The rain from yesterday abated for a while which gave me time to get comfy on my new mattress and snug in my down sleeping bag (from last year when I found out the hard way that the one I’d brought wasn’t up to the job). And then the storm kicked off with a vengeance. Howling wind and pouring rain, even distant thunder. Very, very glad not to be in a tent!!! Which reminds me, met a guy yesterday who said he was one of the original founders of the M B trail! Also said that our camping site wasn’t the best we could have chosen as it quickly fills up with water when it rains….

The storm abated about midnight and I got the best sleep I’d had in a long time. Woke up with a cold draft across my face despite being hunkered up in a corner of the hut away from the elements.

Got off on the trail eventually straight into a short but steep uphill bit! And onto map two of seven of the trail which feels like quite an achievement!

Now, it may seem like there’s a lot of misery in riding the M B. Usually it’s more than offset by the trees, wildlife, scenery and downhill bits

Not so much today. One issue I have with the trail designers is that they tend to throw in ‘interesting’ bits when they could have chosen a straighter route. Lovely if you’re out for the day on an unladen bike. Not so clever if it’s heavy, you’re soaked through, as we were several times today, tired and just want a food and bed

Today was a very long one with a lot of suffering. But, I have just spent the night, and tonight in a cosy motel room with a comfy bed. Bliss!

Oh, and beer and curry in the pub next door.

Not even an animal of the day today I’m afraid unless you count being shouted at by black parrots. Big black birds with red under their tails that fly around in mobs and yell at each other.

The guide app suggests that the riding gets easier the further South you go. If I remember from last time it’s more a case of less extreme…..