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David Dawson
David Dawson is Smokey
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Posted by David Dawson on the 03/01/2010 12:10:04 PM
The hot day forecast did not eventuate and there was quite a big turnout in the end. The first group away was Robbo, Anne, Bugs and Chris Bull I think although I didn't actually see Chris because I was running late. I arrived just after Chatalot and Scrubber were leaving so drove to the outskirts of town to hook up with them. Chang also had the same problem and delivered Gavin and Sarge to Willunga in an effort to get them into the middle group. Last away were Chang, Toon (back from the dead), ChrisT and Doc James and TGZ. The latter two had intended to also be in the middle group but didn't get there in time. The head wind made it's presence felt immediately and the gradual climb up to Willunga felt like a mountain. The downhill to Aldinga and the coast on the other hand was fantastically fast and effortless but it did trigger alarm bells for the Sellick Hill climb. The climb up Justs Road was hard but nothing compared to the full strength of the katabatic forces near the top of Sellicks. The fear of the wind continuing along the Pages Flat road was unfounded and it became a side wind then tailwind closer to South Road. Scrubber and Smokey kept a fast pace along here and Chatalot was uncharacteristically speechless except for the odd expletive about his excessive heartrate.
The tailwind up South Road saw the pace go up a couple of notches and Chatalot couldn't keep up the pace so it was only Smokey and Scrubber weaving through the rubbish along Range road. Scrubber descended Penneys Hill fast and was about 300 metres ahead of Smokey by the time the hill straightened onto McMutries road. Smokey got going with the tailwind assisting and went past Scubber at full speed just before the last rise and Scrubber couldn't respond. There was no-one back when we got to the pub as the first group somehow got lost in Silver Sands so there was no-one sighted during the ride. Chat came in about 5 minutes later a broken man. The big kids had a similar ride with various members losing contact along the way with Chang and ChrisT the last men standing. Doc, Toon and TGZ rode back with Sarge but Gavin went sightseeing and wine tasting. Chang descended like a maniac according to ChrisT and was first home and the rest came in dribs and drabs for the next half hour or so. At least it wasn't hot!
4 Responses to this post
| tony cheyne says:
It was a satisfying ride after it was all over. Though remind me to remind TGZ that its not over uintil it is all over. He has an amazing acceleration which tends to stretch the pack a bit thin at times as he races to the front. But then he dies in the final quarter of the ride. In fact both him and the Doc were very hard on the front for the first half. I couldn't quite understand the rush to get exhausted. I must pass on a big thank you to ChrisT for letting me get home first. It is good to keep in practise for when the Spook returns next week. I may just repeat the act. Sorry we couldn't catch the B's, we tried, but you guys were just too fast for us.
3/1/2010 4:06:29 PM |
| Jeffrey Schulz says:
I was glad I started with the slow group. Thanks for the lift chang.
3/1/2010 4:53:48 PM |
| Jason Daniels says:
katabatic? I might see if I can use that in conversation...
3/2/2010 10:26:16 AM |
| Jeffrey Schulz says:
For the not so clever people like me http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katabatic_wind
3/2/2010 2:33:32 PM |