After 2 consecutive days in a cycling sauna we collectively hoped and prayed that day 3 would finally provide a respite and boy do we wish we hadnt as what we got instead was an unrelenting, unabating,never ending f×%÷ng headwind !
Marysia and Kev started preparing for the days ride shortly after midnight (so it seemed) hitting the road at 6.30a.m. to avoid a hat trick of hot days while i continued luxuriating in my slumber at least until the sun came up !
The ride to Wellington (50kms) on the Murray was a delight partly because of the road conditions and absence of traffic but mainly because of the headwind. Up ahead Kev scored the first puncture on tour with his slightly balder than bald rear tyre (read exposed sections of wire beading) giving way. After a few more expletives when he couldnt release his brake cable the tube was replaced and both Kev and Marysia were back on their way !
After crossing the Murray on a small punt we all eventually turned southwards towards Meningie and that was where the fun started. Our generous headwind had now turned into a punishing soul sapping headwind as we inched our way forward on a high speed road complete with competing caravans and trucks towards Meningie
In conditions like this the challenge is mainly mental as you battle to stay focussed despite the fact that you seem to be getting nowhere on dead straight roads that disappear into the horizon. After 2 hours of torture I was still 7 or so kms behind Kev & Marysia until Marysia had indicated by phone that Chris had incredibly set up a tea stop up the road complete with hot tea, a cold drink and a salad sandwich ! Its amazing what an incentive can do and somehow my speed doubled until I finally caught up to the group!
With Chris having done a fantastic job we set off this time together to Meningie with 18 more kms into the strengthening head wind
With the kms painfully reducing we finally entered Meningie heading straight to the caravan park wondering over a chardanay or two how the hell we were going to repeat it all tomorrow when we aim to complete 150 kms in the same direction !
Sent from Samsung tablet
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