That was quite a ride, my first 300 in fact. I could have easily not gone.
Sitting at home on Friday evening the doubts started to creep in. "You're not good enough to ride 185 miles", "You will want to pack in and get the train back". I tried hard to resist but even as I tried to sleep I could not shake that feeling. Not that I got much sleep, a combination of nerves and excitement and a 3:20 alarm saw to that.
Saturday morning was chilly at home but when I drove into Alfreton there was a layer frost on the cars. Frost!!!! I hadn't considered that. It was spring not winter. Started the ride just on 6 am, straight downhill. That is normally fine but the cold morning the cold air was a bit of a shock. Out of town now, a bit lumpy but nothing too mountainous. Gannets cafe in Newark was busy, all cyclists as far as I could see. Coffee and toasted plum bread was lovely. Back out and on through largely flat terrain, only one climb of note, towards Woodhall Spa. The sun was out and shining brightly and the chill of the early morning had now gone. It was a lovely spring day. The section across Timberland Fen and along the river Witham was really pretty.
Heading now towards Skegness and the sky is starting to darken. It looks like rain ahead but I am hopeful that I will miss it. I don't. It starts to rain, then hail, then sunshine again. Poppy's Restaurant for lunch, omelette and chips. That was good. The route now headed north, straight into the wind. The ride between Skegness and Sutton on Sea was, at least for me, the hardest part. With very little shelter I was battered nearly into submission by the headwind.
Sutton on Sea looked a pretty typical seaside town. I would have loved to run down the beach to the sea for a paddle, maybe another day though. A couple of pictures will suffice for today. Now turning for home I headed towards Horncastle. On through the Wolds. The scenery is pretty, not dramatic in a Snowdonia sort of way, but lovely in it's own way. Horncastle was pretty much closing when I got there. I sat on a bench by the market, which was being dismantled and put away for another day. My only negative thought of the day. As I sat, eating a bag of crisps, a bus pulled up. It had a sign "Horncastle to Lincoln" on it. I could catch that then I've only got to get back from Lincoln. The thought disappeared as quickly as the bus and I pressed on.
I have to say that I wasn't looking forward to finding my way through Lincoln. As it turned out, it wasn't too bad and I was well looked after by Mr Garmin. After controlling with several others at the Co-op it was back towards Alfreton. Feeling tired now and starting to get cold. My average speed started to drop. It was mostly main roads back, not the nicest but generally ok. Got back about 10:15, cold tired and wet. But I made it.
I am so glad that I didn't listen to the negative thoughts. I am so glad I made the effort to get up and go out on Saturday morning. Thank you to Tom and all the organisers, especially to the lady who gave me a cup of tea at the end. And thanks to the riders whom I chatted with, sometimes just for a moment, sometimes for longer.
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1139934165/share/0?lang=en if you are interested.