Katikati's Ben Wilks set off on the adventures of a lifetime at 7am yesterday, to compete in the Mongol Derby - the longest and toughest horse race in the world.
During the next 1000 km the 24-year-old will be strapping himself to 28 different horses, riding each for about 40km, riding about 130 km a day.
Some days he will do more, some less.
Earlier this year the Bay of Plenty Times caught up with him on the trip.
Read more: Ben set for a wild ride