10pm
… then it all went downhill. At least, compared to yesterday.
Overall, today’s trip was the most taxing ride I’ve ever undertaken.
I’ve ridden for hundreds of kilometres in a day before. I’ve ridden in strong winds. I’ve ridden whilst shivering in chilly conditions and I’m not afraid of rain. Still, I wasn’t at all prepared for the bone chilling, mind numbing, tooth grinding effect of it all coming together at once, in spades, over and over again.
I’m extremely happy to have completed today’s leg. This is invaluable experience that will make subsequent rides easier to handle.
I’m a believer in ‘the balance’; that good and bad must follow in turn. The challenges make the good times better. The good times make the bad bearable. The second leg of today’s journey especially, was the yin to yesterday’s yang.
Regardless, I only just checked in to my room for the night. It’s a set straight out of a slasher film.
And I need a shower…
8am, Day 4 – HOLD UP
I wrote all of that last night absolutely wreck tired from a difficult ride. With the clarity of hindsight, I made the trip difficult by having booked accommodation in Dunedin ahead of time.
I did so, because I knew I’d be having a long ride.
I went against my original plan of just wandering into town and finding a place to stay, which probably would’ve had me staying somewhere like Twizel.
It’s pronounced twy-zel, by the way. I had a local gent chuckling when I pronounced it twee-zel.
When I reread this post this morning, it sounds like a had a bad day and I need to rectify that. I had a freaking awesome day. Pff… yin and yang. Seriously?
Let’s rewind…