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1. Saturday we left Virginia at 8.20 am after Mum made us a big breakfast and rode the usual way down the bike track, past the RAAF base, up creepy street then along the Little Para bike path all the way around the back of Globe Derby. It was hot humid and windy so we were running short of water so we called in at Gran & Pa’s and filled up. Then we headed towards the city and I got a puncture just near the Veledrome. We called past the Church at Hampstead Gardens for another refill in the water bottles. Then to the St Peters Bakery for lunch, I enjoyed a schnitzel burger and Pop had a Cornish Pasty. We continued onto Paynhem Road and the headed back to Blakeview. Both Pop and I were swooped by magpies today.

Today’s Stats 104kms 4 hours 40 minutes

2. Sunday. I stayed over Nan & Pop’s Saturday night and was keen to get a head start on our Sunday ride so we rode to Church at Hampstead Gardens, 28kms. After Church, a quick sandwich, we rode to 99 Bikes to pick up a couple of tubes as we were down to our last one. From there we rode through St Peters to Paynhem Road then turned for home via the usual way. When we got to Paralowie I realised my bottle was empty so we called into Uncle Brad and Kiki’s house. They weren’t home so we used their tap out front, filled up had a muesli bar and continued on. Pop said we need to add a few kms so we followed the bike path to Gawler. A welcome hot chocolate and slice of banana bread went down nicely in preparation for the last 25km head wind finish in Virginia. We finished off strong, extra strong as we went past the swooping Magpie and then dogs on Angle Vale Virginia Road.

Today’s stats 116.9kms 5 hours 9 minutes

3. Monday Public Holiday. Determined to do 3 x 100kms we left Virginia around 8:45am along the country roads to Mallala. A cyclist was just in front of us as we rode through Two Wells and slowly pulled away the closer we got to Mallala. A water bottle refill and toilet stop at the usual place there. The wind was hitting our right shoulders on the road to Gawler and we saw 7 Police cars on that 30 km stretch. Lots of people returning from holidays as well with a number of caravans and camper trailers wizzing past. We were pretty hungry going through Gawler, KFC was our choice today. After that welcome lunch Pop calculated our route home along Main North Road, Curtis & Peachy roads, eventually ending up on the bike path. Bit of a nice tail wind until the Angle Vale crossing where we turned for home. Our average speed up til then was 23.7 kms per hour and although it was a head wind we finished strong again, average speed 23.6 kms per hour.

Today’s stats 110.3kms 4 hours 41 mins

A very satisfying weekend with 3 strong rides in some windy weather. I am looking forward to the end of Magpie swooping season. Next weekend we are taking a break and will have our bikes serviced before our next ride. Tonight I have a sore butt and Pops legs are feeling very heavy and sore.