A ride, finally!

The lack of recent updates shows how much free time I've had lately -- so perhaps understandably I was glad to have a free day yesterday to get on the bike and just disappear for a few hours. I headed south, the usual start through Bilambil and the John Hogan Rainforest...



Then over the Burringbar range to the south, joining the Repentence circuit at Mullumbimby. The first of the day's challenges started here, my usual source of water was unavailable. As it was, I just had to make it last until Dunoon, good job I had the spare water bottle. For some reason I really suffered badly on the hills after Mullumbimby. Maybe it was just the southerly wind, or the lack of recent long rides, or something, but I felt really exhausted after 112km or so. In fact, it was even a struggle to undo the Camelbak to load it up with the "spare" water.

After this I seemed to recover, probably just by sheer will power, or perhaps it was the inspiring scenery...







Whatever it was, I found enough to get over the remaining hills into Nimbin, where a new record was set. It actually took all of 45 seconds for someone to offer me some grass (normally it's less than 30). Given the pass I had to climb to get out of town, grass was the last thing I needed here.



Of course, the scenery doesn't stop through here, over the pass of Mt Burrell, with The Sphinx nearby...



.. and the other surprises...



This was followed by the now customary return through Urliup and Bilambil and eventually home in the darkness. Along the way I got to hear a couple having a rather loud domestic disagreement in Murwillumbah, that's always entertaining for the few seconds it takes me to pass. Apart from that, most of the ride was exceptionally friendly. Something especially noticeable was the number of kids waving to me along the way, in fact, I'd say it was the friendliest people have been since I returned from New Zealand.

The final tally was 262km, and 3,237 metres of climbing. It was a day that was all about getting away from the pressures of the last couple of weeks, I returned tired but with a much more positive outlook on the world -- for a while...