REDZNZJOURNEY BLOG
BLOG & DAILY STORIES
10 km.. the plan is ..go as fast and as hard as you can for 10 kms.. see if your lungs want to stay inside you.. or just burst.. see if your arms can turn any faster.. hope that someone can drag you along in front of you... try and focus on that kayak in front of you and just hang on.. paddle paddle paddle. PHEW and then it was over...
Thank you all for the support.. such a great bunch of people..
This week has started out well, after a scheduled/enforced week off training, I am back to my routine, but it is more what I would call maintenance .. lighter weight sessions, less distance when I am paddling, just turning the arms over and enjoying my time on the water, it gives me time to think, plan, and mull over the endless list we are working through for packing of the support vehicle, also making sure the tracking system we have is working, the cameras and the gear we have placed on and in the kayak are secure, that they work and trying to foresee problems and improve systems.
But it is a work in motion, and everything will become more routine as we hit the coast/road..
A lot of generous supporters with great product, giving us their time and knowledge, we can not say THANK YOU enough each day to them all.
The momentum is growing.. THANK YOU..
The team are gathering tonight.. it is a night of questions, what if scenarios and their concerns, solving last minute hiccups that have or could occur.. and discussing plans..as we all know this is something that is going to change hourly/ daily.. is weather dependent and my energy levels will change.
Point Chevalier Beach 14 October 2015
Well the RedzNZ team are getting it together and I am so happy they are coming with me on this journey ..everyone in the them will have a story from this, probably far more entertaining than my own. Yes we will update you as we get underway and I am on and in the water trying to be in the waves and surf, as much as possible. The Campervan is being setup and graphics for the journey applied today so you can find us easily, Kayak packed and emptied and repacked to make sure all will fit in and there is room for extra food and a fishing line to do a spot of fishing.. A request from the land based team :). Pics soon to be posted after a session on the water tomorrow with Mike Scalan, Nat and myself.
Today I picked up my campervan..." Cuzzie".. so happy with her.
Thanks to an amazing lady Sonja, who has parted with her best friend.. we will look after your campervan and have lots of great times along the way.
First trip outing is tomorrow when we head off for a day trip to Snells beach with kayak to practice eskimo rolling and a small paddle to Kawau..
Pictures of Cuzzie and team soon.
So the days keep speeding by, yes the training and paddling is going well, I am sure it will not every be enough. I am practicing a lot my eskimo rolling with a pool session and also the ocen .. along with every time I come in after a day on the water, I roll at the finish, doing a couple of 360 rolls in so that it becomes second nature.
I was in Hamilton on Sunday 20th September and did the Cambridge to Hamilton paddle with many others, cold wet, thunder and hail.. fun crowd and brilliant event. Thankyou to Andy Warner , Kim White & Todd Stoddard for the entertainment on the river and setting the pace.
Sort of looking forward to some warmer weather and to paddle with warmer hands, but am sure I will be asking for rain along this journey.
I pickup my campervan" Cuzzie" on Friday and she will be mine and the support crews home for the next 6 months really soon.
Pics of Cuzzie and us getting ready coming soon.
The weeks have been cold and wet for training, but as Andy from STAR Kayaks mentioned on day when I dared to mention the wind and rain and the cold.."SO"..!!? and that echos in my head every time I just wan to sit in the car with the heater on..
There have been some great paddling days and have made friends on many of the Auckland boat ramps as I launch and land each day.
There are many days when there seems to not be enough hours in the day to train/ paddle/ chat to people re funding and sponsorship, sit and listen to advise and guidance, read material I have been sent , sleep eat and actually get my work done.
The 26th October is coming around faster than I would every have imagined and there is still a lot today.
Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.. and email me any advise.
Yes I am still needing sponsorship, team / support crew secured, but I need to feed / transport them and keep there rent at home paid.
Back to the water tomorrow morning hoping to see another amazing sunrise and also paddle with the Auckland dolphins :).
This morning was windy and cold.. not as cold as it had been earlier in the week, BUT Dark Windy choppy waters is not that enticing as a start.. anyway left at the same time as the Waka paddlers so that is always nice to have someone else heading out on the water at the same time.. Takapuna beach is always got someone od=r something happening.. I at least was not immersing myself totally like some of the ocean swimmers this morning!! .. they mad me feel warm and dry as I watched them dive into the ocean!!. I paddled from Takapuna into SW headwinds around and past the Devonport Naval base.. yes it was rough .. but lots of fun when I turned for home playing and surfing in the waves... .. I did keep looking at the Lighthouse on my return it seemed to be saying paddle out to me!!.. But today I resisted.. long way and I was already at my 3 hr mark.. maybe tomorrow.. My new was published in the Huffington Post today.. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jo-brothers/redznzjourney-a-solo-kaya_b_7669836.html
Crazy.. and another moment reminding me.. the count down is on..
Paddle again tomorrow.. probably do the Westhaven marina launch.. head out on a normal paddle to Pt Chev.. turn and head home.. or maybe Orakei to Browns and back..posted images on Facebook, Twitter Instagram this morning of the sunrise, they are always stunning.
Great Day today meeting with the Social Media QUEEN - @jobrothers to setup and start this wave of support for my NZ Journey, thank you Jo you are amazing.
No paddling done today , busy with connecting to everybody on the following sites, twitter, instagram and finish this website.
I did manage to do a weights session at Les Mills and also go for a 45 min run.
Life is truly insanely busy at the moment and even rising before the sun everyday does not seem to give me enough time to fit in everything..
Back chatting to the blog tomorrow, Auckland weather looking bad for the next few days so I may get out in some waves for an hour to practice beach landings.. or being dumped.
Chat tomorrow
