I wake up at 5:45 and everything around me is damp and cold. It can be hard to get moving on a chilly morning. And between taking down the tent, packing and sorting clothes, unplugging and stowing electronics, eating breakfast, packing a lunch, pumping up tires and putting on sunscreen, there’s no shortage of things to do.
We leave camp at 7:30 and steer into a fierce headwind as we hit one climb after another. I try to shake off any lingering fatigue from yesterday and tackle one hill at a time. It seems to be the only way to get through it without losing my mind.
After 35 km we make a quick water stop in Springfield because the map tells us there won’t be anything else on this road for at least another 40 km.
The headwind is relentless as the hills continue. We form a paceline and draft off one another to conserve energy, but it breaks up on every hill so it’s not as helpful as it could be.
We get to Bridgetown just before noon with 90 km behind us and pull into the Eggplant Cafe for a quick lunch. While the guys enjoy soups and sandwiches, a half bottle of carrots suits me just fine.
Not long after that, I see a sign for fresh organic apples from right here in the Annapolis Valley. Definitely a worthwhile stop. It also provides a good excuse for a break from the wind and hills.
The last 50 km are absolutely excruciating. The hills are endless and the headwind only seems to get stronger as the day goes on. When we finally reach the campground, we’re not at all surprised to hear that we climbed a whopping 1900 metres today, the equivalent of a very difficult day in the Rockies.
Two servings of chili and basmati rice really hit the spot after a long day in the saddle. A little ice cream helps too.
Lynn's Bike Ride 
Grampy Shaw said it’s been tough biking into the wind. Here’s hoping for some tail winds..
Absolutely, it’s been a tough slog the last few days. Maybe today will be the day it’ll turn around. Forecast is looking good!