I'm not going to bang on about the conditions today (well, just a bit), as if you decide to cycle New Zealand you inevitably take what nature throws at you. However, once numbness sets in, the inner chitchat really begins: This is painful/ you're on holiday- this is bad/ nothing bad lasts forever- It looks cosy in everyone else's passing vehicles/ you'd rather be cycling, there is no end to this rain cloud/ it'll make you mentally stronger....on and on and on it goes.
As the milestones on the yellow pages rolled by and I rolled over and through some awesome hills, valleys and gorges 40miles approached and the much awaited coffee stop. Sadly it wasn't to be as Kimbolton town was closed for the day! Snag! Onward, at quite a pace (speed up or die from pneumonia!) to Cheltenham where I pulled into the local shop for an essential hot drink as my fingers had stopped functioning (never a happy state of affairs in Katie land). Had a peculiar tasting black forest dairy milk bar then pressed on. Was a good few degrees warmer as the road was now lower and the rain eased😃
Quick pause for some tree felling, then on to Feilding and sought out another hot drink, aware yet again how mental a cyclist must look in these less than clement conditions! But who cares, I made it!🎉
Phil thankfully had survived the night, although not sure he'll have another Gumboot Cafe mixed grill!!
So week two has begun. Last week I notched up 411miles on the bike🚲
Time for a siesta, feeling very much battered and shattered.
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