Today's ride: 180km including Mt Tamborine. I expected to be home around 2.30pm, maybe 2 at the earliest. I finished right on 1.00pm. It was HOT!. I headed toward Canungra through the gorge country of the Coomera Valley, which included a 14% hill at one point.

After this, the rolling hills through Beaudesert and Jimboomba (a couple of uninspiring towns) before heading back into the eucalypt forest toward Tamborine Village. This is where I made a big mistake, I should have got something to eat in the village before attacking the 7km climb of the mountain (I don't think I'll ever learn).

At this point, the clouds that had kept the sun at bay for the most part decided to disappear. The sun fried everything in it's path. I tried to use that to generate anger and be but all I could manage in these conditions was :irritated . In the battle between man and mountain, man was being totally slaughtered. Even my water was hot.

I hung in on the first 3km of the climb (the hardest) before taking control of the rest, even if I didn't have the strength to raise a fist in triumph at the top. I had survived to reach the rainforest and some breathtaking views. After putting something in my stomach, I descended the mountain and confronted the short but steep Wongawallan range.

I attacked that one early (someone had to pay for the sun coming out after all), somehow managing to sustain the attack to the top. After cresting this one, I launched a vicious punch at the surrounding inoffensive air. A few drivers probably saw me and wondered what I was doing, but I didn't care. After this, it was a headwind to the coast, before rounding the corner at Hope Island.

A tail/crosswind (off the ocean) from Paradise Point made the remainder of the ride very easy, although I needed quick reactions at time to survive Surfers Paradise. People making sudden decisions to reverse against the flow of traffic can be very dangerous if one is not wide awake to that one.

What can I say, that was one awesome ride!