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| Red Shield Appeal Business Breakfast in Launceston today! |
Nailed It! At least I think I did - can't remember what I said though - just that I had rain inflicted curly bed hair! Oops!
I've been checking the weather for the Plateau a couple of times a day for about a week now. Yesterday the forecast started to include snow "down to 800m!" Not exactly sure what to expect, the best we could do was to head out to Poatina and make good choices from there!
Sheltering from the rain in the bus at the bottom of todays climb, we decided that we both wanted to attempt the climb and then we'd make a call about pressing on from there! So the plan was for both Stuart and I to go at our own pace with a car; I would call when I got to the top, Stuart would hop in the bus when he was done and I would push on until they caught me up!
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| There was so much water and stones moving downhill as we went up! |
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| This wasn't there when I went passed |
The rain hammered down and I was soaked in seconds - but I made it and was really pleased that I did. As Tony stopped to call to let Stuart know, I pushed on. After a couple of minutes, Tony caught me to say he couldn't reception and was going back to find Stuart and Dennis - I continued to push on.
For the next hour I rode alone.
Starting to get a bit anxious as to where the other three were, I starting praying that they would catch up, while at the same time questioning whether I was still making 'good choices' by pressing on? But I was making great time!
Tony finally caught up to say all was well - Stuart was determined to reach the top too and then he'd be coming along in the bus; I was so pleased and proud of my mate! With Tony behind me again I really started to motor along. It had taken an hour to ride 12km (climbing 800m+) and then in the following two hours I rode 75km - even placed in the top ten on a couple of Strava Segments!
We all regrouped at Bothwell and then turned our faces into the wind to bash our way over to the Lyell Hwy. This was the most difficult section of todays ride; almost entirely headwind with strong gusts for about 30km. I just kept thinking about the left turn coming up that would put the wind at my back once again and struggled on!
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| This pretty much sums up my day - it was awesome! |
With the wind at our backs, Stuart and I flew down the Lyell Hwy into New Norfolk to surprise Lt's Di and Tim Size by arriving almost an hour earlier than planned! Their welcome and hot refreshments were an absolute blessing! As was their company!
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| With Tim and Nathan Size at New Norfolk - always great to see these guys! |
I rode 150km in five and a half hours today including a 732m climb at an average gradient above 7.5%. I couldn't be happier with todays effort. It occurred to me that if the UCI were watching todays and yesterday's rides, they may be excused for thinking of Floyd Landis; absolutely bombs on one day and then blows everyone else away with a mammoth effort the next.
OK, I'm not Floyd Landis, but the swing from a poor day yesterday to a really good day today reminded me of him! (Google him if you don't know who he is!)
Tomorrow it all ends! Please sponsor me - there's still time!
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