From locust to lotus

Today was very, very long. I did 120 km through some of the most challenging bits of highway that this country (if not the world) has to offer.



The morning started with a 40km/h headwind, with gusts that must have been clearing 60. As the headwind eased, there was a series of hills, which all had 100-200 metre elevation changes.



There was also a series of tunnels, which were terrifying, if not entertaining (and, each one skips a hill!)



At Alexandra bridge, I got lost, and couldn't find it, saw it from the bridge on the highway (which I walked across, instead). I also cleared jackass summit (they named one after me!), cleared hell's gate (aptly named) and managed to get two flat tires.



One flat, was alongside a gravel slide area, where I could hear stones falling with every passing truck. It took all I had to contain myself when I snapped off the valvestem on my freshly patched tube, and had to fix it all over again (with a new tube) I got another snakebite flat later down the road, after hitting a rock, hard. My poor tire is taking one hell of a beating back there.



My left achilles is killing me, as do my hands (from a day of "active" braking).



All told, 120km.



Tomorrow, the grand finale? My gps puts it at 177km of urban assault. I can do it, but it will sap every ounce of energy from me. I've gotta be at the ferry terminal before 20:50, or I'll be camping out on the ramp.