 
We took this photo after the ride inserted it now as had no pre ride Mum snaps

Over 130k   ..1200m of climbing...large...

Mid ride - ( above) Iain reminding me who I was riding with



We're underway. Went and intro'd ourselves to the local bike shop 

We're 5 hours in front of Cambodia here in NZ. Just heard from the guys in Cambodia. They are 4k from finishing 

Big day from them!

Chat more tomorrow peeps.




Friday 4 September 2015

From Cambodia to New Zealand...

Can't stop, won't stop.

No easy way of saying this, Mum really isn't well ( hi Mum) x

My brother in law Iain (Bully) - who most regular readers already know quite well and I are accordingly forming a break away peleton and are now doing the Ride for Nokor Tep in scenic New Zealand versus Cambodia. As Bully said to me he's simply not prepared to stop innovating.

At the end of each day we'll compare average speeds and work out whether we were a break away off the front or we got dropped. That's patently bullshit of course as the "B" peleton (as we've just recently started referring to them as)  are largely off road in Cambodia - for the first few days at least.

Perhaps most importantly we will still be with our group not just metaphorically but physically in shared endeavour.

Here's our ride jumpers which we're about to unveil in sunny NZ


If you look closely you'll be able to see how Bully and I will be able to tell our respective jumpers apart when we pull them out of the washing machine. We ordered the slim race fit ( expecting to each be around 70 kegs at the start line). 
Fingers crossed there's a decent 24 hour tailor in NZ .


We will be based in Napier where my Mum is and can see her in the afternoons.

Ok..off to try and barter some sun screen for some thermals...

See you in blog land Monday good people