That was quite a ride.
Firstly a huge thanks to Liam and all the helpers, without you guys I think many more would have scratched.
The weather was interesting, cold start, warm sunshine and a bitter night. Even with careful observation of the weather leading in and picking just the right layers I managed to get it wrong. Thankfully a moment of inspiration saw a Newspaper purchased and shoved up my Jersey which solved my ills and allowed me to continue. Although at Malmesbury in the middle of the night I'm not sure what other option I had.
in the beginning Woodstock, Tewkesbury and Chepstow all came and went in a bit of a blur, stamps stamped, recipts gathered, cake and sandwiches scoffed, chatting to lots of people along the way, putting many faces to names and expanding on various thoughts espoused on various social media platforms.
The midway point saw a change to our group as one of our number packed and headed to Bristol to catch a train, but we picked up a replacement so all was not lost. As we proceeded towards Malmesbury the daylight fading, the temperature dropping and spirits now deflating slightly we elected to have a quick stop. Sadly Waitrose was shut so back into town, up another bloody hill and into the first pub we saw, much to the bemusement of the locals. An interesting conversation with a drunk Aussie, a pint of Coke and back out into the night.
Everyone suitably perked up with some sugar the conversation started to flow again, much silliness ensued and the km's ticked by, up hill and down dale with a nice even pace and soon enough we were in Lambourn, my old nemesis. The temperature had plummeted at this point and even my copy of the "Cricketists times" was struggling. Many folk inside huddled round the one working radiator whilst others drank coffee and ate anything on offer. A much needed half hour rest later and we set off into the cold again, those first few km's shivering until the core heated up again.
It was this point that I began to suffer, I think it mainly in the mind, I'd gone further than I made it last year I had to keep telling myself, these thoughts helped me keep the pedals turning.
Nothing much to see in these hours, only the pool of light afforded by the headlamp, the clicking of gears as hills came and went and the odd call out for another nature break.
It was on this leg that the sun began to rise and the mood began to lift, once we reached Henley the skies were light but the temperature still low, a quick stop for the finest Fare the ESSO could muster and on we went.
The hills were beginning to take their toll, the combination of tiredness and a heavy steel bike doing me no favours but we pressed on. Eventually with 30 km's to go the other pair in the group dropped me and I trudged back to base mostly alone.
Very proud of the fact that the bike performed faultlessly, as I only finished building it at 18.00 on the Friday night!The sack of fat riding it did ok too
LWL completed in 26 hours and a couple of minutes. Could I have gone quicker? Probably. Would I have enjoyed the experience as much? I doubt it.
I wholeheartedly endorse the Full Value Crew way of Audaxing. Also Percy pigs are pretty good pick me ups. (Thanks Grace for the tip).
I thank you for reading my ramblings and hope I have not bored you too greatly.