21 November 2018

I left Irvinebank just past 6 this morning to beat the heat going up Mount Misery. The locals told me it was another tough piece of road, but with some pushing it was quite manageable. The guide book says you can see all the way to the coast from up there, but I couldn’t.

Nice views though.

Down the other side, on “Gentle Annie’s Track”, was a nice ride, gentle indeed.

Looking back towards Mt Misery

Then it became another up and down road and I started to lose energy again. I figure it must be the heat, because no matter how much I drink, I become lethargic. Air temp appeared to be just over 30º, but my odometer showed 45 or more and that is what burns on my back also. The last 7 km along the highway were brutal again. Yet all in all a much better experience than I have been having so far. The tracks/roads were smooth enough and not at all eroded or washed out, even though in places still 12% or more.

Had some sparkling lemonade, big bottle of COLD water, an icecream and a soak in the pools.

The weather seems to be changing, lots of clouds moving in and rain in the forecast. I hope it won’t turn the backroads to that slick sticky mud!

Total 46 km, 600 m of uphill