YACF LEJoG Relay

[Basil]

Great.  Sunday lunchtime it is.  I don't know that pub, but I'm sure google will quickly sort that out.
PM you later.

[CAMRAMan]

It used to be (maybe still is...) one of the Mad O'Rourke's chain - motto: Unspoilt by Breweries, so was a quirky place when I was last there, though that was a long time ago.

Can I take it from Kim and pass it on to Polar Bear?

[Basil]

OK.  I have the baton.

The baton has now done its own tunnel ride, as I brought it through the Netherton Tunnel (the famous tunnel of The Tunnel Rides) on its way into Brum.

Right, I need to be reminded, lunch time pints with the ever amiable  Mr. Blade are not a good idea if the next move is to be 2.75km of dark narrow tow path inna tunnel.

Photos from Blade (hopefully) soon.

Barakta.  You next?

[border-rider]

There you go.  And then it could wander east and then sarff to That London and stuff.

East is OK, but it should be heading vaguely JOGwards, no ?

I guess it has to come back to its starting point anyway, so it has a chance to go to That London on that leg of its trip..

[barakta]

Sounds good Basil!  I'll talk to Kim about best time for picking it up from you.  I believe the tandem is actually ready to ride having had a tired pump up recently. 

[Tewdric]

There you go.  And then it could wander east and then sarff to That London and stuff.

East is OK, but it should be heading vaguely JOGwards, no ?

I guess it has to come back to its starting point anyway, so it has a chance to go to That London on that leg of its trip..

It has to go to Paris first.  This is a marathon, not a sprint....

[Polar Bear]

I'm sure Arvid and Gus would like to join in...

[Blade]

Arranged to meet Basil at the pub.



We had some beer elsewhere and handed over the Baton.



We played 'throw the stick'



Basil regretted drinking that last pint, after bumping the tunnel wall.

[LEE]

Page 1 updated with handover photos

[Basil]

Sounds good Basil!  I'll talk to Kim about best time for picking it up from you.  I believe the tandem is actually ready to ride having had a tired pump up recently. 

Well, I was going to mention that I leave for Waleslandshire directly from work on Thursday afternoon and do not return to Brum until Tuesday night.

However, I've just had a call from the hospital in Burton on Trent.  My 90 year old Dad (who lives in Lichfield) fell and broke his hip while I was out battoning. 
They're operating this afternoon, but obviously I'm going to be unavailable for a few days.

It may be that I have to stay in Brum rather than return to Llandysul at the week end.  If so, I'm sure there will be opportunities for a Country Girl meet at some point then.

I'll PM you when I know more.

[Kim]

Meep! GWS to your dad.

Battoning can occur as and when.

[barakta]

What Kim said!  Poor Mr Basil's Dad, hope he recovers soonest!

[Basil]

The baton is about to start another epic journey.
1.2 miles.

[Oscar's dad]

The baton is about to start another epic journey.
1.2 miles.

Steady!!!

Is it heading towards East Anglia???

[Oaky]

The baton is about to start another epic journey.
1.2 miles.

Steady!!!

Is it heading towards East Anglia???

Never mind that! The burning question is: has the baton been up the Country Girl?

[Oscar's dad]

If it comes our way we could take it up The Cats!

[Polar Bear]

Where is the baton just now?

[Basil]

The deed is done. 
The baton did indeed visit the Country Girl.  And was handed over to Barakta. (Aparently she's always up there.  Never leaves the place)

No doubt there will be pics soon.

[Kim]

So, with a little assistance from her steering, braking and shifting minion, barakta bravely trekked all the way^[1] out to that great bastion of YACFness, the Country Girl...



Basil was of course already there, so without further ado, handover #18 was completed:



Barakta was impressed by the lightweight and durable construction of the baton, and any fears about having to ride home with a heavy load were put to rest.



We had a drink and a natter, and then set off on our arduous journey:



The ride home was eventful, taking us past some Country Girl regulars who wanted a lift, two sets of traffic lights (which were skilfully approached at crawling speed in order that they turn green) and some of the Raddlebarn Road's finest potholes.  The hilly bit was much more enjoyable in this direction, though the steering, braking and shifting minion took a left turn at speeds in excess of 8mph, causing the bike to lean at an alarming angle.  The minion was suitably chastised for this misdemeanor, and promises it won't happen again.

The you've-got-a-funny-bike nod and grin was received from a couple of commuter cyclists, and the minion was able to redeem herself by providing plenty of warning and taking a good impact-reducing line when negotiating the trench at the end of Luton Road.  We arrived home, where handover #19 then took place:



The baton was then proudly placed on top of one of the scrolly LED signs, safely out of reach of the teetering piles of crap, until such a time as Kim works out where she's taking it next...





_{[1] We took the scenic route to minimise sharp climbs and tricky right turns, so a massive 2.5km}

[CrinklyLion]

You could always just ride to York for the Tan Hill ride.....

[Kim]

You could always just ride to York for the Tan Hill ride.....

I was thinking more like Warwick...

Still up for it, Warwickshire Lad?  If you hand it on to Polar Bear, it significantly reduces the risk of him selling me that recumbent  

(Can't do this weekend, as I'm going rail assisted to Brizzle.  Can do most days this week or next though.)

[barakta]

Nice ride report minion o'mine   

I think I've finally warmed up-ish and blood sugar approaching normal.  Tomorrow I'll phone Kevin again for that trike of mine so i can do better distances than 5km and not get all vertigofail from no balance controls!

[urban_biker]

That's the first time I've seen Kim riding an upright. You're taller that I though

[LEE]

That's the first time I've seen Kim riding an upright. You're taller that I though

It's the first time I've seen inside the home of a Serial-Killer.



Is that a body part wrapped in brown paper (on the shelf above the Furbie and the Mango Chutney)

[Kim]

That's the first time I've seen Kim riding an upright. You're taller that I though

That's a particuly upright example of the species, on account of the extra-springy low-end MTB fork.  I reckon it would ride a bit better if I devised some way of locking it out...

That's the first time I've seen Kim riding an upright. You're taller that I though

It's the first time I've seen inside the home of a Serial-Killer.
Is that a body part wrapped in brown paper (on the shelf above the Furbie and the Mango Chutney)

It's a rackmount-Ethernet-switch-sized roll of bubble-wrap, awaiting an appropriately shaped tuit for me to sell the old switch on eBay.  (Don't suppose anyone wants a fanless 24 port rackmount 10/100 switch, do they?)

We keep the severed body parts in the freezer, obviously.  

Also, the chutney jars are in fact full of small change (barakta doesn't do exact change, for hand reasons) and miscellaneous pingfuckits.  And I'm surprised that nobody's commented on the radio-controlled bat.