Marvellous!

What a spotty dog (1) day yesterday.  A bit more buggering about in the AM with the camp stove making Scots porridge with UHT milk and honey (It was alright - no really!).

Initially I was stretched out in the hammock in the garden hoping for some sun before scurrying in doors to book more accommodation, this time in Taunton and changing dates for other bookings as I've combined some legs on the ride to ensure I complete LEJOG in 21 days.  Longer sections are now planned between Taunton and Kendal as my legs should be fully into it by then.

Bugger me, the next time I looked up there it was.  A lovely yellow ball in the sky.  The bike was loaded and I was still wearing my cycling gear from last night..., no, I've just not taken it off yet.  So that was it, time to go for a shakedown ride of approx 20 miles along the sustrans route to Riccall.

Here's some notes from the ride:

1. Legs.  I don't know what I've done to deserve it but the legs felt great.  In that they're strong and dying to get going but even better they're no longer a pasty white colour which is normal for Yorkshire folk.  No really, checkout the old blokes with rolled up trousers and knotted hankies on their heads in Scarborough next time your there.  Right?  The 5 days in Majorca has given me and the boys sufficient colour to prevent embarrassment on day one.

2. Smells.  Everything smells sweet.  Quite a striking change from a winter smell of freshly ploughed dark cold earth and moo poo and not a lot else due to a cold snotty nose. The sweet smell of fresh spring flowers and flowering rape was pungent and thick in the light breeze.

3. Bugs. Mouthfuls of the suckers and biters had me spitting and spluttering.  Note to self.  Keep yer gob shut when cycling..

4. Sustrans.  I wuz robbed yer Honour!  Well, on the return journey a friendly Sustrans Dick Turpin type accosted me and we started to chat about the planned ride.  A nice guy. Of course he was doing his best to intercept cyclists and walkers to become members of the charity.  It was a no brainer really and I think he was happy with me signing up to support at 10 quid a month.  It's worth it.  Sustrans provides cycle and walker friendly routes across the UK and I'll be mostly riding Sustrans on LEJOG.    Job done.

5. Respect.  To cyclists, any other cyclist with panniers front and back gets a respectful look.  A well aimed nod or three of the head with jutted jaw and a friendly hello mate.  I am a cycling super hero!  Also cars trucks and other road users now give me a w-i-d-e berth.  Except for the occasional white van plonker.   I need a flabby cape.

The thought floated across my mind that hey, the house is locked up and I'm on a fully loaded bike on my way out of York.  So why not just keep going and not go back.  2 reasons why not. 1, Kathryn had invited Rebecca and Roger to dinner and I would be dead if I wasn't there.  I'd never be able to go back home.  Also the one man tent has not yet arrived from Germany.  It's in a bar coded parcel in transit somewhere, er, in a Transit.

Also my right knee is giving occasional no dad signals.  Hello I'm here the boy says with a small achy whinge.  I'm gonna feed it some topical ibuprofen gripe water to see if I can settle it down.

I've now reduced the overall journey time to 21 days.  That means I have 4 days to fill until the train ride home from Inverness.  I figure there are 3 options.

1. If I'm in pain and hurting and have had enough I'll book the next train home and cry.

2. But if i'm enjoying it then I'll take the long route across the top of Scotland back home.  I dream of riding in glorious weather along the west coast of Scotland early June in the land of the almost midnight sun.  With a bit of wild camping, well, I have to do it if I can eh?  There is no better place in the world than the North West on a bright warm sunny day.  Here's hoping.

3. And if I'm really really enjoying it and my no dad knee is not grumbling too much then I'll ride back to York.  Hey there's no Monday morning back to work worries anymore, so why not...

Back in my American Football days the club chairman, Ken, would often say "Marvellous" after games where we dicked (2) the other team and won.  Whilst he was probably quite an erudite man his use of marvellous was all encompassing for all great things and the good.  He is synonymous to me with this word and the word adequately describes the shakedown ride today.  Also good to reminisce and to be thinking about him.

After all this time it's all coming together with just one week to go.  I'm getting edgy and having great pleasure telling mere mortals what I'm about to do.  Many adventures to be found.  People to meet. Memories to keep...

Of dreams are such journeys made...


(1) - Spotty dog - Similar to 'the dogs bollocks', its army slang and a reference to anything good.  It was introduced to me by my mate Corporal Kev.

(2) - Dicked - i.e hit with a force that normally results in the recipient being sat on his arse.  Ow!