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A brisk morning greeted the riders as we prepared to roll out for CRSYD25 Day 2. While it was comforting to spend two nights in the same location, in true Chain Reaction spirit, it was time to pack up and move forward. New roads and formidable challenges await us. Before we set off, we captured photos of the jersey winners from the previous night, a regular ritual that fuels our motivation.
The morning saw us swiftly navigating the suburbs of Auckland, heading east towards our first drinks stop at a picturesque waterfront park in Beachlands. We had a brief moment to warm up our legs before confronting the first of many punchy climbs. The relentless up-and-down roads would be our constant companions for the rest of the morning. Some of us tackled them faster than others, but eventually, we all felt the burn in our legs.
Thankfully, our lunch stop marked the completion of most of the day's climbing. Lunch on a Chain Reaction ride is always a highlight. Today, we found ourselves in the Kaiaua Bowling Club Hall, a quaint country hall, nothing fancy. As we walked in, we were presented with an amazing array of food options that left no one hungry. The Chain Reaction crew takes such good care of us, and the catering is just one example of how they make our time on the bike a little easier.
The last 45km into Thames looked deceptively easy on paper. It was a horse shoe route from the west of the Firth of Thames around to the east and to our accommodation for the night. However, as we settled into a rhythm to tick off the kilometres, the wind picked up, ensuring that our already tired legs were completely spent by the time we reached the finish line.
We were grateful to reach our accommodation, where we could rest, connect with loved ones and friends, and try to secure additional sponsorship to boost our personal totals and enhance our efforts thus far. Tomorrow is a truly challenging stage of the ride, so it's time to rest and then go again early in the morning.
