That went somewhat better than planned.
I ended up in company with an ex RAF Mountain Rescue team member who rode about the same pace as me. The crux was the 72km from Crowland to Horncastle directly into a solid headwind. This turned into a tough two-up time trial, but we found a Costa in Horncastle that gave us shelter, coffee, and pastries for a nice evening ride back to Alfreton, unfortunately just after the chippy had shut. That meant a petrol station sandwich supper before turning in at about 11pm. Booking the Travelodge for three nights meant I had the luxury of a shower, proper bed, and change of kit.
I set out next morning at 3.30am and saw no other riders all day, probably because faster riders with less sleep were ahead of me, and slower riders wouldn't catch up. The tough stage was Retford to Glews, wide flat featureless roads, where I could have done with some company to keep the mind alert. Breakfast at Glews fortified me for a short, tailwind stage to Barton-on-Humber, taking a few photos of the bridge they were building when I was at school in Hull for a couple of years). It warmed up after that. This was my 4th event where Gainsborough was a control and the first time I didn't stop at the Jet garage.
The wind picked up for the last stage and was mostly a head-cross wind, but I kept my head screwed on and made it in one push, finishing at 4pm, a little earlier than planned, as my pace had been good all day. First leg of a proposed hyper-randonnee season completed. Although this event is X-rated as it is all commercial controls, with the option of booking accommodation in Alfreton to have a night stop, it could be a good first 600.
