How is it that I found this thread so late??
The first day was a blur, I don't remember much at all, the fens just seemed to whizz by and the crossing of the humber bridge was made memorable by the two chaps directing people on to the right side of the bridge. The heavens opened before pocklington and the views of several mini storms below me on the vale of york was quite amazing. I ate and slept (sort of) the constant banging of the bog door was really disagreeable. I rose at about 4AM to be greeted by the carnage in the main hall which made me realise actually how lucky I had been. I pressed on and the early start was rewarded by a stag crossing the road in front of me as I passed through the castle howard estate. Again the second day seemed a blur and I shared the latter part of it with some very nice south african ladies who I introduced to the pleasures of IRN BRU at a garage just over the border before that dreadful bit of old A road on the way to Moffat. Ah Moffat!! what an amazing checkpoint /food/shower/ bed/ sleep. Again a nice early start and a hearty breakfast to climb through the darkness with what appeared to be a string of red fairy lights in front of me and white ones behind, I was on my own but I wasn't, about 1/2 way up there was someone asleep on the porch of a village hall, very comfy he looked too. The sunrise arrived just as I crested the climb and some wonderful views of the hills beyond edinburgh were had, I stopped to take some selfies before descending in to edinburgh, seeing some people coming towards me raised mixed feelings but they were soon forgot when I reached the check. There was the man who had talked me in to doing this all smiles - Danial was uplifting as usual. There was a birthday celebration for two triantelopes who I had seen several times over the first couple of days, they were faster than me but I spent less time at the checks, it was to be the last time I saw them, I don't know what happened to them?? A good feed and another PEP talk from Danial and the big fellow with the beard and I was off to face what was to be probably the most memorable day, the two small checkpoints, I have the dubious claim to have had the last bowl of porridge. then over the border once more, I minor altercation with some wheelsucking poles at brampton was my only cross words for the whole ride. I pressed on over yad, through the most amazing rainbow to reach Barnard castle in darkness, the last few miles being a 4 up crazy chaingang which whilst memorable was pretty scary at the time. Barnard castle a good supper and kip up early again and press on hard to try to get to Kirton where my Mrs was sheduled to meet me. Not far after the bridge it started raining I arrived at Market Rasen like a drowned rat (as did many others) again my mentor and helper appeared with some cheery words, I actually managed to get said fish and chips without any drama, most agreeable it was too, if it hadn't been for the prearranged meet at Kirton I might have stayed, but I got back on and it was drying up for a very pleasant dusk time ride to Kirton, I arrived and there on a corner was my partner, our daughter and our dogs, what a sight for sore eyes
. There was a shortage of beds but I curled up on the floor and made the best of it, waking up half way through the night to find an empty bed. Another early start and off on to the fens however I missed a turn and lost the best part of an hour trying to get back on route. I got to st ives and there was no 2nd breakfast!! only toast, I think that this was my downfall, that and the hour lost meant I was short of fuel in searing heat on the lumpy essex return leg, even a sandwich and an ice cream did not revive me. I could barely hold 12 mph. I eventually made it to great easton for the feast of sweets and cake etc in front of me, I shared this with some dutch lads and another south african girl, the mood was ecstatic, but I knew that I still had a hard last leg ahead of me, lots of people were now passing me, this was unusual as I had spent most of the ride on my own with sporadic joining up with people, however when I finally reached the familiar roads of Loughton I felt quite amazed and was totlally blown away by the reception at the school, "come on lad you don't need that any more" said the chap at the finish as he tried to prise me off my bike and lead my into the hall to the desk to handover my brevet. I saw a few of the people I had shared moments with on the ride and I welled up, how amazing
I take my hats off to the organisers and the volunteers, I apologise unreservedly for my grumpy single minded attitude, but it worked. See you all again in 2017 - maybe I will be a little more relaxed. Pic is from last morning after I had got back on track.