April 5 - to Grafton

Today we rode up and finally over the Great Dividing Range.  It was a 130 kilometer day with 1,500 meters of climbing.  But the good part of it was ....  there was 2,600 meters of descent!  Yes, massive downhills.

We started the day in a long paceline.  It was a fairly easy start to the day with a noticeably warmer feel.  We just had daylight savings time kick in this past weekend.  That meant the sun was up higher in the sky at start time.  So much better...  We rode in a well defined peloton for about 10k.  Then we came upon several downhills.  Being back in the peloton meant maintaining restraint and staying in line.  After the first couple of downhills, I could no longer restrain myself.  When I saw a good downhill approaching I veered out of the line and then accelerated.  I took the descent on with full vigor.  That descent and the next one and the next one, etc...  I didn't see the rest of the group for over 60k at the lunch stop.  😄   There were plenty of hills interspersed between the downhills but I took them on with full attack as well.  This was to be the last day of the trip with significant hills to fly down.  So I let the little kid in me out to play.

On one of the downhills I did have a close encounter not of the third kind but of the truck kind.  I was descending at a good clip (well over 50kph) when a logging truck came barreling down behind me.  He was hell bent on passing me even though conditions were not good for him to accomplish this.  As he was passing me a car came around the upcoming switchback turn.  The truck began moving over to make room for the oncoming car.  The problem was that I occupied that space.  At one point his tires were less than a foot from my handlebars.  There was no place for me to go.  I had to hold on to my line for dear life and hope the road would not deteriorate and hold true.  Thank god that it did or I would not be here typing this in.  Very close call...

    As you can see the road drops off quickly at its edge...

Another complicating factor on the downhills:

The face of the stray cattle that were on the road just wandering around.  Could you imagine hitting this at 50-60kph?

We finished the day arriving in Grafton after dropping 2,000 meters of elevation. It was a great day and we have dramatically changed our scenery from the beginning to the end of today.  What a day and what a difference.

    Sunset as seen from our campsite.

    The pub where we had dinner tonight.

Tomorrow we descend a bit further and will be at the ocean!  Can't wait...