It hadn't stopped raining all night and continued in the morning, but by the time I got to Martinborough it had eased off. I saw a few other riders in a cafe but didn't feel social so carried on to another cafe I knew had large and excellent slices of chocolate cake. After refueling on cake and a hot drink I continued on to Featherston. The route follows a gravel road which bypasses Featherston township, and a ford on this road was flooded due to the rain. It was no problem to push the bike through, but it was almost knee deep.
Before long I was grinding my way up to the Rimutaka summit. I thought I was going slow until I caught up to a lady on a recumbent tricycle. She was barely inching along. I don't know why anyone would choose to ride a trike; especially off road. I concluded tricyclists exist to make bicyclists feel happier about their lot, and ruthlessly accelerated away with renewed vigor.
Before long I was out of the Rimutaka rail trail and on the Hutt River trail and on home territory. I motored the last section to my home where I would spend a rest day.
Remutaka Incline Summit Tunnel.