Riding on for Rakiura

(Ed. note: Tonight's post comes courtesy of the YHA Auckland Hostel Operations Manager.)

Riding for Rakiura – Day Three and our biggest challenge yet! 123 kms from Dannevirke to Napier - the Art Deco City. The rain came as promised along with a steady southerly wind that helped our team of riders move up the North Island.

There was a lot of personal achievement during Riding for Rakiura today, and I congratulate each of my fellow riders having pushed through the rain and the pain and arriving into Napier a better person for it.

Heavy rain and two flat tires attempted to damage my spirit 10 kms out of Dannevirke. But a thought for the day posted outside of the Sawyer Arms Pub 35 kms later provided all the motivation needed to push through the rain and the pain.

“It didn’t happen overnight, but it did happen!”

The good people at the Sawyer Arms remind all of us that Rome was not built in a day, you don’t cycle from Dannevirke to Napier in an hour, and it takes more than one person to complete an important and lasting project like The Stewart Island Project. Ten years from now not one person will ask how long it took us to complete the Stewart Island Project, but I suspect that every person who visits Stewart Island in ten years will know that we did complete it. It didn’t happen overnight, but it did happen!

Day Four tomorrow starts with a 6am wake-up call! 45 kilometers of steep climbing. Today tested our stamina, tomorrow will test our strength, and having cycled with this team for three days now I know them hills will be conquered.

Thanks to all that continue to support, us and for those who are concerned for your loved ones – worry not, they have 14 other teammates looking out for them.

We’re Riding On for Rakiura!