Epic Camp Day 14

After the last couple of days, we'd almost forgotten what a hill was. We soon reacquainted ourselves.

It was cold when we rolled out at 7.30 and, having learnt my lesson a couple of days earlier, I was determined not to suffer again. The pace was very sociable, probably the easiest on camp so far, for the initial hour or two. But that changed quickly because we had our last KOM climb after 50km or so. My strategy, as always (well, not so much a strategy as my only option), was to maintain an even tempo up the climb. This meant I had to let a big group go. But I hauled in quite a few of them about half way up. About 2 km to go, I passed Gordo but knew he was on my wheel just biding his time. Sure enough, about 200m from the summit, he just put it into the next gear and trounced me. I don't have that next gear.

Poor old Charlesy had a broken gear cable and was left to climb the KOM with a 39/14. Needless to say he walked most of it (as would any of us).

The descent from the KOM into Port Chalmers was one of the day's highlights. Nick (ex-local boy) guided us through Dunedin and then up a cruel climb out of town. He later admitted (although I hope he was joking) that there are easier routes out of town, but he wanted us to experience this one. If that's true, I said I would be petitioning the other camp members to have his points for the day forfeited.

Lunch was at a great beachside stop south of Dunedin. But it was immediately followed by another SOB climb that just seemed to go on and on - kicking up to 16% in places. For Rip, this was the last straw, and he got off and walked part. Can't blame him at all, the same thought had crossed my mind. You'd think that, on the second to last day, the topography would be kinder to us. Somehow I had this mental picture of a gradual descent into Bluff. Looking at tomorrow's profile, that's clearly wrong.

There was a final aid station about 25km out from Balclutha, but Clas, Tara and I couldn't see the point in stopping so close to home, so we rocked on. Nice tail winds, but not the "dead flat" terrain I heard Nick promise.

Final order of the day for me was to tack on a 15km run. I did - along the banks of the Clyde River. Nice to run on a soft surface for a change. So that leaves me with 14km to run tomorrow to reach my 250km goal. Might need an early start given we've got a big ride.

Strange to think we're on the eve of camp completion. It seemed like an enormous challenge at the outset (and it is). But it's amazing how, with the right support and company (and we've got both), you can make steady and surprisingly quick progress. Cape Reinga really does seem like yesterday. All that said, I'm looking forward to enjoying a cold beer or three tomorrow, safe in the knowledge that I won't be hopping on my bike the next day.

185km ride, 6:23, 185w AP, 224w NP, 2,452m total ascent (2nd highest of trip I think).