A big-ish bloke (rather than whippet like build), middle aged, riding a Bob Yates.
That'd be me then. Delicately phrased. I assume you were the chap in grey, as oppose to LEL top? I had been sightseeing at the rock and can now confirm that it is made almost entirely of birdwatchers. When I popped out behind you, I had rested legs and was able to catch you. It didn't last. I saw you again at Chepstow and introduced you to the alternative route to the bridge.
I fell behind thereafter, as predicted, and by Malmesbury te preceding two very short nights led to a dose of the sleepies and I bedded down on the verge until woken by a "concerned member of the public". Felt much better then and reached Membury in time to see you briefly.
From Membury I hooked up with Mel K for the run-in. He very kindly moderated his pace for my benefit, and we played the A4 gambit. He waiting patiently for me in Maidenhead when I absolutely HAD to have another short kip on a pub table. I wonder what they'll make of that when they review the CCTV tapes.
I did suffer my usual problem in the last few km of a 400's where my speed is proportional to the distance remaining, leading to an inability actually to arrive. In fact I'm still somewhere in Gerrard's Cross.
Eventually made it in a little after 2.
Earlier on, rode much in the company of Kcass and Greenbank, and briefly with Richard Forrest, but he seems to have been drinking rocket fuel lately, so mostly we watched him disappear. Up hills!
After Kcass had dropped me I met Swiss Hat briefly at the lights. He went first left and I second, allowing me to gauge the advantage of the Ford and Toddington alternative route into Tewkesbury. If Martin and I were evenly matched, then the advantage would be one cup of tea and half a baked potato. We're not. When he and John disappeared past me on the road to Newent, that was the last I heard of them until Chris confirmed that they had got back in time to catch the last train
.
Oranj amounted to a mythical rider, leaving no trace of his passing beyond a sense of awe and the slight disturbance to the fabric of space/time that results from a body moving at near light speed.
Many thanks to Chris for laying on the weather, and to the many whose company I enjoyed.
Boab, I think that was you arriving as Mel and I exited the car park. I was too tired to react. Sorry.