i took advantage of the warm weather to bag a 600 and subject to validation, my 13th consecutive SR.
Leg 1 of 350km was darlo - malton - Beverley - Epsworth - York - Ripon - Darlo
Leg 2 of 250km was a Darlo - Thirsk - Stamford Bridge - escrick - Boroughbridge - Darlo.
Busy and hot on Saturday, my lack of detailed local knowledge had me on busier roads than might have been the case, the busy B road from Malton - Beverley in parrticular had no other cyclists.
I was glad that the heat subsided about 6pm and it became a lovely evening pootle, enhanced by a beautiful sunset from the top of Hutton Bank just after Ripon.
Local yoof tried a ride on my bike at leeming services c 2300, until threatened him with physical violence (Scottish accent always helps in this regard). By Sunday afternoon, part of me was wishing hed ridden off on it!
back to Darlo by 0100 up at 0430 and away on Sunday by 5am.
Long slow day, wish I had a £1 for every sign that said "York 10 miles" - also when circumnavigating the bits on main roads A64, A166, A1079 that look like staggered crossroads online are in fact longer (and I didn't much like turning right off them with their buys traffic).
Part of my route on Sunday seemed to direct me to a bridle way near Pilmoor which had me wishing Id just ridden the A19 as I ended up adding about 12km. I was stopping every hour or so to fill up with water and to just cool down, I saw slathered in sun cream so had my very own bug collection on legs and arms, im sure I was a sight.
Once I got to York I knew I could get back to the finish on memory, and I stopped in Boroughbridge for a big feed. Chocolate eclairs (the cream variety) always seem to hit the spot for me on a long ride.
almost got taken out by a woman driving on her mobile phone with about 10k to go, we exchanged pleasantries.
Finished at 1900, so 37 hrs all in,
3 edit - sorry - 5 hours in hand for the DIY limit of 42.
My body is in decent nick given the circumstances but Ive noticed my right foot a little numb which im putting down to the poor road surfaces, of which there were many.
ive done 600s as early as easter and as late as September, this felt like just about the right time to do one, I felt great on Saturday night approaching the sleep stop but I was woken up with cramp during the night which set the scene for a sluggish sunday.
Anyhow, job done and i even managed a couple of very nice pints of Northallerton Dark in the Quakerhouse before the train back home to civilisation.
On my ride to the railway station I was amazed to see that darlington actually has driving instructors.
Work today....not firing on all cylinders...and a stinky kit bag waiting for me at home.....