The morning was bright and I was filled with enthusiasm to leave Mt. Hagen.  After a large breakfast I headed north out of town to the new road.  Like many 'dirt' roads around the world, especially those in heavy rainfall areas, they aren't dirt at all, but a wide path of large stones covering the dirt so it doesn't wash away so quickly.

In a car, these roads are still a pain in the butt, meaning slow dusty travel.  But on a bicycle, well, no words can describe the anguish of constant colliding with little jagged rocks, jostling a heavily laden bicycle through an endless minefield of body rattling agony.

As 'dirt' roads age, narrow tracks of lesser evil are eventually worn into the surface, offering some relief from miles and miles of pounding.  But this road was new and rocks covered the entire surface with no alleviation within sight.  After just  the first hour or so, I was seriously considering returning to Mt. Hagen