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trouble, I surprised myself by making it up as well, despite some slipping and less-than-graceful riding, my trusty DR performed flawlessly. Proud of ourselves, we rejoined the main track, which remained bumpy but was clearly relished by both our bikes.
We reached a hilltop castle overlooking the valley, taking time to explore and admire the views. From above, I spotted another Roman bridge, unaware at the time that it was part of the day ' s second ' hard ' option. It didn’ t seem too daunting from up high, but appearances can be deceptive! Descending into the valley, we encountered a steep, rocky downhill left bend before the bridge. Although dry, my nerves got the better of me, and I handed my bike to Kelvin to tackle the descent. Getting out proved interesting too; I managed the loose uphill bends, albeit without much elegance, but kept the bike upright. Exhausted but glad to have tried both harder sections, I was ready for a break.
Later, we reached another hilltop marked by a heart-shaped wooden sign and a‘ 2 hobbits’ sticker, left there by friends who had completed the trip the previous year. We rested, soaking in the lush green scenery, and I relished the pause, eager to find a place to stay for the night.
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