While there had been quite heavy rain overnight, it dawned fine and clear, be it a bit cool and I was on the road shortly after 7am, but it was only a few hundred metres before the first stop for breakfast..
Heading north I intended to go via Rakaia Gorge and then Hororata, but made a navigational error and ended up in Peel Forest which is a dead end heading to the Rangitata Gorge.. While it was a buggar and probably cost me 30ks, on the positive side I had never been to Peel Forest before.. and unlikely to go back!!
After gettng back on track through Arundel and then Mayfield, it was basically a long gentle climb. While it was cool as there had been a fresh light dusting of snow on the mountains, I was in the sun and looking over toward Ashburton it was under a massive black cloud, so being cool was preferable to being wet!
Decending into the Rakaia Gorge the temperature suddenly plumeted and then very cold rain showers started which made it a bit unpleasant climbing out of the Gorge and the decent on the Hororata turn off. Getting down on the flat the rain stopped and the road was dry, so it had missed any rain.
Rode past the new irrigation canal under construction and when at the Cafe at Hororata a lot of the construction guys were there so must be a boom for their cafe business.
The forecast was for a sou westerly and I thought that it would have been more helpful and it was not really until on Russley Road that the wind was finally in the right place!
Total for the day was 185ks, with a climbing elevation of 850m.
Total ks travelled 5,627 (Tour de France is typically approximately 3,200), being an average of 137 over the 41 days.
Well that brings this Odyssey to an end and was over 40 days, but going to Milford was an “extra” that effectively took 2 days.
Over the last few days I have been thinking of what is next, as have really enjoyed the adventure. It might be Tasmania, or something a bit more challenging, but in the meantime I will just go and lube the chain and get ready for lap 2!
Thank you to everyone for your support and encouragement, it has been appreciated.
On the bragging note, I entered a challenge on Strava to ride 130ks or more in a day from 1st December and on logging in to Strava today, after today’s ride I am ranked number 1 from 21,555 entered! It won’t last long as is based on each countries time zone, but at this stage I will take it!