another fast day

Barrydale to Montagu - 63 miles, only 5200 ft climbing. Today was another fast one - we finished in about 5hrs 12min. The good thing about this is there is actually some time to chill out and relax in the afternoon - luckily we had a pretty nice place for it!
We are feeling pretty strong as a team and today we probably moved up a few slots. I would say we hammered this stage, maybe even a bit too hard... We went steady from the gun with the new motto "always be passing" and it seemed we were. The last 7-8 miles were more or less downhill after a tough climb where we had made up a lot of ground. We didn't want anyone we passed earlier to catch us so we pushed the big ring like two guys trying to survive in a breakaway in the Tour de France. Again, in this stage, we were surprised to be able to ride by so many people, sometimes by just taking a slightly less desireable line, or by being able to ride through some deep sand.
The scenery is still amazing! Now you should think of a blend of the barren rocky mountains behind Palm Springs with little Napa Valleys between them. In the valleys we rode along little farm tracks through apple, peach, and pear orchards and several vineyards, then we would turn off and ride up some path over dry, dusty, scrub covered hills. Strange to think there are only 3 more stages.... When it is all over, I think we will miss it in a strange way.