The inspiration for my Challenge

This challenge ‘spawned’ out of an idea my father had for a family holiday!

He tends to run, ride a bike and paddle his kayak a lot when he goes on holiday and thought why not combine this activity into a holiday. When I mentioned that I wanted to do a McGlashan Challenge we sat down and adapted the whole idea into a challenge with a special meaning.

My challenge is to bike, run and paddle the length of the South Island over a two week period in the April School holidays 2010.

It is more than just going the length of the SI but travelling the distance between two lighthouses.

My Great Great Grandfather was a lighthouse keeper. Two of the ‘lights’ he tended were Centre Island, just off the coast of Riverton and Boulder Bank at the entrance to Nelson Harbour.

We plan to start the journey by paddling between Centre Island and Colac Bay. My Grandfather Keith told me a story of his Mother being rowed out to Centre Island from Colac Bay in a ‘Long Boat’ when she was just six months old! We however plan to be in a double sea kayak and be escorted by the Riverton Coast Guard, who we plan to raise money for as an added goal with this challenge. My Family spend a lot of time at Riverton in my Grandparents Bach and I think it is a very appropriate charity considering my family links to Lighthouses.

The challenge is for me to complete the distance between the lighthouses entirely under my own steam. My Father is going to accompany me the whole way and I am going to encourage the support and participation of family and friends over certain sections of the challenge. My Mother (and Sister when she is available) will be our support crew.