Day 5 is a tale of two halves, riding in NSW and in QLD.
Having already covered more than 560 kilometers in four days of cycling, we geared up for another long day, spanning 180 kilometers from Ballina to Kooralbyn.
The profile of the day looked to be mostly flat with 3 climbs, at 5km, 75km 130km to really test everyone’s legs, and due to the length of the day it meant another early start with a 6:45 roll out from Ballina.
Day five's warm-up began with a 5km climb after just 20 minutes of riding, followed by rolling hills that eased yesterday's soreness. As the peloton found its rhythm, we enjoyed scenic views of a the rainforest. Concerns about Lismore's flooding due to recent heavy rain lingered, but fortunately, we didn't have to contend with rising river levels for a third day.
After a hefty 110km, we had lunch in an old Town Hall in a location called ‘The Risk’. Many riders changed into dry clothes taking the risk that it would stay dry, unfortunately that risk didn’t pay off. After lunch the group rode a steep climb to take us to the other side of the ranges. The climb averaging 6% gradient with section at 9+%, this was quite a challenge to get to the top, where yet more rain awaited us.
Having successfully traversed the cracking climb which put many to the sword, we were only 2kms from Queensland and were told that once we crossed the border, there would finally be sun. The weather gods finally delivered, providing some boosted energy to see out the final leg of the ride. Laughter was shared, with the careful navigation of cows on the loose, many hoofs having to be guided off the road due to unfenced paddocks!
Day 5 in a summary was certainly a mixed bag – a tale of wet socks, steep climbs, and unexpected encounters with farm animals. But hey, that's all part of the adventure, isn't it? With each pedal stroke, we are not just covering ground, we are breaking barriers creating special memories, all while raising important funds. Day 6 awaits the peloton!
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