That was a great little ride.
As in previous years, there was a cracking pace up to Ixworth, where I was surprised to see many riders didn't stop, despite the very welcoming Coffee House. I rode that stretch and the next, to Halesworth, with Yellow Giant, where we enjoyed a very pleasant lunch at The Angel. Somehow, we got separated on the road up to Beccles and so I rode on as far as the Reedham Ferry on my own. Had a nasty encounter on the single track road to the ferry with a woman in a 4x4 who made no attempt to slow down as she came towards me and buffeted me as she passed. After that I became a bit more assertive and stayed in the middle of the road until any oncoming cars were forced to slow. Got a few dirty looks, but sod them.
At the ferry I picked up a couple that had been on the train out of London and were (in at least one case) riding their first 400. Gave them a tow to Acle, where they went off to the co-op and I went for the cafe by the village green. Alotronic was among those gathered outside, together with a few others whose faces I know but names I don't. They all went off ahead of me and I was to spend the next few hours playing tortoise and hare with them.
At Wells it was my turn to go to the co-op, outside which there was a little gathering, some of whom had been down to the seafront and discovered the food options a bit lacking. last time I rode this I blew up badly between Wells and Barton Mills due to eating badly. This time I made sure I was well fed and was able to keep a steady pace all the way. I even overtook a few people; those that know me will appreciate the novelty of this occurring. The Alotronic steam train came past me just after Brandon but I didn't quite have the legs to tag on to it and spent the last 10km or so with its collection of red lights just visible up ahead.
I didn't eat much at Barton Mills - a blueberry muffin was about the only palatable thing on McDonald's menu and even that was pretty unpleasant. I did have some chicken rolls with me and I should have sat outside to eat them but it was starting to cool down and I really didn't fancy it. With hindsight that was a mistake as I was to feel less energetic later in the ride.
The run down to Saffron Walden was uneventful, apart from a very scary near miss with a couple of badgers. They're big, aren't they
. However, the temperature had dropped a lot in the space of just a couple of hours (from 16 to 5 degrees, according to my Garmin) and when I got to the square in SW, I had a serious attack of the shivers. I was trying to eat the rolls that I had but I reckon I must have also been a bit dehydrated as I found it very hard to chew or swallow. I didn't realise until I looked at the stats, but I wasted more than an hour there, not leaving until about 5.30, which put paid to my aim of finishing at 8.00.
The final leg is the sting in the tail of this ride but, despite feeling a bit under par, I was able to keep up a reasonable moving speed and was able to stop a few times as the petrol stations were starting to open. All this time, I was craving Banana Milk, which I find the best thing to deal with nausea, but I was able to get some only at the garage just before the Arrivee. I had planned to stop there in any case, in case I needed a receipt for a postal finish, but seeing a fridge full of the stuff was a very welcome moment and I bought a few for the journey home.
As it happened, Huggy
was there to stamp cards at the station buffet so I stayed on for a cup of tea (wishing I had the constitutions of those who were tucking into the beer) and picked up the train home - having just missed Kieron Yates, who had kindly offered me a lift back but had needed to leave just before I got in.
All in all, a great ride and, for me, the first proper use of my new Garmin, which worked like a dream. Thanks to Tomsk and Grant and all the other ACME crew who helped out.
