Another hard day today 93.3 miles and endless ups and downs,Elizabeth looking quite weary by the end of the day.
But to start at the beginning,pouring rain overnight and all through breakfast,so we togged up in our jackets and overshoes,took our bicycles out of the front door to begin,and the rain stopped.Dull and overcast,with wet roads and all lights ablaze,but no rain and there was none all day again.
The roads were worse today,lots of potholes and ridges,made worse by the wetness.Uphill out of the hotel and uphill evermore today.All quite gentle but, for me ,exasperating.I enjoy cycling up a mountain,there is a sense of achievement ,when you reach the top,but these little undulations are just a source of frustration,as soon as you reach the top you go down and start all over again.No sense of achievement and thus little pleasure,and all the time it is sapping away at one's energy level.My disliking them will not make them go away,so on with the story.35 miles to the first stop,and we cycled with Linda and Bill and Hienz.Pleasant farmland but too dismal a light to really enjoy the views and too dull for photos.The legs felt heavy from the start for both of us,so going was fairly slow,but we made the first stop without a hitch.One one hill Linda came racing up next to me so I had to quell that rebellion with a touch of speed,but she assured me she was not trying to race me.
First to the second stop was another 30 miles of uninterrupted ups and downs,usually with Hienz about,but we did come across Jeff stopped.Now yesterday Jeff had a bad day,puncture,new tube,new tyre ,puncture and an arrival at the hotel just in time for dinner(and he is a strong cyclist).So I felt duty bound to stop and help,"I'm fine " he said,but I stopped.He could not undo the thru axle on his punctured tyre-and neither could I.I suggested he phone for aid and whilst he searched the number turned his bike over and had a kick at the offending axle,and away it came.So we fixed the flat and we all rode on.No chance for lunch at the second stop,but we stocked up on cherries and nuts and rode on.Another 30 miles to go.
At first the road was flattish and we got up a decent speed for the first time today,but sure enough just as soon as we started to think of home-more hills.
Only three or so and after an hour we turned off onto a lovely cycle trail that lasted for about 20Kms.Just as we turned onto the trail 3 entirely red birds, the size of budgerigars ,flew around us,like small parrots,absolutely delightful.Then along the trail chipmunks kept rushing in front of,to the side of and almost if front of,us.At one point a large black snake slithered along side.No cars ,few bikes and plenty of nature.
But to start at the beginning,pouring rain overnight and all through breakfast,so we togged up in our jackets and overshoes,took our bicycles out of the front door to begin,and the rain stopped.Dull and overcast,with wet roads and all lights ablaze,but no rain and there was none all day again.
The roads were worse today,lots of potholes and ridges,made worse by the wetness.Uphill out of the hotel and uphill evermore today.All quite gentle but, for me ,exasperating.I enjoy cycling up a mountain,there is a sense of achievement ,when you reach the top,but these little undulations are just a source of frustration,as soon as you reach the top you go down and start all over again.No sense of achievement and thus little pleasure,and all the time it is sapping away at one's energy level.My disliking them will not make them go away,so on with the story.35 miles to the first stop,and we cycled with Linda and Bill and Hienz.Pleasant farmland but too dismal a light to really enjoy the views and too dull for photos.The legs felt heavy from the start for both of us,so going was fairly slow,but we made the first stop without a hitch.One one hill Linda came racing up next to me so I had to quell that rebellion with a touch of speed,but she assured me she was not trying to race me.
First to the second stop was another 30 miles of uninterrupted ups and downs,usually with Hienz about,but we did come across Jeff stopped.Now yesterday Jeff had a bad day,puncture,new tube,new tyre ,puncture and an arrival at the hotel just in time for dinner(and he is a strong cyclist).So I felt duty bound to stop and help,"I'm fine " he said,but I stopped.He could not undo the thru axle on his punctured tyre-and neither could I.I suggested he phone for aid and whilst he searched the number turned his bike over and had a kick at the offending axle,and away it came.So we fixed the flat and we all rode on.No chance for lunch at the second stop,but we stocked up on cherries and nuts and rode on.Another 30 miles to go.
At first the road was flattish and we got up a decent speed for the first time today,but sure enough just as soon as we started to think of home-more hills.
Only three or so and after an hour we turned off onto a lovely cycle trail that lasted for about 20Kms.Just as we turned onto the trail 3 entirely red birds, the size of budgerigars ,flew around us,like small parrots,absolutely delightful.Then along the trail chipmunks kept rushing in front of,to the side of and almost if front of,us.At one point a large black snake slithered along side.No cars ,few bikes and plenty of nature.
We crossed a bridge,with water rushing along and drowning everything at the edge.
But other than frenetic activity all was calm.
Tom and Greg disappearing along the trail.So a really lovely end to a tiring and sometime frustrating day.We arrived at the hotel at 15.00 to be welcomed with a cold can of beer,which I finished in the jacuzzi.We then ambled down the road for dinner,Jeff was just arriving.He had had anothe rtwo punctures and run out of inner tubes,so as he was on the trail,where cars cannot go,Peyton had to cycle down with new tubes and help him back to the hotel.Poor Jeff.
Anyway the score is mounting-2772 miles completed ,83468 feet climbed,less to come tomorrow,the last day before the final rest day.
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