Tra'y walking Hinewai so she dropped me at top of the valley, saving me the ~500m of climb. I headed up the Mt Pearce track, somewhat steeper in places than I remembered - it's been a while. Had a bit of an explore up here, took in the view. Scope for lovely singltrack ridge trails, I reckon...
Back down, and part way the rear brake started making some nasty noise... I had to take out the wheel and pads and examine closely. No spares so put it all back together thinking I might have to bail out carefully (or sacrificially) down valley back to bach, but it seemed to be resolved and even tho there was stuff all pad left, I survived the rest of the ride. At the Summit Rd again, I headed into Piper's Valley Rd, for a very fun descent. Lovely cruising, tho keeping a close eye on any magpies around. Had to pull up at the first house in the bottom of the valley for a mob of sheep and farmer (who apologised! - i said no worries!) and a nice cruise down to the main road. Explored a little of Duvauchelle, heading to the boat ramp and jetty, then back around and grabbed water from the school, then around Onawe, nice and flat, bit of a chill out in the trees just above the start of the walking track. Then around past the Refuse and the Garden Centres and then hit up grinding relentless brutal climb, first up the main road, then up the start of the Pigeon Bay Rd, then onto the gravel Stock Route. A graveller caught up and passed me when I was having a wee rest - "these peninsula climbs are so brutal." I kept him in sight for a long while, but eventually needed more rest and he disappeared. Surprised by the number of vehicles using this road, but then it was a busy public holiday weekend... Finally onto the Summit Rd, hung a right and the steepness was so gentle. Fun coasting down through to Pigeon then just cruising and finally grinding, wearily. Overtaken by a young fresh couple on road bikes - on their way through LA - Okains and back over to the harbour... The were stopped at top of Little Ak Rd as I passed by and bombed down, finishing it all with a super fast descent back down into LA. I saw them ride past as I was heading through our second gate.
32 kms, 922 climbed, meaning well over 1400 descended for the lolz
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