A slow morning to try and allow everything to dry out from yesterday’s rain. Back on the road and I quickly finished the final bit of route retracing before making a turn onto a gravel service road. As I did so a truck pulled up and warned me that it was a rough road and seemed to think it would take me 8 hours to do 60km. I tried to politely say that this wasn’t my first rodeo and I’d ridden some pretty rough stuff. He also showed me all the weird and wonderful mushrooms he’d been out picking which would eventually fetch lots of money in Japan. 

 

I decided to stick with the road and, as expected, it was absolutely fine other than navigating a few sections of pot holes. I really notice the difference both physically and mentally the sections I’ve been back on gravel rather than the shoulder of a highway. It requires so much more concentration to pick the best lines that I feel much more connected with what I’m riding through. Riding a straight highway it’s very difficult not to completely zone out. I saw a black bear foraging at the side of the road but as soon as it saw/heard me it scarpered before I was able to get a photo. 

 

As I rejoined the paved road and approached the village where I’d planned to camp, I was flagged down by another truck. This time containing a couple, Cat and Colin who offered for me to stay in a caravan they had at their place coupled with a hot shower. Too good to turn down, I eventually found their driveway on the edge of town in a cleared section of forest. 

 

They showed me to one of the two caravans they had on site - the other they let out on Airbnb. Cat and Colin were also mushroom pickers and were going into town to sell their haul so left me to relax in a hammock outside the caravan. Before leaving they mentioned having dinner together when they were home but as it got later I was about to make myself something when they got back and Cat brought over a huge sandwich and some chocolate. They also invited me up to their house for breakfast and coffee. Settled into my bed feeling very grateful not to be in the tent.