Well, the tent worked, keeping out a shower at about 1 a.m.
I left home around 5.30, arrived at the pub about 8, had the tent up and was in the bar by 8.45 and drinking Maldon Gold, which was CAMRA Champion Golden Ale, 2007. It's remarkable that Brewer's Gold won this award (and Supreme Champion) in 2005 & 2006, and the two ales are brewed only a few miles apart. The steak was especially good and I staggered to my tent around 10.30, but was waylaid in conversation by a couple who had taken an enormous caravan. I was surprised how many people were camping there, but I happened to have arrived on the same night as a motor cycle troupe all wearing "Sally's Slaves" T-shirts. There were dozens of them.
I slept well. After a couple of occasions in which I looked at the time, I eventually rose at 6.30. The loo was visited, tea was brewed, cereal eaten, the tent demolished and I was on the road by 7.45. After about a quarter of a mile I stopped to have a look at an item of road kill - a large predatory bird, too big for a kestrel or a sparrow hawk: I thought it was probably a buzzard. I made a mental note of its location in order to inform my brother, who has a collection of skulls, of its location.
At one point I was overtaken by a succession of Harley-Davidsons, making a devil of a row. Two especially caught my eye: R505 HOG, and a very nice pink bike with a very petite young lady in charge of it. Shortly before I arrived home, I heard the roaring of an engine approaching from behind and a bright red sports car, MAD 80Y, went past at a speed far too high for a narrow country lane.
That, I felt, was a successful outing. The tent went up and came down fairly easily and I covered the 24 mile ride home by 10.30. When I do my longer tour later in the month, I reckon to try to do 20 miles before 11ses, 20 miles before lunch, and the rest afterwards. That will be enough riding for a day and will give me plenty of time to put the tent up, have a rest and do any chores before the serious business of eating.