Back in the saddle again: Saint Arnaud – Blenheim

Time to get back in the saddle again! It was more bleary eyed and less bushy tailed this morning with the prospect of the 105km ride to Blenheim after a very late night of shenanigans and giggling girlie craic, culminating at 3am in declaring Candice the new arm wrestling champion when she took the prestigious title from a devastated Gilly who had proudly held the honour for the past five years.

Candice put her new found strength down to carrying two small tots around the farm and delivering 300 calves in a season!  Gilly has vowed not to let wedding preparations get in the way of her training for the next bout. Whenever, and wherever, that will be remains to be seen, but I hope I can be there to adjudicate.

And so it was that we said our goodbyes to our friends, and got back in the saddle again for the first time in more than a week, and for what was going to be our longest ride of the trip.  How thankful I was that it was easy riding and downhill all the way to the campsite in Blenheim! Dave even managed a snooze on our lunch stop!