241 Miles / 388 KM
What a day!! Today was basically just one GIANT hill. I knew the distance wasn’t far today but the hill was over 1300m total elevation.
“Don’t fear moving slowly forward. Fear standing still.”
I was lazy this morning and let my body wake up on its own clock! I slept till 8am, so got a full 8 hours of sleep. My body definitely needed it! I felt so much better today. My body wasn’t as stiff, and the banging from my head had started to settle more. Still there, but better! I lazied around this morning to write my blog, have coffee and breakfast and repack my bags. I didn’t leave till almost 10 o clock. I wasn’t worried about the ride necessarily. I knew it was gonna be a hard one with the HILL… but I knew I had plenty of time and I was gonna take it slowly. Also knowing the majority of the climb was in the first 15km helped as it was pretty smooth sailing after Moina!
I did get a new high speed on the bike today! at 65km p/h! This was on a quick dip towards the end. I was absolutely ready for that downhill!
The 5km from Gowrie park was a steady uphill where I didn’t have to walk at all… followed by a horrendously steep downhill for 3-4km, which was actually terrifying – mostly because of the hair pin bends and me worrying about wearing my brake pads out! It was fast. It was scary. The thought of one small rock or one small dent in the ground hitting my tyre the wrong way and me being a goner made my concentration pretty intense. I had to break a few times on the way down as I was hurting my head with this! After the downhill the steep uphill started immediately… and it felt like it didn’t end. I knew from my maps the next 5km was going to be just up, and steep up. I resorted to walking probably 75% of this.
Then I hit a small place called Moina – blink and you miss it. Was hoping for a store or something here but nothing! So straight on to Cradle Mountain I rode! I had 23km left and about 300metres of elevation over that distance which was totally manageable. It was a wonderful afternoon on the bike, gradual hikes, back winds, sunshine and beautiful scenery…AGAIN! I did have 1 issue with a car not giving me any space and passing slowly.. despite have a clear road ahead. He got the middle finger and a little bit of aggression out of me. Made me panic for a second but it was okay and it was the only car today that made me feel nervous! I know idiot drivers are a part of every day on the bike. It’s not like I never feared this before! I bet you can’t get what nationality these tourists were in this car…. go on guess. The same idiots that don’t know how to pass cyclists 90% of the time!
I’M AT CRADLE MOUNTAIN!!!!
Today was pretty non stop – I didn’t break very much other than water breaks and some snack. I got to Discovery Parks Cradle Mountain at 2.30pm! Which gave me plenty of time to chill and relax for the afternoon! I checked in, showered, and walked over to the visitors centre! I got my National Park Pass, and checked to make sure my Overland Track permit was all good and in the system for 2 weeks time!!!! I brought couple of patches for Lionel – for those who don’t know Lionel he is my travelling Leopard… who sadly I have left in Hobart with the rest of my stuff 🙁
I spent the evening chilling, blogging, reading, and planning my next few days to get the most of being over here. My next few days include Rosebery, Strahan and Queenstown! Then a long ride to Derwent Bridge, and a super long last day on the bike to Hobart! Im excited for the rest of the trip! The ride has been bumpy but worth it.
It’s always worth it.
Also I forgot to mention yesterday… The 6th Feb marked me being BOOZE FREE for 2 MONTHS!! woohoo! Happy and healthy. Life is pretty fucking sweet right now. Thank YOU!
“One reason people resist change is because they focus on what they have to give up, instead of what they have to gain”
