Background: Monday 20th is my 40th birthday. I had no idea of any plans for the occasion.
Early this week I had been checking the weather forecast for the weekend and I saw it was going to be nice. I mentioned this to CrinklyAunty as I had been waiting for a nice’ish day to get out for a proper ride.
On Wednesday I received an envelope containing a save the date card:
I didn’t know what was going on but I assumed a ride at the weekend was not going to happen.
I was wrong. On Friday night I got a second envelope with my Brevet card from (N)Audax UK.
I didn’t get an any more clues to the route other than what was written in the card as there wasn’t an enclosed route sheet.
On Saturday I got ready to go and I received the first page of the route sheet, I was to get the other parts as I went around.
The first control was to buy something at one of our favourite bakeries in York:
Then to a photo control at York Minster, I managed to avoid the lemmings on the way (see route sheet!)
Next it was to the Den where a control sign confirmed I as in the right place:
Where I got some cake, coffee and the second part of the route sheet:
After a finishing the cake, which took some time as it was a big slice and very nice, I continued on to the next Info control:
The answer was 6 dogs! (Ours is the odd one out)
The next control was the Blacksmiths Arms in Naburn, I took some pictures of spring on the way. I was very surprised by the controller that met me at the pub it was Deano. With my card signed I got the third section of the route and we went inside for a drink and a chat.
The next control was at Cycle Heaven. I rode with Deano back to the Millennium bridge where he left to go back to the train station and to head home. I went on to Cycle Heaven, the first person I asked didn’t have a clue about what I was talking about but a second did who had been briefed earlier in the day and I got a sticker for the card. Control 7 was the National Railway Museum and I had to buy a fridge magnet and take a photo:
Now it was on to the last intermediate control and I found CrinklyAunty at the point I asked her to marry me. Where I got the final part of the route:
I then followed her back to our home. After putting a way my bike in the garage I then went in to the house where I noticed the kitchen door was shut. I thought this was odd as it normally left open for the cat.
I went in to the kitchen to a surprise Star Wars themed birthday party. Lots of my family and Deano where there. It was a great afternoon with an amazing cake:
So in the end the ride was to get me out of the way for the setup of the party.
My completed card and route which was 37km in the end:
I was a fun ride even thought I had to do a lot of lemming avoiding most of the way around, I think lots of people were taking advantage of the milder weather for a walk. The route sheet is worth a read, there are some notes you don’t normally see on a route sheet. A big thank you to Crinkly Clan CC and Deano for the organising and expert controlling. It was a fab ride