Final Update From The Oddsmaker

I’m running about two weeks behind on this blog, but yesterday was a big day so it’s worth jumping ahead at least for one post. I am feeling pretty damn good about yesterday.

Last night I camped atop the Crown Range Summit, which at 1,076 meters (3,530’) is the highest point of the Tour Aotearoa. It’s also the tour’s last serious climb. There’s no such thing as “all downhill from here” in New Zealand—they just don’t do flat land around here—but of all the hills between me and Bluff, there’s only one you could really call a giant. From here to Bluff, the general trend is I’ll go to sleep at a lower elevation than where I woke up that morning.

Booster and I followed a hiking trail a little higher up the mountain to reach an even 1,100 meters (3,600’) and to slip out of view of the road. This was mostly because headlights spoil night vision, but I won’t lie to you, it’s also because where we camped wasn’t exactly what you’d call legal. I wouldn’t call it illegal either, but I’d need a lawyer to parse the finer points of my argument. We camped there for two reasons: to watch the stars and to savor the moment.

I now put my chances of finishing the TA “on schedule“ at 90%. I cannot rule out mechanical failures or car accidents, but finally I can say with confidence that my body can do this. Yesterday was the last major physical challenge*, and like I said, I’m feeling pretty damn good about it. Forty kilometers, all uphill, and I did it without any hike-a-biking. That’s a big deal for me. It means my knees and back felt good and my mind’s little games didn’t talk them out of it. Also, I reached the summit knowing I could have ridden a lot further. Another big deal. Queenstown was still another forty-five kilometers away and I could have reached it easily.

Biggest deal of them all: yesterday’s average speed doubled my hill-climbing speed in Tasmania. Double an ain’t-shit number still ain’t shit, but that’s the logic of the critic, not the man in the arena.

Simply put, I didn’t think I could do it. Even that morning I didn’t think I could do it. A month ago I couldn’t have done it, twenty-four hours ago I didn’t think I could, and twelve hours ago I did it.

I cannot believe how much stronger I am. I can’t believe how much my technique has improved. I never imagined how strategic I’ve become even when it comes to things like grocery shopping, to say nothing of packing, pacing, and taming what Zen practitioners call the monkey mind.

So I foresee finishing the TA in the next few days, but honestly it doesn’t matter what happens after this. I did what I came down here to do. Plus I got to spend a cold night under the stars celebrating it. More on that later—so, just to be clear, me saying mission accomplished doesn’t spell the end of the blog. I’m two weeks behind with another two weeks of travel ahead. I’ll catch you up eventually, I promise. For now just know Yours Truly is feeling good.

*ETA: Not! Holy shit, was I wrong about that. See “How Do You Feel” for just how wrong.