Repentence

I had a complete change of plans on the weekend (as if that's unusual) and decided to undertake what ranks as one of my favourite rides in the world. The ride that I call "repentence" is basically a loop to the south-west taking in Nimbin and Mullumbimby and passing through places like Repentence Creek, The Crystal Castle and The Channon. It's a ride of spectacular scenery, magical forests and stunning views. It also has a shortage of flat ground. Yesterday I did it in reverse, and found the scenic wonders started early, first Bilambil and then Urliup.





Through Murwillumbah and Uki, into the Tweed Valley. I was watching the clouds playing games with Mt Warning.



The ride proper started at the foot of the Nightcap Range, which had to be crossed before the descent into Nimbin. Climbing it from this side it has a real early kick, before easing into a manageable gradient. The hill on the other side of Nimbin, however, is a different matter entirely.



Having ridden around Tasmania, having done the Great Alpine Road, the Grampians and numerous other climbs on the Great Dividing Range, I think I'm within my rights to boast this as one of the hardest climbs in the country. I was almost vomiting at the top, but I held on and conquered it. There was another steep climb out of The Channon, and I was glad to reach Dunoon for some much needed water (despite having already consumed several litres).



The forests on the climbs between here and Mullumbimby are magical, and the way the roads wind around the hills is a delight in itself. There were four more of them before Mullumbimby, and I got to watch a storm building up to the north (although it didn't deliver the rain I was craving). Here the scenery was about all that inspired me, oh and a little anger at being tailgated for 4km (which I took out on the next climb).



After Mullumbimby is was the short, sharp climbs all the way to Murwillumbah in the late afternoon sun. This is a truly lovely stretch of road on the old Pacific Highway -- it's the idiots who use the new one who have been denied here. One of the locals on a mountain bike joined me for the last few kilometres into Murwillumbah, and the last few hills. As usual I took the opportunity to impart some local knowledge of some of the back roads that even he didn't know about. I think I do that as much for vanity as anything else these days.

After Murwillumbah it was back on the Pilgrims' Road, before returning home through the darkness, and the glow worms, of John Hogan rainforest. This actually has three substantial climbs in 10km, the last of which is Bilambil - always Bilambil. Unfortunately the rainforest stretch here is a little shorter than that of Urliup, where I'd normally go, but that's part of doing the ride in reverse.

The final cruise up the coast was blissfully uneventful, and I was accompanied by a mist of ocean spray rolling across from the South Pacific. Sometimes this city isn't so bad after all. It left me to reflect on the closing stages of a ride of 260km, and 3,160 metres of climbing. I'm preparing for a 600k, and this ride did shorten me up a little. On the positive side, there are few rides in the country as hilly as that one (the ASH Dash and Alpine Classic are all I can think of). I'll be OK, but I may reconsider certain elements of my strategy after this.