Hello all, thanks for following my tracker and for your support!
Just a bit of a round-up.
The tailwind never really arrived until the final stage, Red Lodge to Great Dunmow. Going up was headwindy in places but it was generally okay, maybe just because it was earlier on and I had more energy. It really was dead calm on the way back south until Sunday got underway and it felt like the easterly bit of the NE wind got stronger.
The ride north was okay, the nighttime bit south was wonderful, the Sunday stint got harder and harder until Red Lodge, then it was easy all the way from there. Also met Ricky and we chatted for most of the last stage which made it much easier too.
I didn't get to stop until after Lincoln in the luxury Audax hotels, they were all occupied and I didn't want to disturb. All the hotels after that were just shelters with no bench to sleep on, so i pushed on. It was about 462 km and 0900 on Sunday when I found a spot dry enough (lots of dew about), so I laid on the grass under a tree but got hassled by bugs itching me and only had about 30 mins there, most of it awake. I got ready to leave and saw Ian, Arabella and Co. pass, so hurried on and caught them up. I had a quick chat and headed off on my own, I think. Anyway, they all passed Ricky and I after my Wahoo did its usual long distance meltdown and we waited fro it to reboot.
Owen and I got together a couple of times and it was good to chat with him, he didn't feel so good at one point but gutted it out and did the ride - impressive stuff.
Nice to have some encouragement through the forum and WhatsApp.
Glad to get my 2nd 600 done. Thanks to everyone for the organisation and support. I must help out at a control soon to give a bit back to the club. Let me know if there's anything coming up - I'd like to ride there and back.
Thanks,
Nick.