Endorphins? Those need to be watched

Another day, another huge southerly wind. Actually, it was a relatively late decision as to what I was going to do today, given that I couldn't quite decide where to ride. In the end I headed up over Springbrook, down into Numinbah Valley, and headed south from there. This may not have been a smart move in some respects. Southerlies are notorious here for funneling between Springbrook and Mt Hobwee and blasting in brutally. Today was no exception, and I was glad to hit the climb at the southern end of the valley, leading up to the Macpherson Range.


After this it was out toward Tyalgum, more climbs, more wind brutality, but a score to settle. The wildflowers out here were beautiful today, and plentiful.


Darting back to Uki, then Stokers Siding, then turning south once again. Here I was really struggling in this wind. It seemed to be only getting stronger, and I needed some relief. It came in the shape of the climb over the Burringbar Range. That got the endorphins going, all of a sudden I felt unstoppable. The trouble was, I was now nearing the lunch stop at the Moo Moo Cafe -- now here's the dilemma. All of a sudden I'm feeling invincible, but I know that if I don't stop for a meal here, I'll pay for it.
The food here is actually surprisingly good, and after a very nice meal, and another layer of sunscreen, I'm off again. This time over to the Tweed Coast, turning north, finally with the wind, but it takes me some time to start turning over the big gears, that's the hangover from the ride against the wind from earlier. Having been in the mountains earlier, I'm now taking in the scent of ocean spray, and some delightful coastal vistas.

This all comes to an end just after the above shot it taken, and now I'm heading in land again, over the Condong Range, down to Murwillumbah (or Cane Road at least), then heading north for the climb over Tomewin, which is probably the most difficult of the day. More gear problems basically force me to attack it, which I do painfully, but eventually making it over the top. After the big finger pointing exercise, and a screaming descent, I'm left to finish of the ride with a tailwind, which is uneventful apart from the fact that I can still pull out a big attack in Palm Beach, and still sprint for the lights just before they change.
All in all a memorable day, the western descent from Springbrook doesn't seem as steep as I remember it (I last did it in 2000), and as brutal as the southerly was, it did keep temperatures down, which is just the way I like it. I have a three-day tour coming up next weekend, with a destination still to be confirmed. I'll just see what I feel like at the time I guess.