I knew that this was going to be a big day with really the only stop for supplies being at Springs Junction, but this was 80ks down the road so it was into Beechwood Cafe shortly after 7am when they opened for breakfast.

I was pleasantly surprised in that while I could still “feel” my buttocks after the incident yesterday, I was not incapable of moving.. this is when I needed the Doctors from the BP riding group, or a nice Heidi to give a massage..

I have ridden out of Murchison before in “summer” and it has been cool, but today there was a low lying fog so it was doubly cool so it was double arm warmers, skull cap, full gloves and jacket and I was still freezing when I ventured out of the cafe just before 8am.

Boy was it cool and this is supposed to be fun!! The sun did not show any sign until south of Mauria falls and even then there was no warmth and to make matters worse a wind sprung up and yep, it was right on the nose.. great. Somewhere on this trip the wind gods owe me a fantastic tail wind!

The saddle in the Shenadoah was up to 502m according to the sign, but my Garmin was under recording.

Finally got to Springs Junction and it was time for another “breakfast” to warm up. The sun was shining and although it was a clear shy, it was cool..

It is always good to get going again after food on board and it was a relief to ride in the beech trees cover as although it was cooler, it was at least out of the wind and it is a nice climb up Lewis Pass to just over 900m. A look at the tops of the mountains gives an indication as to why it is so cool as there has clearly been a recent dusting of snow… It’s November!

It was then just clicking off the landmarks on the way to Hanmer, but some of those climbs are just vicious and what makes it worse is that I had forgotten a few of them… The ups and downs just keep on going and going and I am just counting down the ks on the Garmin.

At one stage early today I had thought that I might make a dash for home, or Culverden to shorten tomorrow, but the combination of the issues on my buttocks decided that Hanmer was enough, even though there is the back track element..

Total for the day was 177ks and a climbing elevation of 2,009m. If I start talking about doing this ride again will someone please talk me out of it, as it was a hard day. I was basically cold all day and that does not help, but it was also a difficult day terrain wise and probably one of the hardest days of the tour so far.

Checked into the motel and met “Bruce” the tabby cat who has not missed many dinners at 8.5kg, but is now apparently on a diet!

I don’t know if it is because I am on roads I know, or being close to home, but I have been struggling the last couple of days and have about had enough, at least for this part of the tour! Home tomorrow so am looking forward to that and having a sleep during the day in the sun lying on the lounge floor…