Pretty cool ride out through the gorge. Was pretty excited to make it up the big hill that M had been talking up all trip and even had a sign to warn you of its steepness! Does that make up for the rest of my crap riding and mean I'm awesome?!
Ghost Lake to Specimen Point. Amazing views. I must have taken a zillion photos. Wished I had running shoes instead of a stupid bike! M was amazing as always and carried my bike down the staircase. Lunch at Stern Valley then the track got awesome. Loved the Grim and Cheerful Lakes and the climb up through the Boneyard was grand. There was much frolicking from here onwards until M got a punture 1 1/2km from the hut.
Lyell to Ghost Lake Hut. Grovelled up a big hill in the heat where we feasted on mashed up ginger slice for M's birthday treat. Then it was a scary bit around the big dropoffs which took so long I thought it would never end followed by a scary, rocky descent to the hut which was filled with male testosterone and alcohol (the hut, not the descent!).
Road Bike warm up/down 35:00 [3] shoes: Louis Garneau Revo XR
From work to the TT. Cold and getting damper by the minute. Feeling quite panicked and we hadn't even started!
6 PM
Road Bike race (Old Tai Tapu Rd TT) 26:12 [4] shoes: Louis Garneau Revo XR
Such hard work. I feel like my legs have ceased to function properly. M also had cramp on the way out which probably explains why it felt like we were pushing up a hill or something on the first half. Then he was pedalling almost too fast for me to cope on the way back!
Road Bike warm up/down 35:00 [3] shoes: Louis Garneau Revo XR
Home again with a stop in the middle for me to regroup. Cold, tired, panicky, grumpy...such good combos! (Poor M).