I didn't get rained on last night because my tent was undercover, but it certainly was raining. It was pouring from the moment I woke up and it's still pouring as I type this in my tent in the evening. Basically I chilled at the roadside station from 5:30-7:30, then had breakfast at the convenience store before heading on the road. I tried waiting out the rain but it didn't work, and it's one of those things that once you're in it you might as well keep going. It took about an hour before my socks started feeling wet (honestly surprising since I wear sandals). Then by an hour later they were drenched. My raincoat and pants these days do almost absolutely nothing, but tbh with how heavy the rain ended up you wonder if there's any wet weather gear alive that would handle 8h of pouring rain. The hardest part was not just the wet, but that so much of today was uphill. And it was at about 10% incline every time which can feel pretty brutal. And when it's raining, the downhills aren't fun because the rain stings your skin, water is spraying in your eyes and you get worried about your safety braking and turning in the wet. That being said, my spirits were still pretty high. After the first 20km it wasn't for another 40 that I'd see any more food, so I was in it for the long haul. When I eventually got to the Lawson 70km in, sopping wet, I figured I'll at least go to the next town along as there was a gusto and laundry that I could utilise. On the very last leg, I almost fainted cycling that last uphill and I really don't know why. Maybe the rain was affecting my body more than I realised. But I made it! I cleaned all my clothes, ate my dinner and watched 'turning the tables'. Shout out to Porter Robinson whose albums got me through a good chunk of the ride. Nurture is a beautiful album.