Today was tough, really tough.

I was on the bike at sunrise, legs a little stiff and feeling pretty jaded, and came off it just after sunset, cold, tired and hungry.

After last nights short finish, this morning could not have gone much better. I leapt out of bed at 6, grinded the legs over a couple of mountain passes and then cruised down into Victoria, wind in hair and spirits high, in time for a breakfast of champions before boarding a ferry to Port Angeles, USA.

Excited to have arrived in the US, and of the prospect of making route 101 my home for the next 3 weeks, I enjoyed a speedy first hour cycling into the stunning Olympic national park. Incredibly dramatic scenery – particularly around Lake Crescent.

But the good times didn’t last long, and the final 3hrs of my cycling day were in torrential rain (apparently Washington state is the wettest state of all) on roads that were far from flat – one hill went on for about 3 miles. I also picked up a couple of punctures – which are even less fun to repair with numb fingers and no shelter nearby.

A couple of friendly drivers stopped by to chat though – both times when I was slowing weaving my way uphill – which did wonders to morale. Cycling alone can be great at times – I am enjoying the freedom of being on the road and the opportunity to get lost in music, audiobooks and podcasts – but the miserable weather this afternoon made cycling feel like a real drag, and I was grateful to have some company.

Given the weather, I called it a day at Forks and checked in to a motel.

Just returned from dinner with an eccentric bunch of film producers who are staying in Forks to film a beer commercial. They actually offered to get me involved during next couple of days….which is very tempting – anything to avoid cycling through another storm (tomorrow is set to be a bad one)!

Distance: 82.5 milesAv. speed: 13.2 mph