Friday 15 March saw my second trip up to Taupo to get in two laps of the lake with Colin. At the beginning of the month I had been up and ridden laps 26 and 27 and marvelled at the way Colin kept going day after day.
Now two weeks on I was there to ride laps 41 and 42. He was still knocking off the laps but with his left knee causing considerable pain after about the hundred kilo mark he was slightly slower, but not by much.(It was great to hear that after the lap on the following Monday the knee was improving.)
The lasting impression my trips up to the lake have left is what a full time job Wal’s challenge is. A 6.00am start means up at 5.00 for breakfast,make sure all drinks, gels and bars are on bike and lights etc. working. With a stop at Turangi to mix more drink and have a feed and a bit of a rest Taupo is reached by about 2.00pm then it is home to mix recovery drink, eat, shower, put washing on, check e-mails and txt and reply,grab a nana nap, mix tomorrows drinks, check bike etc. etc. etc..
Anyone that can find the time to ride a lap with Colin will, I am sure, come away feeling better for the experience. He is hoping that he will raise a dollar amount equal to the kilometers he has ridden so for those wishing to help his cause, CanTeen, jump on his fund raising site and give him a boost.
Cheers John Lithgow