Yay: felt better today after better sleep; doing the endless gravel hill before Wairoa in the cool of the morning; bakery in Wairoa; climb after that having plenty of trees; ice cream at Morere and feeling great on the next hill – where Brendan and Pete paid me a surprise morale-boosting visit; the sunset and the stars at the end! Three days!! Wasn’t sure that was possible:)
Boo: Guy pulled out due to knee; crazy driver nearly spinning out on gravel as they passed me: rumble strips I hate them; Brendan did save the steepest climbs for last.
Thankful for: having put the 24t on the front – would have been walking many of the last hills otherwise – totally worth the (large number) of chain fall offs. My favourite podcasts the Hidden Athlete and Irenicast. Richard picking me up at the end!