Starting Under A Cloud!

Its been sunny and fine in Tasmania for some time now; in fact the last bit of decent rain we've had - if I remember right - was back in January.  I've been doing heaps of riding this so far this year as a result.

Before the off - posing for the camera at Burnie

That changed today!  We started the Red Shield Ride under a cloud.  As we drove northwest this morning from Launceston to our start point in Burnie I was thinking again about the things that we can control and the things we can't.  I posted on Facebook this morning "Sometimes you start things under a cloud - but start you must!"

Riding inland from Penguin

After riding for a little while and then turning south at Penguin to head in land to Gunns Plains, I was reminded that while Stuart, Phill and I were out in the rain pedalling - not our normal choice of conditions for a ride - there are plenty of people today who are incredibly grateful for the rain.  Farmers of both agriculture and livestock have been doing it tough for a while now and who would no doubt be welcoming todays rain.  Things didn't seem quite so 'meh' after that.  The joy of cycling, albeit wet through, starting to kick-in.  I even remembered to tell the boys to 'lift your heads up and look around'.

The ride itself was a good one, and I'd certainly love to come back and do it in the dry.  I love riding along the northwest coast and today wasn't any different.  But we broke new ground for me as we headed sound out of Penguin.  After a bit of a climb out of town, for the next 15km or so, we had what felt like a stead climb at an fairly easy, but constant gradient.  'What goes up must come down' they say and eventually we dropped down into Gunns Plains.

Overlooking Gunns Plains - It was a beautiful and slow descent

Another first for me in more ways than one!  First time at Gunns Plains - it truly in beautiful even in the wet!  First time descending on roads at round about the same speed I could climb them.  By the time we hit the down hill sections of the ride, the roads, the bike, the riders and most importantly the brakes were wet through.  It just wasn't worth trying to descend any quicker.

From Gunns Plains we had a nice climb up and out of the valley after a few km's of riding along the river.  Even in the wet - this was an amazing place!  I say wet, at this point of the ride, it started to get wetter.

Probably the wettest I've been on the bike!

After a brief conversation, we decided to ride directly from Ulverstone to Devonport via the highway, sandwiched between the car and the bus (support vehicles).  Although we were making good time this way; the rain combined with the spray of the trucks and cars, together with drivers haste to get home on a Friday afternoon and the failing visibility, we called it a day about 10km early - it just wasn't safe to go on much longer.

It was a little disappointing to end todays ride that way, but in the end it was the best choice.  Sometimes you just have to know when to stop I guess!?

After a warm welcome by the Junior Soldiers and friends at Devonport, I'm now showered and feed and feeling pretty good about it all!  The only disappointment is that my Garmin packed up early and I suspect there is a issue with the battery - probably due to the heaps of rain!  Hopefully I can revive it tonight!