As I have previously reported, my soigneur is presently on leave, so my ride over took in The Compasses so I could something to eat en route, I'd left enough time to have a pleasant amble over, this of course went out the window and I hammered it over there. I've been a busy bee this morning and fired off my complaint to Stephensons of Essex about their bus drivers 6inch overtake on me whilst on the way to Great Totham- so will see what comes back regarding that.
There was a very good selection of ale (Jarrylo, Captain Bob, Wobbly Croc plus others I didn't try) on at The Compasses and their burger was mega.
I left their for the 2 mile ride down to The Swan and got their around 9. I was nursing a pint and thinking about heading off back home when the WC peloton finally arrived, a couple of pints were enjoyed by the group then they headed off back home whilst the hard core remained on for another pint. I thought they were a bit grumpy in The Swan last night, I had far better service and conversation with the staff in The Compasses who also had a wider range of beers on the go to. (i.e. no Doombar).
The ride home was pleasant though I did had to add another layer as the clear sky resulted in a drop in temperature which felt colder than the reported 16 degrees on the Garmin, usual wild life on the route home, but more suicidal than of late, I narrowly avoided doing 'a Tom' when a badger bolted out in front of me, disc brakes saved the day...
I had started off slow but the speed built up and as I came in to the last couple of KM, hammered two of my local segments, with one of them I was sure being a new PR.... so imagine my happiness when my Garmin turned itself off 500m from my door, the result being all the route from The Compasses to home was lost - this isn't the first time it's happened unfortunately and worse still it gives all the impression that it's working fine, start/stop & lap working etc, then bang, reset and lost data... I don't think I am prepared to risk this anymore given how I rely on it for DIYbyGPS!
My anger at the Garmin was slightly displaced by finding two badgers frolicking in my back garden, which is cute, but I know at some pint they'll start digging holes in it like last time!