TA day 30: Mossburn to Buff
Distance 147km, Elevation Gain 171m
Very cold morning in Mossburn for the start of our last day. Quick breakfast then an early start on the road with a call to “let’s break the back of this leg” or was it the freezing temps. The latter methinks! Low clouds, mist and drizzle all the way through to Winton for second breakfast at a local cafe. Pies, custard squares, apple tarts and hot cross buns!
The run through to Invercargill was flat and fast but that made for missed turns and a town we never even saw! Mind you that meant we missed the gravel roads (or was that planned?).
Invercargill gain in record time left us with time to shop for a new phone, for the one that died but no Harvey quickly switched the “dead” phone back on and hey ho the phone actually works! So glad we managed to sort that out!
Leaving the metropolis we unfortunately were witness to a car on car incident which we gave assistance but no personal injury. Just so glad it wasn’t us 5seconds later.
From Invercargill we took the cycle path pretty much all the way to Bluff but with a headwind and the rumble of many trucks on this very busy road adjacent.
The euphoria of making Stirling Point and the iconic signpost was heightened by the welcome of fellow TAers was quite emotional and in some ways a relief but we’re sure the personal success of our rides will come through in days and weeks to come.
3,000k in 30 days. Words, at this point won’t express how we feel so I’ll stop here and just say thanks to Alastair for the thrills and spills, the great chat, the comradeship and the suggestion that I even be invited!
More must be said but beers must be had, food must be eaten. More to follow….
