Bush Camp fire
Started out feeling ok after the rest day. Downhill out of town very dull barren landscape nothing to photograph the a long 15k climb up and I am in the lead well ahead of e rest so I keep plodding on. Over the top and fast for me downhill on paved 50 to 60 when the first of the youth passes. Then the other 3 and we are a bunch of 5 drafting each other well. There is a time trial to lunch at the 75 k mark. Anna & I agreed was riding my ride today. On we went till the last 350 m climb from 45 k to 75 k. Held on for a while and the bunch were kind and let me draft them. My old legs couldn’t keep up and I ended up 5th at lunch and knackered. Stupid of me really.
Puncture at lunch. Fixed but find one of my tubes wrong valve. Anna to the rescue – where would fathers be without daughters. Of with dick a fit 62 year old. Wind picks up to cross head and we work it together for 50 ks or so mainly rolling. Eric terns up and works the lead for the last 15k till we get to a quite barren sandy bush? Camp. Up with the tent and a quick wash in the stream And a windy dinner with gusts of sand. Not really the place for a resort. Forgot to mention personal details intermittent nose bleed most of the trip. Must be the increase in blood pressure through high exertion.
Camp fire a few nips of whisky to keep warm and to bed by 9 as up at 5.30 next morning for an early 7 start to beat the wind. Pategonia is known for wind coming from the west and we are heading that way.
Why do we do this stuff. Because it takes me out of the comfort zone. And it’s back to basics like hot shower – not too many of those luke warm better than nothing. A comfortable toilet seat, beer after a ride, hot dinner which these guys always provide where ever we are. And it’s always good and amazing given the conditions.