I think that everyone has covered most things.
Was, as always, great to see the 'old faces' and some new ones
The catering provided at HQ was outstanding, nom nom nom, thank you to the organisers and their merry band of helpers. One of the helpers commented on my attire at the end of the ride, 'I do like your garter,' sadly I had to disappoint as I wasn't actually wearing one, was part of my shorts
Where was I? Oh yes, an early start, crawling out of my very comfortable bed at 4am and on the road by 5. I later regretted only having half a soggy ban ana for breakfast as about 3km from the first food control at about 70km, I died and fell off the back of the group. Having said that it was a fast first stretch.
Twas wonderful to see Bottlemasher at the first control
I managed to put away a huge plateful of beans on toast, a can of coke and a cup of tea whilst drooling over Iddu's delightful smelling bacon, mmmmm. I really felt like converting from my state of vegetarianism to join him but decided that could wait for another time.
I spent much of the ride with SimonP and a fair stretch with ChrisS. The mud, oh the mud. I do hope it had some therapeutic benefits! My skin certainly felt softer this morning, sadly not the skin on my backside though.
I did indeed stop for a sneaky snickers moment Chris but not a mic stop
The rain legs never got an airing although I was quite silly with them on arriving back at HQ at around 140kms. I think our table lowered the tone a little or was it just me?
I set off on my own, managed a good rhythm, singing and daydreaming, feeling happy that I was following the route quite nicely.... that was until Attleborough, home of the one way system and more than one fish and chip shop. OK, I saw A fish and chip shop but not THE fish and chip shop. It wasn't until a few miles later and on arrival at the A11 roundabout that I realised I was in the wrong place. I turned back for Attleborough, asked a very sweet lady if there was indeed another fish and chip shop and low and behold spotted SimonP and John from Norfolk. I explained my little detour and how (I thought) I had lost part of the route sheet
There was indeed a lot of traffic, only one group of morons shouted at us from behind their lump of metal on four wheels. Watton was just the same shit hole as I remembered from my last visit.
The RTC further along that long and dark road was a bit nasty but the boys in blue did allow us through, I wisely carried my bike, SimonP and John dismounted and wheeled theirs through. I think it was at this stage that Simon took on board a nasty thorn as it was shortly after that he had a rear deflation. I did stop to assist with my faithful torch but as Simon continued to struggle with a distinct lack of inflation and my increasing shakes, I headed off, apologising but needing to move as quickly as possible. My toes felt incredibly painful yet numb. My fingers had been saved by Simon's lobster mitts. It was a long, dark, fast road between there and the finish so I sang, sang some more and swore in between as I desperately needed to nibble on a jelly bean but didn't dare remove the mitts. My neck and shoulder where the worst they have been in a long time, oh for a 'side of the road' masseuse to ease my pain, better still, one in a car to hand out treatment as I rode along!
I enjoyed the delights of yet more great food back at the finish.
I somehow managed to clock 137.5 miles, my longest ever ride.
Iddu, the pics are great. I did however have to look up the word 'salacious' at 2am
I owe you one for that push up the hill
Thank you.
