Started off in the spring sunshine with the front group with Flatus and Bobinogs, but they had younger legs through the climbs around Compton Abdale. However, a winter spent riding Dutch Mountains and the inspiration of the Cotswold scenery on a sunny morning helped me to catch up and tow them into the first control. I let them continue while I enjoyed a bacon butty and formed a group of four on the road, with occasional guests, that stuck together most of the way to the finish.
Beautiful weather, great scenery, cafes that understood Audax, really nice route with not too many busy roads. I kept crossing routes and places I had been tooo from different directions in other events, bringing back good memories. Company was great, chatting along as we went. There were a few spots of rain south of Daventry but otherwise perfect weather. The only problem I had was the amount of tree pollen in the air, which caused my nose to run constantly (and related stomach complications), so I let the group go after Tackley and plodded at my own pace along the last stage, arriving about 7.10pm
Can't work out why I've never ridden this before, but will return to it again.