Nelson collected me from mine, and we headed over through Gov's Bay to Allandale.
On the bikes, and up through the farm, into Totara Valley, climbing away, and gasping. Warm and humid. At the top of what was Rhymes-with-Orange we decided to head up above the Outdoor Education Centre, climbing up this technical, onga-onga infested steepness. I walked a bunch. I feels like a different section of trail every time I ride it. Eventually out the top and we headed up to the big cabbage tree to take in the view. I didn't feel like climbing higher, so we decided this was the top. I could hear shining cuckoo below us.
Down, dodging a badly placed gorse bush and then on the edge of the forest Nelson clipped a nettle with his hand, getting him through the glove. Through the gate and tech, tight, narrow, glorious descent. Such a lovely wee piece of trail, tho hard! No time flat back to the Outdoor buildings and back into the main loop. Around, wending through Mississippi then climbing (ugh) up to top of Zanes and dived in. Very fun. Neither of us were ready for the tight turn into steep climb half way down and I nearly ran into the back of Nelson. Got going again and flowed on out.
Around the bottom and climbed back into Totara, slightly slower this time, but feeling okay until the last of the steep. A harrier was making a lot of racket above us, and further up we saw it hassling a pukeko. around into Mississippi, slightly smoother than previous lap, then climb to Zane's and dropped in, faster still, fun fun fun, both of us prepared this time for the brief climb and cleaning it, then flowing out the end. Around the bottom, into the start of Totara Valley and as we swooped into here I felt like my back tire was going flat, washy washy, but it held and we blitzed out the bottom back to the car.
Less kms and only very slightly marginally more ups than Tuesday's Stooge ride. 8.06 kms, 370 m (Nelsie's said 381 m)
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