Morning all, and thanks to all on the 3 peaks who’s good humour, spirit and grit greatly helped me make it through what I call a “trial by fire”.. I think everyone has described the vibe well so can’t add much but I can say that the egg and tomato colours were very encouraging throughout the day..
My climb of Tawonga was steady and I cruised over the top and onto a fast bunch into Bright looking at a 27kph average, then up what I regarded as the first climb…it never got easier, and went on..and on..and on not struggling but very happy to see the top, having seen most of the crew going down..the downside was one of the best descents, shallow grades making it a solid 45kph average for the 28ks and into the lunch stop with relative ease..a water fill and collect my food, then straight off with ER train to Ovens, nice pace, collecting a posse and all doing our bit at the front. Ovens though was aptly named, 42C on the garmin, no wind..
Climbing through Happy Valley with Dopey, it was clear I was not going to be fast and if was going to finish it would be “ survival pace “ …I managed to crawl into the water station as the ER bunch were rolling out..5 mins later with a refill and gel I put out to Mt Beauty with very little left in the tank. It was a question of getting onto a pace line and holding on..I do not really remember much of the 45ks but found some shade at Mt Beauty and caught the ERs who were helping Simba recover, by now I was not sure if I had the last climb left in me, but listening to the siren call of the sag wagon it would have been easy to sit down. This is really where the rubber hits the road, quietly selling a piece of soul to the demons to shut them up, it was back on the bike and on into come what may…by the side of the road there was a saying from Winston Churchill, “ If you are going through hell…keep on going “ and I think I agree. Getting past Bogong was a surprise and hope for a finish was born, I realised I was home once I could see the gates to the park, and I was still going..the longest 4km ride of my life..the world was the breath, the next pedal turn and about 6 metres ahead..
A very humbling experience, and one not to miss.. I would have been very emotional at the end had I had the energy.
Once more a big thanks to everyone, ( especial Saint Nav, there is a whole story about how my car spat its fuel pump out at 5am Saturday morning and even though he was already en route, he still managed a miracle to make sure Drastic and I made it down to Falls in good time. )
Cheers
BT