birthday outing

A phat 50k ride in 32° for my 65th birthday. Yeehaar

Well I left home after breakfast, but I'm not sure if the time. Being my birthday, my daughter is, Mia called as I was about to leave and we spoke for a long time. 

Anyway, may be at ten-ish I scooted down the hill and went up MCR. The traffic was light, and any traffic I did encounter were keen to give me plenty of room, so I gathered they were tourists. The locals are never keen to demonstrate courtesy on the road, and would rather blast you off into the scenery. I usually get buzzed once on a local ride. But not today. 

Feeling lucky, I decided to take the main road to town. Being Saturday of a long weekend I was expecting light conditions and this was mostly true. Strangely, it would be really quiet and then a caravan of vehicles would come along. Which in a way is the worst case scenario, because it's not the first car that doesn't see cyclists, it's the second onwards. There were a few caravans in these convoys, and as is the way, they are native and towed by larger 4wd's and they claim the lane. Oddly, many of them had pushies on the back. Strange people. 

Although the road is wider and better quality, this main road is hillier. I can't decide if it's better, it's just different. I suspect that being on a fat bike, draws people's attention and mostly you get plenty of room and a few nods and waves along the way. 

In Maitland, I went too The Bikesmith but arrived just after midday and they were closing the cafe at least. I'm not sure the mechanic glad been on duty anyway. Is wanted a quote to sit narrowed wheels and tyres to my day bike. Not today! 

I went to the Vietnamese hot bread shop for a salad role, but once again I found a ship on light duties; not keen to be open and with limited service. So I grabbed a coffee and "toasted croissants". These turned out to be bits of stale croissant toasted and were as dry as you'd expect, so I dunked them in my coffee. Fortunately the lady serving was a gentle flower and was the highlight of my outting. She had several Christian icons above her chair, so I knew where she was coming from. 

Mmm. I guess I ride home now? I hit the riverside cycleway which was a super nice change from roadside cycling. My bladder was empty and the sun was bearing me up, so at Lorn I grabbed a to Turner's ice block and a liter of child water. I went the main road to Bolwarra servo then towards Wallarobba. All good, but I sensed the heat and fatigue were making me flag. 

I ride into Paterson, the mileage now would be around 30-40k. I ordered a chicken salad wrap and as is the norm lately, the young kids can't find it on their online options menu and it's a luck dip. I got a Gatorade and a peanut brittle to celebrate my birthday and nibbles at these till my spicy chicken wrap arrived. 

The roads seemed quieter, and the main road home was without normal stress. I must say the hills close to home has me walking or hike a bikin'. For sure.

Sooo I reckon about 50k all up. The bike went okay, the new fats, with extra pressure rolled well, but they were egg-shaped so any day downhill was a bumpy, frustrating affair. Need 3" tyres Hey? 

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3:30; s

alad and chicken wra

p at the local. Just 10 to go

I can't