by Grapevine Admin (Chris) | Jun 21, 2019 | MailChimp
Hi, it’s your Grapevine admin, Chris here and we’re at it again – fundraising for Aran Animal Rescue who are a small but active group of volunteers who manage to rescue approximately 200 dogs each year from regional pounds who would otherwise have been put to sleep. In support of them, we are motorcycle riding 1600+km within 24 hours on the year’s shortest day – tomorrow.
Aran focus on attempting to rescue death-row dogs, and have built up strong relationships with a number of council run pounds, around New Zealand, predominantly from Northland to Whanganui. They get told when a pound has exhausted their own avenues to rehome a dog, and given an option to up-lift it, out of the area, and try to find a new forever home for them. This process is costly and will often involve having to transport, get unwell dogs back to good health, de-sexing, fostering, advertising, vetting new owners, home visits and more. It’s tireless work.
They manage to do this for around 200 dogs each year. So, for the past two years I’ve done a long distance motorcycle ride in support of them, and attached to it a fundraising effort, run through the give-a-little website.
This year, our third such event is kicking off tomorrow at 3:30am in Warkworth. We’ll be riding around most of the North Island (south of Auckland), and covering more than 1,609 km (1,000 miles) within 24 hours. This year, I’ll be taking Stella, my lovely wife on the back of the bike, and our good friend Luke Mitchell will be joining our ride too, on his first 1600+km ride.
We’ve been fundraising for a while now, and we’re really proud to have already raised ~$1/km, but there’s no upper limit on how much we would like to raise for these guys. If you’re interested in reading more about our ride, the prep for it, the route, and also find out about how you can donate, then please feel free to visit my website: https://www.wiltshire.net/ss1600-2019
Thanks, all the best, and wish us good luck and decent weather for our ride, tomorrow the shortest day of the year!…
Chris.
by Grapevine Admin (Chris) | Feb 1, 2018 | MailChimp
Our 2017 fundraising efforts were successful, the bike prep, fundraising, and 1600+km ride all went very well. It was a lot of fun. I seriously enjoyed what Jon and I achieved, so much so that we decided we’d do something similar in 2018.
In August 2017, there was the NI1600 (North Island 1600), which I had wanted to do, but it clashed with a trip to Rarotonga; the weather ended up being horrid too, so I wasn’t honestly bothered that I had to miss it. The next major event on the NZ Long Distance calendar is the TT2000, a 2000km in 48 hours event. It’s across both islands with start and finish options in both Ashhurst (North Island, near Palmerston North), and Christchurch (South Island). This is somewhat different from many other events in that it’s a rally, with points to collect from pre-specified checkpoints. All other aspects of route planning are placed upon us, we have two whole days to complete the 2000kms required to be considered a finisher.
There are no prizes etc; it’s all for bragging rights. It’s held over the weekend, starting on Friday 23rd February.
As with all best made plans, work can get in the way. Unfortunately Jon has an existing work commitment on that day, so if I were to do this and not be alone, I needed to find another willing person to ride with.
Thankfully, Nigel Reardon expressed a degree of interest in last year’s ride, so I’ve asked him and he’s willing (if not entirely keen).
In planning this, we’ve considered several ride options and routes – we’re keen to attempt to combine the TT2000, with a couple of potential Iron Butt Association based riding certificates; another Saddle Sore (1600km), and perhaps a Bun Burner (the next level up from a SS – 1500 miles in 36 hrs ~2,414km).
So while the TT allows 48 hours to complete 2000km, we would be aiming to insert a longer ride, in a shorter time within the TT2000.
Our primary aim would be to finish the TT2000, with a secondary aim to complete a SS1600K within it, and possibly the BB1500. As with all LD ride planning the sensible thing to do is to plan it well, with properly established exit options and evaluation points etc; So, that’s what we’re currently doing.
Along side of this, one of the best motivational elements of last years ride was the $2000+ which we were able to help to fundraise for Aran Animal Rescue, which we hope to be able to repeat this next year. We set of goal of $1 per km across our 1600km last year, and we’re continuing with $1 per km this year, but across the planned 2,414km. Our goal is therefore set at $2,414 for Aran this year.
We were lucky enough last year to have a good number of followers watching our progress along the route using rider tracking and the Raah.co website – which we’ll be doing again this year. Our sponsorship page (paid directly through to Aran) is here: https://givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/bun-burner-for-aran-animal-rescue – At the time of writing this I’ve yet to get my first sponsor, so if you’re feeling supportive, please feel free to jump in there and become my #1 donor for 2018! 🙂
I’ll use my website: http://www.wiltshire.net for updates on our riding efforts this year, you can subscribe to my wordpress blog (if you have a wordpress.com account), or keep an eye out on facebook, they will be cross-posted through my FB profile too.
Thanks for reading and taking an interest, send me a comment or questions. 🙂
Chris. – [email protected]
by Grapevine Admin (Chris) | Jan 19, 2017 | MailChimp
Hi Everyone,
Chris, your Grapevine Administrator here… Happy New Year everyone!
I’m going to attempt a ‘Saddle Sore 1600’ – a long distance motorcycle ride, of a minimum of 1600km, all within 24 hours. – It’s not a race. Here’s a link to some more information on this type of endurance ride: http://www.ironbutt.org/rides/ss1600k.htm – This type of event is recognised internationally as a long distance endurance motorcycle ride, with certification provided through the ‘Iron Butt Association’. Participants need to follow certain rules to achieve their award.
It’s a test of mental and physical endurance. I’m aiming to ride in Mid-Late Feb, 2017, during a weekday, the date will be weather dependant. I’m aiming to raise $1 per km of riding for Aran Animal Rescue, hoping to raise a total of $1600 for their very worthwhile efforts. Aran are online here: http://www.arananimalrescue.org.nz and here: https://www.facebook.com/AranRescueNZ
I’m fund raising through the NZ website: https://givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/saddlesore4aran – if you have an interest in this, and would like to make a donation, please head over there and sponsor me for this marathon ride. – You’ll receive updates from me through this as a sponsor (useful if you’re not on Facebook).
My ride: is currently planed as: Distance: 1,657.8km Est overall riding time: 22:13:56 – Route details: https://a.rever.co/embed/rides/284785
I also have a Facebook, Event Page where further updates and live event information will be distributed through: https://www.facebook.com/events/1840698712811863 – feel free to ‘log an interest’ on the event page which will then keep you informed of further updates. – I’ll be live streaming some of the more scenic sections of the ride (assuming we have cellphone reception in those areas), I’ll also be uploading some commentary videos from time to time, and our current location should be shared as we ride round… – Quite a lot of detailed planning still to do. – And, I’ve got to ride it too! 🙂
Please consider jumping on board and wishing me luck for this in the best way possible, help me to hit my fundraising target…
Thanks for your interest. Regards,
Chris.
