Rain and Pain: The Second Legg

And I was off...

DAY 5 began in Tea Gardens...

I simply cycled out of work and kept going

...until my first flat of the leg happened (Number 4 since Sydney) ...only 30 km down the road.

But there are worse places than the Myall Lakes National Park to break down

And after the second flat, I ended up changing the whole outer tyre.

With a late start (midday) and the double break down, I ended the day early (40 Km), and camped out on the old mining trail heading towards Seal Rocks.

DAY 6: Old Mining Trail (Boomeri) - Forster

It's amazing what 12 hours of sleep can do for you.

Refreshed and rested, I cycled the 23 km dirt track to Seal Rocks and kept peddling through the torrents of rain through Booti Booti national park till Forster (70 km) where I pitched my tent and sat repairing my rain gear.

DAY 7: Forster to Port Macquarie

With mended rain coat and saddle bag covers I was ready for yet another day of sogginess.

Despite veering on and off the Pacific highway and it's traffic, it wasn't all dull...

I pushed hard and finally made my first over 100 km day (136 according to google maps).

Soaked to the core and exhausted, I checked myself into Port Macquarie Backpackers and treated myself to some high life living.

DAY 8: Port to Clambucca

I delayed the day to visit the Koala hospital.

And then finally pretended to be excited about heading back into the pouring rain.

From settlement Point I took a 400m ferry which added 30 km to my route, but saved me from the madness that is the Pacific Highway.

And quite suddenly the tar ended and 34 km of mud began.

I stopped in Crescent Head for lunch and quite enjoyed being back on the tar up through Kempsey and on to Clybucca

I camped out at a truck stop where I joined the plethora of truckies in watching the second game of Origin

DAY 9: Clybucca to Coffs

I was off bright and early.

97 km stood between me and a hot shower and good people and a home cooked meal and a real bed.

The sun even decided to make an appearance and even though my buttocks ached and my rear tyre had a slow leak, nothing would stop me from the goal!!

The Millers and a delicious hot pot meal

 It's a beautiful day today, and I'm almost finished demudding everything; now I just need to find a way to fix my battered buttocks:

A massive decision lies ahead, to buy cycling shorts and risk being mistaken for an actual cyclist,

or to add more weight to the bike and gel seat it...

Either way, it's rest day the second and I'm off to explore the awesomeness that is Coffs [in the sunshine] 

 662 km lie behind me and a flipping long way lies ahead - but it's good to know I'm doing it for an awesome cause!!

Visit www.bikes4life.com.au and donate today!!