Back to back centuries

I wonder if the sniper from Saturday is still watching me. Yesterday I went out and put on another 160km+ around the Tweed Valley just to wrap up imperial centuries on consecutive days for the first time ever. My legs initially had some complaints on the flat start through suburbia, but before too long I hit the climb of Tomewin. Intially I struggled with the opening kilometre at 11%, but somehow my legs seemed to respond to the environment. It was almost as if they decided for themselves that this was going to happen. The rest of that climb was a similar story. The conditions on the mountain, the terrain and the surroundings all seemed to give me strength just when I was ready to wilt.





Once the Tomewin climb was completed, I largely coasted through the rest of the day and just enjoyed the scenery. It was an extremely pleasant day, and the Tweed Valley is an extremely pleasant place to ride. Much of the remainder of the day seemed largely uneventful, and any doubts I had over my ability to cover the distance were now replaced with a confidence gained from the way I coasted over Tomewin. All of a sudden it just seemed like I could do this forever if I so chose. Confidence also came from the volume of touring that I had done, and I became aware that this really wasn't all that different.



Another thing that comes from touring is the desire to explore, something that got the better of me near Murwillumbah when I detoured along Old Lismore Road to the south-west of the town. My legs could have done without the climb, but the surroundings compensated. I also maintained my alertness pretty well for the duration, especially considering the finish into a slight headwind. The alertness was needed to cope with one particular moron at Currumbin, but the less said about that idiot the better.

All in all it was a very satisfactory ride, and one through which I've learned a lot. I may relate some of the lessons on this blog later in the week, when I have more time.