By Aaron Gascoigne
FLYING into Wellington I think I can be excused for being slightly nervous and apprehensive _ not only was I heading back into an environment that this time last year was filled with anticipation and excitement that ended in tragedy, but the wind and the rain howling against the plane's fuselage was deafening. We landed like a drunken albatross _ but we made it.
Heading to the hotel we pass people wearing all types of costumes totally trenched like drowned rats all heading to the Cake Tin to freeze in the New Zealand sevens party atmosphere. I laugh only to remind myself the rain is due to hang around and that's going to be me in about 12 hours on my bike in probably less clothing, as I packed virtually nothing.
I place out my kit for stage one and two and I pull out the memorial trophy that my dad handmade for Mick out of wood from the old woolshed from the farm down in Cambridge.
My dad and Mick were good mates, and I was proud to see what a great effort dad had made on the trophy. I hope whoever is lucky enough to win that over the coming years will be proud to hold it aloft and think of Michael as he deserves to be remembered.
I wake up in the morning and pull back the curtains _ perfect Wellington weather, peeing down with rain, a gale rolling through and it's as dark as the inside of a cow!
I remember a trick ol' Mick gave me once _ put newspaper down the front and back of my cycle gear because when you finally do get warm you can find the nearest rubbish bin and get rid of the insulation.
After breakfast we have 22km of neutral riding _ that's a relief for a bloke like me who has completed the odd training ride, but nowhere near enough.
Wet Wet Wet wasn't only the name of an 80s something band from the UK. As I sit here in Featherston I am cold, wet and hungry. Coming down the other side of the Rimutakas it was 5 degrees if you're lucky!
But stage one is done. It was an enjoyable yet very cold and wet ride.
In 45 minutes the peloton ride out 9km as one big bunch to where Michael passed away, to pay respect and to never forget.
