My alarm went off at 4am, but after yesterdays 147 miles, I decided on a lie in, so got out of my pit at 4:15.
Managed to get myself on the road at about 5 or 5:15. I'm not sure now.
I was very glad that the services were open. I had a Bacon and Brie Baguette at Balodock services plus a sit down in the warm. It made me realise how cold I was, so when I set off again, I put on my coat.
In spite of a pretty good tailwind, I was a bit slow for a visit to the cafe at Finchingfield, so pressed on for a relaxed ride to meet the WARTY at the 11ses stop. I arrived before the WARTY, so was starting on my fried breakfast as everyone arrived.
Before everyone arrived, I got chatting to another cyclist about touring, long distance cycling and stuff. He mentioned the Dun Run and PBP, so I pointed out Charlotte as doing Dun Run on a penny as well as riding a 24 hour. I think I forgot to mention that Charlotte had also done PBP, it's hard to remember it all.
After a while, it was time for the ride up to the pub.
Wowbagger had obviously been studying hard to find the most potholed and muddy lanes in Essex. I'd bet that if anyone fell down one of those holes they'd find an ancient civilisation of mole people, but they'd never be able to get back to tell anyone about it.
Auntie Helen couldn't get the rear wheel of her silly road blocking thing recumbent trike to play ball and grip the many inches (deep) of very slippery mud on the road. With the slow speed and pile of muck in the middle of the road, I was stuck behind, so was resigned to walking. Tim O didn't want his cleats getting clogged with skog, so decided to ride when he could get past.
Wowbagger also found some hills. TGL was very keen and flew up most of them. I wasn't going to chase after him and I'm not sure I could have caught him if I wanted to.
As is the way when I go mountain biking. I usualy get a puncture when my tyres are extra filthy. Today was no exception. Descending the last skogfest before lunch, I heard the ominous hissing sound. I rode on in hope and was glad to find that my tyre wasn't flat. Oh goody, not a puncture after all.
At the bottom of the skog pit, I felt that in fact, I did have a puncture after all.
I thought everyone would go on, so I stopped and fixed it. A hefty cut in the tyre, which probably should have had a tyre boot, but I got away with it. I didn't see what it was, but there was a pretty big hole in my tyre in the right place.
Puncture mended, tyre almost inflated and the angel Wowbagger appears offering assistance and tools if needed. I sent him on his way to the pub. I'd soon be moving again and might even get there first. That was scuppered by Goldtech hubs being a bit of a git to fit.
Soon at the pub for some sea bass. I was pretty tired and feeling a bit sleepy. I could have easily lay down and slept a while. It did cross my mind to try and score some of Charlottes ultra caffeinated coffee, but thought that would be a very bad idea. It'd certainly have kept me awake and got me home. Only I'd guessed that once I got home, I'd want to keep going until the caffeine wore off and I'd probably wake up Saturday morning somewhere in the West Country feeling dazed, confused and with painfull legs.
TimO was very keen that everyone should have some pudding, probably mostly so that he wouldn't feel so guilty about having some himself. A few were vaguely interested, so Tim enthusiastically ordered dessert. Soon people started putting on coats ready to leave. It turned out that only Tim had ordered dessert and was now feeling very guilty.
I considered waiting until Tim got his dessert and getting everyone to drum their fingers on the table and stare at him while he ate it.
Wowbagger had another idea, to lead the slower riders back to Marks Tey. I liked the idea of getting going, so rode a few last miles with half of the WARTY before turning off to head West.
I was glad I had my GPS. I plotted a very laney route to get back. Some of the first 5-10 miles had some more skog infested and potholed roads, but as I predicted, once I got past Sible Hedingham, the roads improved a lot.
It was also raining and continued to rain all the way home.
I decided against a cafe stop in Thaxted and thought about stopping in Baldock services again.
Allthough I was feeling pretty tired at Baldock, I decided to keep going until I got home. I was looking forwards to my pint mug of tea and some hot sponge cake. With about 25 miles to go I was getting very feeble, so slowed down. The wind had turned from a westerly this morning to more of a southerly and was picking up again after easing off in the daytime. That was mostly a cross wind for me, but when I did turn southwards, I definitely slowed down.
Really slow for the last 15 miles or so.
I was glad to get home where I could have the hot tea and chocolate sponge I'd been thinking about for the last 30 miles.
178 miles for the day, so if I bothered to sign up for the Rapha 500km challenge, I'd have done it in two days.
I now have red eyes and tired legs which is always a sign of a good ride.
