Well that was a bit soggy, it was my first 400 for a while so as I'd mentioned before I had forgotten all the little details.
Starting in the wet wasn't too pleasant, I hate (with a passion) having wet feet, but the sun came out and soon I was jogging along quite happily, chatting to someone (I really should ask people their names) about downloading files and things, I have to admit that this technology stuff is a little beyond me, but then a route sheet is as well sometimes.
The Treacle tart at the first control went down a treat, and boiled eggs, a strange combination for breakfast but it did the trick, well until my front tyre went soft. Once repaired the back tyre joined in the act a few miles further on, Oh Joy, repairs and the art of dark mumbling kept my sprits on an even keel. Petersfield in the sun is a nice place despite the cycling refugees taking over the Tesco Metro. I met someone I'd cycled with last year there. A brief conversation before I headed off, the rumour that there were baked beans at the next control filled my legs with hope.
I made the control in a reasonable time and things were looking good, what’s more the beans, toast, rice and peaches (but not on one plate, one has standards) went down a treat. Refuelled and refreshed I set off to Hungerford, this was in totally the wrong direction, only realising my mistake in Hungerford. I had a complete and utter sense of humour failure at this point. The darkening of my mood coinciding with the darkening of the sky. I was not a happy bunny, in fact I was becoming a damp bunny and the descent though Steep was the low point. Petersfield in the rain is not a nice place. I sat there in the “24 hours but not today” service station thinking about taking up lawn bowls. The rain practiced being very wet. Eventually it was time to make the move into the wet and press on. What else is there to do on a Saturday night, I did so enjoy watching my, up to this point reliable, lights becoming sodden with water and then failing. My heart felt thanks goes to the person (must ask names!) who lent me a back light.
After an age I reached Pease pottage, the land of the walking dead and other ner do wells. If I stopped now that would have been it so it was out into the cold and onto familiar lanes, shunning the main roads for the frission of country lanes in the dark, and deer, loads of them running across the road in front of me, nice.
I wasn't planning on seeing dawn on Sunday morning but the plans of mice and men and all that. It was a joy to be back at the start. I should have slept in that car but that is another story.
Making heavy use of various soothing ointments today
What ho!
Timid
