I started my RRTY in August 2007, riding the PBP - yes, the wet one.
So I was damned if a pesky virus was going to stop my continuous record.
2020 rides:
Jan: DIY Dorchester to Exmouth, where my lady Miranda lives, via Watchet, where we have a seaside retreat, on the North Somerset coast, & the Exe Valley.
Feb DIY Dorchester to Brighton, to visit my daughter at University, taking advantage of a Westerly gale.
Mar DIY Dorchester to Exmouth via Bruton, Bampton & Cullompton. Noted shop assistant sanitising her till.
Apr DIY "All Fools 200k", ridden on April 1st. Five loops from home, ridden on 3 fixed wheel bikes, including one 10km loopto Dorchester Market to buy fruit & veg, and preparing breakfast, tea breaks and lunch for daughter, at home for lockdown, writing her final dissertations.
May DIY home, Watchet, home. Felt a great sense of freedom escaping Dorset.
Jun DIY home to socially distanced lunch with brother near Bristol, then down Cheddar Gorge and Watchet, where I stayed with Miranda as Boris now gave us permission to.
Jul ĎIY left home early to ride A37, then A30, and down to Exmouth, then Watchet via hilly road via Bampton.
Aug DIY home, around Poole Harbour, home, then on to Watchet.
Sep DIY home, Portland Bill, home, Sherborne, home, Square & Compass Inn in Purbecks, where I met Brian Callow for a cider or two, then on to Bournemouth. Finished with 5 minutes to spare.
Oct DIY Dorset Coast backwards. Seemed easier than clockwise, apart from the flat ride from Poole to home, which wiped me out.
Nov DIY Another permutation of home to Exmouth via Watchet.
Dec DIY home to Calshot Flying Boat Hangar and back, to fin8sh my 161st consecutive RRTY.
During the first lockdown I adhered to the one period of exercise per day (my interpretation), and planned my routes using Googlemaps walking mode. I enjoyed the freedom of not needing proof of passage ATM receipts, so when lockdown eased I continued to self validate my rides. Maybe not in the spirit of AUK, but my conscience was clear.
I ride a lot of DIY's. My one rule is that I never duplicate a route, and try to find a reason to visit somewhere worthwhile. Ones that come to mind include riding to Bristol Ikea to pick up a catalogue for my daughter, takiing minutes at a Wessex CTC meeting in Sslisbury, cutting my Mum's lawn 8n Bournemouth, and riding the 202km perimeter of Rhodes Island on a hire bike.
I look forward to riding calendar rides in company......