Flat ≠ easy, but I already knew that and therefore wasn't surprised to discover a biting headwind once past March. What did surprise me were all the snow / sleet squalls that I rode through between March & Holbeach St Matthew. I know the past few months have been cold, but still I wasn't really expecting to be cycling in snow at the end of March. Once in Kings Lynn I thought I'd partake of the burger van, as a number of other riders were doing, only to me told there were no more eggs
. Oh well, I quickly grabbed a receipt from the newsagents and rushed off for the ferry, which having check the ferry times before leaving home I knew was due imminently. The short ferry ride between Kings Lynn & West Lynn was a novelty and very much enjoyed, esp. as it meant I didn't have to backtrack to cross the Great Ouse. Riding across to Holbeach St Matthew was the bleakest part of the ride in terms of scenery and I was happy to turn around and start heading to Spalding. Huge fields of daffs were spotted before Spalding, and it was good to see some things were trying to grow, despite the coldness of the past few months.
The section after Spalding along the River Welland felt very much like riding in The Netherlands, especially so when the road is on top of the dyke. The Thorny road wasn't too bad as the wind was favorable, but it was still soul destroying. I also had to stop after Whittlesey to remove my little neoprene toe warmers as the constriction they were placing on my feet meant I was getting hot foot
. However, I was in no rush as I knew I wouldn't make the 17h00 train from Huntingdon and so leisurely rode along enjoying the sun.
Thanks go to Martin for organizing, and keeping entries open until the last minute as I only decided to ride a couple of days before the event. Canardly was on hand at the finish to take the cards and being able to sit & chat with a few other rides in The George is a much more preferable way to finish than just posting the card back to Martin as it makes it feel more like a calendar event than a perm or DIY.