Rusty Nuts Tiki Tour

[Jantar]

I can't get the time off work for this run, but I was hoping to head down to Bluff for the friday night. Sorry, I can't even manage that trip now due to my shift roster.

However, on Saturday, sunday and monday the Chatto Creek club have a three day run to Milford sound. Maybe I'll see some of you on the way.

[RiderInBlack]

Na didn't drop my "girl", so no worries there.

Started well on Mon 13/3/06. Did 506miles (819Km) including riding from home to the start in Russell and finishing in Tuaranga.

Tue 14/3/06 when ok but getting lost cost me another 120+Km So I finished that day having got all the icons and having ridden 635miles (1022Km)

Started Wed ok, but feeling a little run down (no surprise). The "Short" day I had worked out at ruffly 1045Km. The "Long" day (picking up all the icons) was going to be nearly 1470Km. I was going fine until I left Taupo 259miles (417Km in to the ride). The "hay fever" I thought I had was getting worse and I had been taking anti-histamine for it. I was struggling to get to Napier (having given up on end idea of doing Wairoa or Gisbourne). When I stopped at Napier (having ridden 357miles, 574Km), My body just hit the wall. I decided at that time that I did not have hay fever but most likely had a cold So I decided to pull out before I tried to ride the rest of the day (at that stage I was only just over half way on the short day), sure that I was going to have a major cold. Had hot Thai soup for late lunch and turned my sorry arse back to Tuaranga. Felt a bit better, but was majorly flagging by the time I reached Taupo. Refreashed there and made it back to Tauranga, have added another 166miles (267Km) to my day. Crashed out and now feel ok. Still a hint of "hay fever"/cold symtoms but feel good enough to ride. Go figure Feeling stupid now that I pulled out (beleive me, it is not normal for me to pull out like this), but am sure that I am only feeling as good as I do because I am now well rested. Had I tried to carry on I would noty have been so lucky.

Hope the rest of the riders go well with the rest of this ride. They have 750-1104Km to do today and a maxium of 1190Km (including a bungie jump to do tomoorow).
I will now have to wait of the next Southern Cross to do a ride anything like this one again

[Jantar]

Geez Doug, That is not good news. I hope you're feeling better soon. I'm also looking forward to next year's Southern Cross, so maybe I'll see you there.

What time do you expect the riders to be at the Bungy Bridge? I may just go through and laugh.

[RiderInBlack]

Ooh I'm fine now , but too late for doing the rest of the Rusty Nutters Icon Tour. Just push the body too hard at the wrong timeHad ride with Warr today Will have to look after the body better if I want ta do something like this again (ex-nurse, I should know better).

[Lee Rusty]

just to up date you
there were 38 starters plus 8 Rustys involved,
You pulled out Crook - the right thing to do in my opinion on a hard ride like this, 1 crashed out, rider with bruises, bike not to bad, 1 break down, all others finished with four completing the tour around all Icons withthe exception of the bungy for all 4 - due to the time they take to piss about signing forms etc. The prize for the most icons most miles came down to those four and who had travelled furtherest - This was Rod from Paeroa who managed to get 250km more than the other 3 riders Rod's mileage was 5225 to get to the clubrooms in Bluff. A good five day ride.
THen of course there is the trip back home. SO another couple of grand go under the wheels.
THis was an extremely hard ride for those who did all the Icons listed, for the rest who chose to miss some out to stay with in their limits - all credit to you all
A 20 year anniversay run with the Rustys who always have tough runs, was always going to be a bloody hard challenge, and much respect goes to all who finished. Thanks for being a part of it.
I will be in touch with those who did not finish.

Look forward to the 1000 mile 24 hour Grand Challenge in October and the 9th Southern Cross in 2007.